Amazon Prime users looking for a lesser-known war film can watch a “hidden gem”, which stars Brendan Cowell, Harrison Gilbertson, and Steve Le Marquand. Beneath Hill 60 is a World War One drama which boasts an impressive 85 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and has left viewers holding their breath, and includes “fabulous graphics and sounds.” Released in 2010 and directed by Jeremy Sims, the film provides a harrowing representation of miner Oliver Woodward and how despicable trench warfare fighting was during WWI. The plot follows the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company’s efforts and is reportedly based on a true story of a Belgian campaign in 1917.
The main synopsis focuses on brave tunnellers and miners who dug deep under rat-infested trenches to plant explosives and gain yards of the frontline. British actor Hugo Weaving was reported to play Oliver Woodward, but turned down the role due to his claustrophobia. The position eventually went to Brendan Cowell.
Critics gave the film plenty of positive reviews after its release. Giles Hardie from the Sydney Morning Herald said, “Beneath Hill 60 for a while feels almost embarrassed to be a big war flick, but once it finds its nerve, it genuinely excels.”
A review from The Age Australia said, “The film certainly deserves to stand alongside such films as Gallipoli (1981), Kokoda, The Odd Angry Shot (1979) and Breaker Morant (1979).”
One audience viewer commented on Rotten Tomatoes saying, “Fantastic film, epic and action packed. Townsville provided a perfect location for filming. I have watched it many many times and will continue to do so.”
A second person also typed on the ratings website, “An astonishing movie told with heart and greatness. It’s a movie that’s perfect all the way through and very moving and told with such vivid depictions of World War One life, love, and loss. I highly recommend it.”
A third also similarly echoed, “It’s rare to see a World War I film that doesn’t overstep itself and becomes a didactic speech about the horrors of war. While containing anti-war elements, Beneath Hill 60 does a fantastic job keeping the focus of the story on the occurrence of the battle instead of turning into a lecture.”
Beneath Hill 60 is now available to rent on Prime Video.