Journey’s End is a British war film, based on the 1928 play of the same name, written by playwright RC Sherriff. Sherriff was severely wounded in 1917 while serving in the military and used his own experiences in the trenches as inspiration for the play.
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, the film was first released on 8 September 2017, however it received a wider theatrical release in the spring of 2018 — the centenary of the German Spring Offensive, the attacks upon which it’s based.
Directed by Saul Dibb, with a screenplay penned by Simon Reade — who introduced a dozen new characters for the play’s on screen adaptation — Journey’s End grossed a dismal $970,809 at the worldwide box-office. But it fared exceptionally well with critics, receiving a 91 per cent score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
The film is a harrowing account of the days leading up to Operation Michael, the first phase of the German Spring Offensive which was aimed at the British Front, and gives viewers an intimate look into the attacks that battered the Western Front as well as the psychological damage endured by those on the frontlines.
Starring Asa Butterfield, Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany, Toby Jones, Stephen Graham, and Tom Sturridge, Journey’s End centres on a group of British soldiers led by Captain Stanhope (Claflin) — a deeply troubled young officer who is wresting with the psychological impact of prolonged combat.
Things only get harder for the young man when Lieutenant Raleigh (Butterfield) arrives. The eager but idealistic newcomer happens to be his fiancée’s brother and once harboured admiration for Stanhope. This forces Stanhope to confront his personal demons in a deeply impactful onscreen portrayal, as he struggles with the expectations that are placed on him.
Putting the futility of war under a microscope, Journey’s End left critics spellbound, with one calling it “a powerful and moving tribute to the men who fought in the trenches”.
Another critic wrote: “War is hell but we’ve seen that story before. Journey’s End manages to reaffirm the message in a tale that is both harrowing and heartbreaking.”
One reviewer was left beyond impressed with the actors and said: “The actors are superb at impressing some humanity onto this ugliness.”
While another showered high praise on the rousing portrayal of war and wrote: “This taut, emotionally wrenching snapshot of both the mythologies and grim realities of war possesses useful reminders about self-deception and abuse of power, especially at a time when bellicose rhetoric and war cabinets seem to be the order of the day.”
One review commended the director’s vision: “Saul Dibb’s World War 1 tale of British soldiers in the trenches is a bleak, sobering experience that puts audiences through a wringer. It’s also an emotional powerhouse you will not forget.”
Audiences were left equally impressed, with one viewer writing: “Such a tragic end It had a profound effect on me! Making me study operation Micheal in great detail. 5 star film.”
One moving audience review said: “A beautiful film, focuses more on the interactions between the different officers, their psychological state and each one’s reaction to their situation. A well crafted homage so the memories of the ones who have suffered so much will not be forgotten, from the writer of the original play as well as to his comrades.”
While one viewer called Journey’s End a “riveting movie” with “superb acting” and declared it was “one of the best antiwar movies that I have seen”, another audience review said: “Superb study of PTSD and the massacre and hopelessness of war. Best adaptation of a play I can think of. Much of it relies on the excellent acting and close ups. So hard to see how this could work on stage.”
Journey’s End is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.