The Objective

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The Objective

Released Feb 4, 2009

1h 30m

Horror

Sci-Fi

Mystery & Thriller

War

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Popcornmeter

33%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

32%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Ben Keynes (Jonas Ball) is a CIA agent who is monitoring the Middle East region following the September 11th attacks. After seeing satellite readings in Afghanistan that seem to reveal radioactive material, he assumes terrorists are planning to construct a nuclear bomb. Keynes leads a reconnaissance mission into the area along with local guide Abdul (Chems-Eddine Zinoune). Abdul warns that they are venturing into sacred territory. When the soldiers ignore him, the consequences are dire.

Mark Olsen

Los Angeles Times

[Director] Myrick does an admirable job of spinning tension from a group of guys mostly standing around, but too often the film's portentous tone seems more silly than suspenseful.

Rated: 2.5/5

Mar 13, 2009

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Alissa Simon

Variety

With a low-budget look, cliched dialogue, a stale plot and so-so acting, this supernatural thriller is unlikely to achieve the phenomenal success of its fabled predecessor.

May 22, 2008

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Frank Scheck

The Hollywood Reporter

Although the film has an undeniably strong, suspenseful tone -- not to mention symbolic resonance -- it doesn't rise above its overly familiar setup.

May 15, 2008

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David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a passable yet rather tedious piece of work.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 11, 2011

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Cynthia Fuchs

PopMatters

When the straggling survivors in The Objective learn they are expendable, they are also, much like the Nostromo crew, upset.

Rated: 5/10

Apr 7, 2009

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Luke Y. Thompson

L.A. Weekly

Ten years on, it's hard to begrudge the director for trying to make a comeback by rehashing his prior formula, but perhaps he should have stuck even closer and handed the cameras to the actors again

Mar 11, 2009

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Mickey S

This movie sucks. Good try though..✌

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/06/23

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Audience Member

Informative movie on Special Forces and CIA in Afghanistan. It will have you on the edge of your seat while trying to figure out what the heck is going on with these mysterious flying objects called Vimana and their connection to the Taliban.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

nothing ever happens!!

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

http://letterboxd.com/zbender/film/the-objective/ From the guy the who helped make The Blairwitch Project, comes more of the same, but this time using veterans as a vehicle in which to guide the expedition. A group of soldiers go out looking for their "objective" Muhammad to interrogate. They need to search the desert, but they're going to be surprised when they find something more mysterious then the people themselves (seriously just think of the citizens in context with the idea that they're like the ghosts. Not like us, mysterious. This could've been viewed as xenophobic). Ready to go ghostbusting (that is something they actually said. *groans*)? The Objective started out pretty promising. I'm not much of a war movie fan, but a combination of engaging voice over, and an intense, dramatic operation are what kept me going.... For the first 30 minutes. At this point the film took a nosedive as this film meanders. Literally and figuratively. The soldiers meander through the desert wondering what the fuck is happening to our soldiers?!? And me as an audience member gets lost. I wasn't even aware this was a supernatural thriller until you see the laughable CGI through thermal heat vision. This is interspersed with too much voice over that talks about some bullshit philosophical talk. With extra sprinklings of exposition. In other words: it got boring, I got lost, it felt like 3 hours long. This is one to pass up. If this is like Blairwitch I don't think I'll be interested in that either (it's not in found footage, btw. The stories are just supposedly similar). Nothing unique to see here.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Nice movie with many action and intrigue I thought this happened in real life but it is not how ever it was fantastic don't know with the critic and people gave to few votes.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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daniel s

A tantalizingly ambiguous setup with a great deal of atmosphere that ultimately putters to nowhere.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Daniel Myrick

Director

Jonas Ball

Ben Keynes

Jon Huertas

Vincent Degetau

Matthew R. Anderson

Wally

Jacqueline Harris

Matilde Seymour

Sam Hunter

Tim Cole

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Synopsis

Ben Keynes (Jonas Ball) is a CIA agent who is monitoring the Middle East region following the September 11th attacks. After seeing satellite readings in Afghanistan that seem to reveal radioactive material, he assumes terrorists are planning to construct a nuclear bomb. Keynes leads a reconnaissance mission into the area along with local guide Abdul (Chems-Eddine Zinoune). Abdul warns that they are venturing into sacred territory. When the soldiers ignore him, the consequences are dire.

Director: Daniel Myrick
Producer: Zev Guber, Jeremy Wall
Screenwriter: Daniel Myrick, Mark A. Patton, Wesley Clark
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Kasbah-Film Tanger
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Mystery & Thriller, War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 4, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 28, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $95
Runtime: 1h 30m

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