Lt. Thomas Harp (Idris) is a drone pilot punished for killing 2 Marines by disobeying direct orders. In his defense, he saved the 38 others by firing a missile at a suspected enemy launcher. His ability to "think outside the box" captured the attention of the strict and feared Capt. Leo (Mackie).
Captain Leo is an android slash super-soldier disguised as a normal human officer. He's on a mission to deliver vaccines to a refugee camp. But this assignment is a cover-up to a much bigger task. He plans to stop Victor Koval (Pilou Asbæk), a Russian terrorist, gain control of a network of nuclear missiles. And the inexperience Lt. Harp is the one he enlisted to be his partner.
Leo and Harp must now traverse the battle-damaged country to recover some nuclear codes. As they head deep into the mission. Harp begins to question the legitimacy of their task and who is the real enemy.
"Outside the Wire" is another generic Netflix action movie but with robots. Though whatever symbolism robots aim to contribute to the narrative, it didn't work. This is because the story's message itself is a mess. And it struggles to find stability throughout.
Director Mikael Håfström feels like he understands what he was doing at first. Soldiers should value human lives, and it doesn't matter if you saved 2 people in exchange for 38. The people's lives and welfare are always the priority.
Yet Håfström seems unconvinced with his own beliefs. As if he wonders whether it is reasonable enough. This indecisiveness to which side he wants to take and challenge messes the whole narrative up. It instigates more chaos and confusion in an already chaotic setting.
"Outside the Wire" needs to be straightforward with what it wants to convey. In all fairness, it tried its hardest to deep dive into its moral dilemma. And the movie makes some interesting points about humanity and war. Chances are, if Håfström polished it a little, this might've been one of 2021's biggest surprise.
Unfortunately, it is not.
"Outside the Wire" is a tad ambitious with what it wants to be. Which is unnecessary considering that it works as what it is. A fun and cool Training Day-like sci-fi-action-thriller. Yet it fancies itself as a cutting 'social critique' and a profound 'philosophical film'.
1.5/5
