Little-known thriller with huge star but Netflix fans have only days to watch

Edinburgh Live

16-05-2025

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Chris Pine fans need to act fast to catch their favourite actor in the midst of some high-octane action, as The Contractor is set to depart from Netflix on June 5.
Released in 2022, the action thriller marks Tarik Saleh's English-language directorial debut, with a screenplay penned by J. P.Davis. The film boasts an all-star cast, including Ben Foster, Gillian Jacobs, Kiefer Sutherland, J.D. Pardo, Florian Munteanu, and Eddie Marsan, alongside Pine.
The Contractor reunites Chris Pine and Ben Foster for the first time since their critically acclaimed 2016 film Hell or High Water. Although some critics felt the reunion was undeserving of the duo's talents, one reviewer wrote: "Pine and Foster sync up flawlessly, even when the dialogue fails them. This isn't the reunion they deserve, but it's nevertheless welcome.", reports the Daily Record.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Pine discussed how he convinced Foster to join The Contractor: ""[Hell or High Water] was such a special experience, and I don't think any of us wanted to tamper with it. For me, at least, I'd be very proud of my filmography if [Hell or High Water] was it for me as an actor.
(Image: Handout)
"So it didn't look like [The Contractor] was going to work out, but I basically pleaded with Ben to make it work. And for what is on the page - which is probably not as expansive or interesting a part as what he played in Hell or High Water - Ben was able to ... expand it and unpack it so it becomes something really thriving and three-dimensional."
The Contractor tells the gripping tale of Sergeant First Class James Harper, a highly-decorated U.S. Special Forces Green Beret forced out of service after failing a drug test - a result of taking steroids to treat his chronic knee pain.
Faced with financial hardship and the need to support his family, Harper connects with an old pal, Mike, who entices him to join a private military company led by a former colleague, Rusty Jennings.
A double-cross on a mission leaves Harper with no way back to his loved ones, setting off a nail-biting chain of events peppered with action-packed scenes.
Despite its intrigue, The Contractor didn't hit the mark at the box office, scraping together just around $2.1 million globally, with audience and critical opinions split down the middle.
One critic said: "While his character is intended to be lost and powerless, Pine seems adrift in another way, too – a star without a proper star vehicle."
(Image: Publicity Picture)
Meanwhile, a different reviewer offered a more positive take on the film: "There's a tense, tightly constructed thriller here - and Chris Pine makes a decent play as a neo-Bourne."
Another added: "There's something comfortingly unflashy about The Contractor: the action isn't earth-shatteringly exciting, but it's clearly shot, with enough jolts of vitality to keep the plot spinning."
The film received a lukewarm reception from critics, with one saying: "The Contractor is one more generic action flick with a story borrowed directly from the formulaic Hollywood closet, without any surprises or even high entertainment levels."
However, audience opinions were divided, with one reviewer praising the film: "I thought this was a solid movie. It starts off a little slow but the story is really good and the cast does a great job with the acting. Chris Pine is perfect for this role and does a great job as well as Ben Foster."
A fan of Chris Pine said: "One of the highlights of Chris Pine," while another viewer was less impressed, writing: "The on-the-move action thriller is all built up, as The Contractor fails to take the time to breathe and leaves many aspects of the story that it desperately wants to have a say on - feeling empty. Overall, it's anticlimactic."
Some viewers thoroughly enjoyed the film, with one saying: "Really enjoyed this movie. Not sure what the critics are smoking...but as per usual, they were wrong. Pine and Foster are great together."
They also praised Pine, saying: "Pine is one of the more underrated actors today. This story is super intriguing. I like how they didn't drag it out. It was very to the point. This movie shows some of the realities of war and life itself. Great action, highly recommend."
On the other hand, another viewer was underwhelmed: "Just meh. Plot holes galore. Decent acting but the narrative just doesn't make sense. Nice action sequences. Wouldn't recommend".
The Contractor leaves Netflix on June 5.