Overview
A soldier grapples with the emotional weight of duty and love amidst the chaos of war.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- restrained
- melancholic
- intimate
- reflective evening
- serious drama night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's deft, timely handling of grief and war's aftermath, along with its nuanced direction and superb performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Will Montgomery and Tony Stone visit next of kin to formally report soldiers killed in Iraq, making bereavement procedure the film's central dramatic arena.
Will is physically wounded and psychologically unhealed as he attempts to resume relationships and complete his enlistment in the United States.
The notification visits and Olivia's mourning are presented with controlled performances and social awkwardness instead of conventional tearjerker excess.
Experienced, recovering alcoholic Tony mentors inexperienced, wounded Will while both confront the psychological burdens of casualty work.
Films like The Messenger, and why
In the Valley of Elah
shared postwar trauma, intimate character study, restrained emotional realism, and friendship between damaged men
The Hurt Locker
shared Iraq War aftermath, wounded veterans, moral unease, and grounded dramatic storytelling
Rabbit Hole
shared grief, emotional restraint, damaged relationships, and quietly cathartic drama
The Lucky Ones
shared military trauma, bereavement, and understated performances centered on difficult human connection
Movie Details
- Director
- Oren Moverman
- Release Date
- 2009-11-13
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (502)
Cast
- Ben Foster
- Woody Harrelson
- Jena Malone
- Eamonn Walker
- Samantha Morton
- Steve Buscemi
- Dale Soules
- Stevie Ray Dallimore
- Michael Chernus
- Yaya DaCosta
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, Philo, OVID, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cineverse, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Messenger about?
- A wounded Iraq veteran delivers death notifications to grieving families while struggling to rebuild intimacy, sobriety, and a workable life at home.
- What is The Messenger like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Messenger as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Messenger violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Messenger as mild.
- What did critics think of The Messenger?
- Critics broadly praised the film's deft, timely handling of grief and war's aftermath, along with its nuanced direction and superb performances.
- Which films are like The Messenger?
- Films with a similar feel include In the Valley of Elah, The Hurt Locker, Rabbit Hole, and The Lucky Ones.
- How long is The Messenger?
- The Messenger runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Messenger?
- In United States, The Messenger streams on fuboTV, Philo, OVID, Fandor Amazon Channel, Cineverse, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
