The Mark of Cain (2007) User Reviews

Very good effort

[raven22-2 · 7/10 · 2 February 2007]

This movie had its World Premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Unfortunately it didn't have any subtitles, so the British-English dialog was sometimes very hard to understand.

The movie follows a group of British soldiers in Iraq showing their sometimes forced humiliation against Iraqi soldiers, their psychological problems, the cover ups in the British army and the outcome during a trial.

The movie is obviously low budget, but the outcome is very well. The first quarter of the film starts powerful, then it skips to TV drama style for a while, (i didn't really like that) but the ending is again very powerful.

7.5/10. I wonder if this movie is still going to be aired on television or if they decide to release this is in cinema. It is certainly a lot better than the standard blockbuster films we see....

The flashback and flash forward structure of the telling removes most of the power of the story

[dbborroughs · 5/10 · 31 January 2009]

British film about soldiers in the early days of the current Iraq war who get in over their heads when the death of their captain prompts abuse of several detainees. Well made, good looking film that shoots itself in the foot by completely jumbling the time frame of the story. We get scenes that start and then move to another scene before getting too far in, to be replaced by another scene and then another and then back to the first and so on. All of the flash forwards and backs completely kill any real suspense about what happens since the bits we are given more or less reveal what is going to happen. It takes the edge off everything and makes it considerably less then its parts. How can we feel the shock of what happens when you have a good idea at the start. This is just an okay Iraq war film when it should have been one of the better one.

Almost good

[graphi · 7/10 · 11 November 2007]

Although Mark of Cain isn't a bad movie, and most of the acting is in fact pretty good, it seems to be lacking a clear purpose. For a movie that aims to make a political statement, it seems to pull its punches at the most crucial moments. As a movie that wants to tell a story about a modern war, although realistic and often gritty, it is not nearly as powerful as Platoon or as intricate as Jarhead. In fact, the power of the story seems to peter out after the first two-thirds of the movie. For example, the technique of starting with a crucial scene, and then flashing back to this scene as the story unfolds, becomes less powerful. Eventually, the viewer pretty well knows what to expect. Watch Mark of Cain, expect some poignant scenes, but don't expect any new insights in that fiasco known as Iraq and don't expect to see war's truly horrific face.

Falls down a bit in the final third but is mostly strong and convincing

[bob the moo · 6 May 2007]

Once the mission was "accomplished" in Iraq and the end of major combat operations was announced, parts of the country were handed over to the armed forces for the purposes of enforcing the peace and winning over the hearts and minds of the newly free Iraqi people. A group of British soldiers are stationed in Basra to this end under a steady commander. However when a patrol is ambushed and their commander is lost, the decision is made to enforce justice fast and hard to send a clear message out.

This was originally down to be screened in the week that the British sailors were being held after being captured supposedly in Iranian waters. Channel 4 folded under pressure and pulled the screening because it was said it may "inflame" the situation and make it harder for the UK to find a democratic solution. I'm not sure if this was true (as it turned out they were actually released on the day this was postponed) because it was only ever going to be watched by a million or two if that, plus the story was already contrasting obviously with footage of how the US and UK treated prisoners (which I assume was why Iran made such a big show of how they hold our prisoners).

Anyway, although it is stated up front that this is a work of fiction, it is clear that it has been very well researched because it does strike home as very convincing. This is most evident in the first half as the squaddies patrol the Basra streets, innocence is lost, violence is sudden and the soldiers react in different ways. This much is very well done and the script rings true. The main scene of action is really well delivered and it is well used as it folds into the changes in the characters and what they end up doing. This is rather lost near the end where I wasn't sold on it. Suddenly the script becomes clunky with characters speaking in "moral arguments" and speeches rather than sounding like real people. This also coincides with the narrative becoming weaker as well.

To me this occurred where we went too much into the court case and had too much said that didn't need to be said. It would have been better to have had a much more subtle touch but it doesn't manage it. It is a shame and not even the performances of the lead two can totally convince in these later stages. This is saying something though because I thought the cast was mostly very good, with particular credit being owed to Kearns and McNulty. Gregory and Dooley are also strong and it is only some of the actors playing the brass who are a bit weaker.

Despite the flaws associated with the final third, the film is actually very strong and convincingly written and delivered.

Steaming pile of crap for liberal consumption - Don't waste your time

[bob1134 · 1/10 · 21 May 2008]

As a 2 tour Iraq vet, I was taken to this movie as a birthday outing and didn't realize the "plot" was supposed to be an Iraqi war commentary.

It's difficult to know where to start unwinding this tangled yarn of agenda, malfeasance, and outright lies, but the theater didn't keep our money that evening. We WALKED OUT after about 1/2 hour of watching this drivel, and demanded our money back. (Which they most-assuredly were willing to return to us) If you think lying to the American people is bad, this movie was obviously made for FOREIGN CONSUMPTION, so that the miserable wretches who conspired to make and distribute this pile of of crap, could make money SELLING OUT America AND KILLING American BOYS.

And if you don't think this kind of garbage winds up killing Americans, you really ought to read some history and (gasp) maybe even serve your country in patriotism.

