The Middle East continues to be a hotbed of unrest. That was especially the case in 2015 when Yemen’s recognized government fell from an Islamic extremist takeover and UAE allied forces were implemented to back the Yemeni military and help keep peace in the region among civilians. This was ultimately the backdrop of a harrowing story of courage under fire that has since been adapted for the screen for Taken, The Gunman and Peppermint helmer Pierre Morel, who departs from his more escapist fanfare for Saban Films’ latest Arabic-language release, The Ambush (Al Kameen/الكمين).
Our story is set in early 2018 and introduces us to the Emirati soldiers at Mocha Base, where the men commence their daily routines. Ali (Marwan Abdulla Saleh), Bilal (Khalifa Al Jassem), and Hindasi (Mohammed Ahmed) are on a mission to investigate some activity just up the road from a remote hut, only to find themselves as the first of multiple armored cars under a vicious mortar attack by heavily-armed Al Houthi opposition forces and their leader (Ghanim Nasser). Pinned into a kill box with nowhere to go, it’s up to Colonels Al Katri (Mansoor Al-Fili) and Almazroui (Abdulla Saeed Bin Haider) and the brave men and women of the UAE allied forces to save their men and neutralize the impending threat.
Written by Kurtis Birtell and Brandon Birtell, The Ambush is told with a healthy balance of screen time shared between multiple characters, coupled with some interesting dramatic, and even a few comedic moments. The fallout between Ali and Falasi (Abdulla Alrashdi) over the handling of Ali’s gym equipment is the first example of the film’s exploration of the fracas and subsequent camaraderie among the men and becomes a standing moment that foreshadows the rest of the film, hinging on a message that’s as poetic as it is ruminative by one of the film’s final shots.
Per the film’s plot, most of the storyline is set in the mountainous canyon where Ali and his men are trapped in their armored vehicle. At one point Ali, Bilal and Hindasi have been trapped for way too long in their armored vehicle as they await for the Quick Response Force to arrive. With the other two severely injured, they desperately break out from the vehicle under the cover of smoke as the terrorists surround the vehicle, on all sides, looking to shoot anyone they see moving, leading up to the pivotal moment Ali makes the most daring attempt of his life to seek support.
There’s no shortage of intensity amidst the explosive action and imminent danger in The Ambush, with some amazing signature heroic moments. At one point the troops on the ground are assisted by an Apache fighter pilot as she makes the rounds and lays waste to the enemy forces, going toe-to-toe in a dogfight with RPGs, while another key moment later sees Captain Saeed Al Shehhi (Saeed Al Harsh) make a daring attempt to hunt down and take out a sniper from atop a nearby cliff. These are just some of the more critical and thrilling moments of The Ambush among which all are essential in its illustrative messaging of unity and teamwork in the face of evil and uncertainty.
Morel’s latest ripped-from-the-headlines dramatic war thriller is certainly not without its share of poignance and pathos. It’s backed by solemn performances and a well-rounded cast, and carefully scored stunts that nourish the action and danger our screen protagonists face for the film’s near-two hour duration, all signed off with a tribute to a real hero who gave his life during this deadly firefight well over four years ago. The Ambush more than enriches Morel’s career, as it underscores his ability to direct and spotlight an international cast for the kind of film that normally doesn’t get a lot of exposure. If you enjoyed Matthew Michael Carnahan’s Mosul, Morel’s latest harrowing and touching war epic is right up your alley.
The Ambush is available in theaters from Saban Films beginning October 28, and OnDemand and digital from November 1.