Aftermath, a movie about a negative army officer who has to face the bitter side of war, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and unintentionally plays the role of a victim in an attack, was one of the above-average productions in the action-thriller genre.

I can say that the fact that the location of the movie was an occupied bridge was an advantage for the characters who undertook the action aspect of the story, but I think the best and the detail that managed to transfer the tension to the audience at the highest level was that all the civilians on the bridge became hostages in their own vehicles while the entrances and exits of the bridge were held.

[source](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/lyZWxKmQrJQlO7SjZQXZ3RzTfy0.jpg)

Eric (played by Dylan Sprouse), an ex-army officer trying to cope with the traumas he has been through, tries to rescue first his sister and then all the hostages on the bridge; the moments when he tries to save his sister and then all the hostages form the story of the movie, while the reasons that cause the character to experience trauma and the personality disorder he shows are extra exciting.

Dylan Sprouse gives an impressive performance as Eric, successfully reflecting the character's inner conflicts and determination. Of course, I must say that the exaggerated scenes we are accustomed to seeing in action movies are quite successfully reflected in the contradictions between the character's previous life and his life on the bridge. I can say that the tragic event from the past, which is the reason for the hesitations and which limits the character's instant thoughts and actions, occasionally emphasizes the drama side of the story and adds originality.

Although the action and suspense elements of the movie seem to be balanced and blended into the story, I think the suspense aspect is more dominant. Especially the fears of the civilians who suddenly become hostages in their own vehicles during their journey are reflected in a very understandable and simple way.

The presence of bombs attached to the supporting columns of the bridge strongly reflects the connection between both the parties occupying the bridge and the hostages on the bridge. This detail, which means reassurance for one side, successfully reveals the fact that it could be the last moments of their lives for the other side and the difference in the way the story is handled.

[source](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/kGcmP49PQWdOI2eTC3ZNSHlUUcv.jpg)

I can say that all of the classic action movie elements are present in the movie, but despite this, I can't say that it is a cliché for the movie because the advantage of the location being an impossible and limited place to escape is used very well in the story.

I don't think the story of the occupation of the bridge, which serves as a kind of therapeutic therapy for the main character, is too far from realism. In this respect, although the movie is fiction, it contains a story between fiction and reality. And as an extra, I can say that it was one of the productions that I liked the character development.

I can't help but think that the movie could have been more successful if the action scenes had been used more effectively than they were. At least the action should not have been under the tension. Although there were some scenes that supported the narrative of hand-to-hand combat for close encounters, we didn't see such scenes in the movie.

I recommend watching the movie for its watchability and character development. I can easily say that it is a more gripping and impressive movie than most of the similar action movies.

Thank you for being here and reading. Take care and goodbye!

Posted using CineTV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2-49Xl-Q64

^{Two strangers' lives become inextricably bound together after a devastating plane crash.}

REVIEW

There is no robot from the future, no aliens ferocious, no machine guns, Arnold Schwarzenegger's latest film is thick with depressive drama shades of grief and deepest regret. The title itself means "effects or consequences after an unpleasant incident", in the case of Aftermath which is also an adaptation of the real story of the Überlingen mid-air collision event telling of a tragedy of an airplane accident that drastically changed the lives of two humans in it. There is Roman (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a middle-aged architect who is waiting for his wife and daughter to arrive from Ukraine, there is Jake Bonanos (Scoot McNairy), the ATC (Air Traffic Control) operator who is "responsible" for the terrible disaster because of a situation beyond his control.

Despite selling the story of a plane crash, Aftermath 95% takes the setting on a flat, secure plane, but that does not mean there is no threat from Elliott Lester's drama. But be calm, even though it is potentially a contemplative depressive drama dish that can slap your emotions, it does not have anything really solid in its narration to get you to reflect on what's going on inside it. Script written by Javier Gullón feels weak for a movie that sells the theme of grief, tragedy, and revenge, let alone an adaptation of a true story that could have added to Aftermath's emotional value. Yes, it becomes ironic considering that in the past Gullón with Enemy Denis Villeneuve once presented a fascinating mystery thriller spectacle.

But I am glad how Lester chose to separate the two main stories to then be smashed at the end of it later. This means that we have plenty of time to get to know the two main characters in a balanced portion, how their normal life that later transforms into grief, guilt and regret destroy them from within. The problem was that Lester's drives were running too long, even to the point of stumbling. The audience is hoping there will be something stronger after the tragedy, but we are more served with the grim faces of Schwarzenegger and McNairy who are desperate without actually being invited to engage emotionally in them. This then makes Aftermath tiring to follow. Even the second meeting at the end will not have too much impact, there is only an element of revenge without ever really able to give a deep reflection on what happened until then we easily forget it just like that.

Though not supported by a powerful story but Aftermath still has little grip to make you care, it's more because of the solid appearance of the two main characters who look slick. Lester was just showing his grief from the outside with the gloomy appearance of his characters, but it was hard not to admit that Schwarzenegger knew what to do here. Not much dialogue was spoken of the character Arnie played, but his body language game was strong enough to show grief in it, indirectly proving that Arnie was not an actor relying solely on his muscles. There is anger there but we never really know what Roman character will do here until the end of the story later. While McNairy was assigning an equally big task when he had to bring regret and deep responsibility after what he did, Lester even gave Jake family the character to add to his moral burden, although in the end it did not matter much because of the lack of narrative support provided.

RATING (6/10)

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RATING (6/10)

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