The wages of war

[paul2001sw-1 · 8/10 · 18 May 2007]

Tony Marchant's film 'The Mark of Cain' tells three stories: that of the impossible task facing British soldiers in Iraq; that of the terrible cruelties they inflicted on Iraqi suspects; and that of a cover-up in the chain of command. The story is fictional but based on true events; however, there's less evidence in the real world for the cover-up than for the other two elements, and while it seems plausible, this aspect of the tale feels more "written" than the other two. And as always with Marchant, there's a careful and clever manipulation of the viewer's sympathies throughout: I never quite feel that Marchant gives me the space to form my own opinion. But it's strong stuff, well-performed and unflinching, even if it doesn't really say much in the end except that bad things happen in war.

An evocative modern dilemma

[dubber1220 · 8/10 · 12 April 2007]

A seemingly accurate portrait of the British Army immiediately post combat, but drawn into the turbulence of post war Iraq, with the start of sectarian fighting, and bombings.

Based on the experiences of two young lads, and their squad, in Basra in 2003, after the fall of Saddam Hussein, and the legacy as they return home.

Many people may find the home scenes just as poignant as the Iraq scenes. An interesting angle on how young people often try to block out negative thinking.

There are many moral issues to be drawn from this film. Recommended.

we came to liberate

[recrea33 · 9/10 · 12 April 2007]

this is an important war movie. the best war movie i've seen since 'three kings' not much shooting or setpiece explosive action mind you. movie critics are uneasy at its stark portrayal of dysfunctional army ways and its psychopathic sergeant whilst we are still in the midst of that same war.

it seems disloyal somehow. to our boys in the field to lay bare the prosaic anatomy of torture so powerfully. but i think this is a film all true soldiers will love.

they say the first casualty of war is truth and they're not far wrong. because war is horrendous.

it's just a damn shame that after all the classic Vietnam war movies that there will be another crop of classic iraq war movies. (eg gunner palace)

Vivid, distateful and unsettling, but representative?

[rcadean · 8/10 · 16 December 2007]

This isn't a war film per se, but rather a film about the conflict between loyalty and morality. The question is where do you draw the line between loyalty to the regiment and the morality of your actions? This film is powerful stuff but I can't help but feel that this film is somehow unrepresentative of the British Army in Iraq. I have to say that it has left a rather foul taste in my mouth, but this may well be down to my refusal to think about the examples of brutality in custody that have taken place rather than the film's depiction of those crimes. So in regards to the effectiveness of the film at portraying its subject the film is most effective. The acting is strong throughout as is the cinematography and the sparse soundtrack. I won't watch it again as I have nothing further to gain from it. I think, in retrospect that it is still too recent an event to gain any further wisdom from. Although it is not 'based on true events' there have been instances of abuse that have culminated in criminal cases. But would we gain anything from watching a feature film about the abuses at Abu Grahib only three years after the events?

How Real ?

[iceq-2 · 8/10 · 25 April 2007]

Alright . I have just finished watching the movie, and I am glad we finally got something showing the real thing of whats going on in Iraq. Can I say the movie is real ? No, because in fact its showing the tiniest part of reality; as Iraqis are not only tortured as the movie shows, they are killed tens of times while they're alive, not to mention the crimes of chastity, which Muslims protect most, through the liberation troops' sexual assaults of Iraqi girls, particularly before their fathers or brothers, or husbands.

One thing is important, and the movie suffers because of it, is not having subtitles. Indeed British English is hardly understandably, and the more important is the Arabic spoken by locals, as the Arabic speeches during the movie are very important to understand what is going on, and basically, you would not recognize how much the locals involved in the movie's plot suffer, unless you understand what is said by them.

Thanx for the creators .. of course a very good movie , fair and just

top film

[matt17112007 · 9/10 · 31 July 2014]

As with all films there is exaggeration but this definitely shows to an extent what happened in 2003 and is based on a true event that happened yet some things have been changed I no first hand what this true event is about....please google it to find out...I didn't have to as I followed this case closely wen then real lads were on trial

I thoroughly enjoyed this film and im glad we finally have a British film that depicts 'life' as a soldier in the British army instead of all this Hollywood over the top crap that make everything seem cool and exciting rather than looking like the worse thing anyone cud ever imagine which in most wars/conflicts actually are

Insulting

[aryan-40242 · 10 June 2016]

This film angered me so much, I've written a review on it even given the age of it now.

It appears after reading other reviews that are clearly written by people with hatred for the British Army or by people who have no idea what war is like, or even what life in the army is like. With people honestly saying that this is an accurate portrayal of what happens in war and that it paints an honest picture of what went on in Iraq. That's either seriously misguided or biased thinking or just downright slanderous lies.

As somebody who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, this film does nothing but insult me and every young man and woman who has served and those who are still serving. It paints the army to be a bunch of young, sadistic, idiotic thugs, it couldn't be any more wrong if it tried.

Utterly disgusting and s***s all over the efforts in Iraq of both the living and the deceased . The director should be ashamed of himself for this steaming turd.

Must watch.

[barberic-695-574135 · 8/10 · 3 July 2018]

A story based on fact, really well depicted. Fundamentally, the film looks at the way humans behave (savagely) when seemingly normal people are put into Highly abnormal situations and the lengths to which humans will go to fit in. If you have a strong stomach for the most demeaning kind of violence portrayed on film then this is a must watch movie. An excellent film, moving and provoking. At the time of writing this review, we had already watched this movie 6 times since it´s release in 2007. Would we watch it again, absolutely.