“Good Kill” is a drama film about drones and the psychological impact of remote warfare. The movie follows Tom Egan, a former fighter pilot turned drone operator, who struggles with the morality of killing from thousands of miles away. He faces ethical dilemmas and ultimately questions whether he is doing more harm than good. The film highlights the dehumanizing nature of war and the emotional toll it takes on soldiers.
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Review
The Dark Side of Drones: Good Kill Shatters Our Illusions about Modern Warfare and Morality
If you think drone strikes are a clean and easy way to eliminate terrorists and protect innocent lives, watch Good Kill. If you believe that robotic warriors can replace humans in the battlefield without ethical dilemmas and emotional scars, watch Good Kill. If you assume that war is a necessary evil that brings out the best in some people and the worst in others, watch Good Kill. But be warned: this film will not make you feel good or safe or justified. It will make you question your assumptions, your values, and your humanity.
Good Kill is a 2014 American drama written and directed by Andrew Niccol, who has explored similar themes in his films Gattaca (1997), S1m0ne (2002), and Lord of War (2005). The movie stars Ethan Hawke as Major Thomas Egan, a former fighter pilot who now serves as a drone operator for the U.S. Air Force in Nevada. Egan operates a MQ-9 Reaper from afar, launching missiles at targets halfway across the world, while sitting in a dark room with his team of analysts, listening to radio chatter and watching live feeds from the drone’s cameras. Egan’s job is to identify “high-value” targets for elimination based on intelligence gathered by other agencies or informants. He has little context or control over the missions he carries out, except for occasional requests for “collateral damage estimates” or “target verification”. He rarely sees the aftermath of his strikes or hears about their consequences beyond his screen.
Egan struggles with moral fatigue, boredom, frustration, guilt, and doubt about what he does day after day. He misses flying real planes and being part of a tight-knit community of pilots who share risks and stories. He resents his boss Lieutenant Colonel Jack Johns (played by Bruce Greenwood) who treats the drone operators as mere button-pushers and ignores their mental health issues. He resents his wife Molly (played by January Jones) who tries to understand him but cannot relate to his job or his trauma. He resents the targets who seem like faceless enemies but may also be innocent civilians or misguided militants. He resents himself for being part of a system that dehumanizes both him and his targets, that reduces war to a video game where he can go home and have a beer after killing people.
Good Kill exposes the gap between the sanitized version of modern warfare that we see on TV and the messy reality behind it. It shows us how technology can deceive us into thinking that we are smarter, safer, and more effective than we really are. It shows us how distance can blur our moral boundaries and our empathy for others. It shows us how duty can clash with conscience, especially when we are asked to follow orders that violate our principles or common sense. It shows us how veterans can suffer from invisible wounds that go unacknowledged or untreated by society at large.
Good Kill also highlights the contradictions in U.S. foreign policy and war on terror, which has turned into a perpetual war without end or victory in sight. It questions the legality and legitimacy of drone strikes, which have killed thousands of people in several countries without due process or oversight. It challenges the effectiveness and accuracy of drone strikes, which have created more enemies than allies and failed to achieve their strategic goals. It criticizes the hypocrisy and double standards of U.S. officials who condemn other countries’ human rights abuses but justify their own violations in the name of national security.
Good Kill benefits from strong performances by its cast, especially Hawke who convincingly portrays Egan’s inner conflicts and struggles with authenticity and dignity. The supporting characters also add depth and nuance to the story, such as Zoe Kravitz as Egan’s co-pilot Suarez, who questions the purpose and morality of their job, or Jake Abel as Zimmer, a younger and more eager operator who sees the drone strikes as a way to advance his career. Greenwood and Jones also give solid performances as Egan’s superiors who represent different aspects of the military culture that both supports and harms its members.
Good Kill also features an excellent score by Christophe Beck, which enhances the mood and tension of the film without distracting from the story. The cinematography by Amir Mokri captures both the claustrophobic and expansive aspects of Egan’s world, from the dimly lit trailer where he works to the vast deserts where his targets live or die. The editing by Zach Staenberg reinforces the rhythm and pace of the film, which alternates between mundane routines and high-stakes missions.
Good Kill premiered at the 71st Venice International Film Festival in 2014 and has since received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its thought-provoking premise, realistic portrayal of drone warfare, and powerful acting, while others criticized its slow pacing, predictable plot twists, simplistic characterization of life outside work for Egan’s family, and lack of diversity in perspectives. The film has not earned many awards or nominations but has generated some buzz among audiences who appreciate its relevance to current issues related to war, technology, ethics, and mental health.
Good Kill is not a perfect film but it is a necessary one. It challenges us to rethink our assumptions about war and peace, humanity and machines, duty and conscience. It reminds us that behind every drone strike there are real people with names, families, dreams, fears,and hopes. It invites us to empathize with them all, not just our own side. As Egan puts it in one scene: “My only fear is that we have lost our decency.” Good Kill asks us if we can still find it.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 104
- Release : 2015-04-09
- Genre : Drama
- Cast : Ethan Hawke as Commandant Tom Egan, January Jones as Molly Egan, Zoë Kravitz as Airman Vera Suarez, Jake Abel as M.I.C. Joseph Zimmer, Bruce Greenwood as Lieutenant Colonel Jack Johns
- Crew : Avy Kaufman as Casting, Zach Staenberg as Editor, Andrew Niccol as Director, Andrew Niccol as Producer, Andrew Niccol as Writer
- Popularity 11.53
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : $316,472
- Company : Sobini Films, Dune Films, Voltage Pictures
- Summary : In the shadowy world of drone warfare, combat unfolds like a video game–only with real lives at stake. After six tours of duty, Air Force pilot Tom Egan now fights the Taliban from an air-conditioned bunker in the Nevada desert. But as he yearns to get back in the cockpit of a real plane and becomes increasingly troubled by the collateral damage he causes each time he pushes a button, Egan’s nerves—and his relationship with his wife—begin to unravel.
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