Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant (2023) || War, Brotherhood and a Debt of Honor

 War films don’t always pull me in. I mostly skip them except I see a trailer that’s compelling enough. This is because they mostly feel like the same explosions and military tropes recycled again and again. But *The Covenant* just hits differently. ^{maybe it’s because it’s Guy Ritchie’s or because Jake’s in it. Lol} Well, the beauty in it is that it's not just about shootings and bombings here and there with no clear storyline but it shows trust, loyalty and what it means to owe someone your life. That’s what hooked me.  **Synopsis(possible spoilers I guess)** The film follows the U.S. Army Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his Afghanistan interpreter, Ahmed (Dar Salim). After a mission of hunting for bomb mines goes wrong and several of Kinley’s men are gunned down, save himself and Ahmed, they seek a way to escape. But when Kinley eventually gets hit, Ahmed saves his life, dragging him through dangerous territory of the Talibs at great personal risk.  Kinley is back in America and is well but feels indebted to Ahmed after learning that Ahmed and his family are being hunted by the Taliban. He is unable to ignore the debt and works tirelessly to make sure he gets Ahmed out of the hole he’s been hiding in. Now that’s where the “covenant” comes in.  What I found really impressive about this film is the relationship between Kinley and Ahmed. It feels raw and real. Jake Gyllenhaal brings his usual intensity, but it’s Dar Salim who floored me. Ahmed isn’t just a side character, he’s the heart of the film, torn between protecting his family and standing by his promise. Their dynamic is the emotional engine, and it makes the action sequences matter more because it makes you care what happens to them.  And then there’s the action itself. Brutal, but not overblown. Ritchie doesn’t go for flashy gunfights or stylized slow-mo here. Instead, it feels grounded, tense, sweaty. You hear every bullet and feel the weight of every decision. The Afghan landscapes are stark and beautiful, and the atmosphere really hammers home how unforgiving the situation is.  I admire the fact that the film isn’t idealized. Some parts feel stretched and you can sense Ritchie trying to balance action spectacle with heavy emotional weight, sometimes leaning too far one way or the other. But honestly? The sincerity of the story outweighs the flaws.  Another interesting aspect is that the film never loses sight of the “covenant.” It’s about what people owe each other when survival is on the line. It’s less a war movie and more a story of brotherhood, sacrifice and unfinished debts that haunt you until you make them right.  Would I recommend it? Absolutely and that’s especially if you want a war film with more heart than hype. This one lingers with you long after the credits roll.  Rating: 8/10.