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Only the Dead

Play trailer Poster for Only the Dead 2015 1h 17m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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88% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In 2003, war correspondent Michael Ware travels to Baghdad during the invasion. As he tries to find out about a brutal Al Qaeda leader, he receives a tape from Abu Musab al Zarqawi.

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Only the Dead

Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Guardian 02/18/2016
4/5
There are scenes here that you can't unsee, much as you might want to. Go to Full Review
Philippa Hawker The Age (Australia) 10/30/2015
3.5/5
There are occasions when more information or sustained introspection feels necessary, but there also times when images speak for themselves. Go to Full Review
Maximilian Von Thun CineVue 04/08/2019
3/5
The footage is incredible -- both in terms of what it shows and the danger Ware puts himself through to get it -- and permits none of the censorship we're accustomed to. Go to Full Review
Neil Smith Total Film 01/02/2017
3/5
This visceral, harrowing distillation of Wares seven years on the front line may not break any new ground. But it certainly brings that chaos to life ... Go to Full Review
Conor Bateman 4:3 03/02/2016
Not Recommended
Only The Dead lacks a consistent self-reflexivity, coming across as a hybrid of simplistic narrative account of the war and personal diary. Go to Full Review
Glenn Dunks The Film Experience 01/20/2016
B
Given this is assembled mostly from his own war correspondents videos, Ware is at the centre of most of the footage and your response to the film will largely depend on your response to him and his true blue blokey personality. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Kenneth L 06/17/2023 An excellent documentary about the Iraq war with some truly chilling footage of stuff I hadn't seen before. See more 08/09/2019 A very compelling war documentary. I watched it twice with equal interest. See more 05/30/2019 This is absolutely brutal to watch, but it is one of the first war documentaries that has allowed viewers to witness the true horror of war. See more 01/22/2019 I remember where I was when the trade towers here hit, as well as where I was when the first bombs started falling on Iraq in America's "war on terror". I followed the deteriorating situation, and remember Michael Ware's correspondence from that area. There's a lot of footage here I've never seen before. I can understand why for most of it, as the scenes are frequently too bloody for TV. I appreciate this film for that footage, as it helps put the final touches on my understanding of what the conflict was like on the ground. There's plenty of gritty war footage documentaries like this. I suppose most of them include correspondents waxing philosophical or introspective - but for some reason I can't quite explain, this particular film hit me harder than most. Wade lets his own personality in without editorializing too much. The film is about his gradual transformation from a scared-but-energetic journalist to someone who rediscovers himself and isn't happy with the results. The last segment contains footage he shot, describing it as the lowest point in his time there. This should be a great movie for anyone who thinks video game violence is realistic... See more 01/03/2019 Netfix 1/3/19 Only way to get closer to the action would be to enlist. Harrowing, true story telling. See more 01/27/2017 Brutal..Absolutely Brutal. It Is Rated R-18+ For A Reason, Being The Final Swan Song Of A War Correspondent The World Had Never Seen Before, But You Just Cannot Unsee What His Footage Portrays; The Depravity, Insanity, Pain & Hate All Flowing As Strong Undercurrents In The Pools Of Blood. The Filmmaking Is Without Doubt 5-Stars, But The Story, Well...Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid... See more Read all reviews
Only the Dead

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 2003, war correspondent Michael Ware travels to Baghdad during the invasion. As he tries to find out about a brutal Al Qaeda leader, he receives a tape from Abu Musab al Zarqawi.
Director
Bill Guttentag, Michael Ware
Producer
Paddy McDonald, Michael Ware
Screenwriter
Michael Ware
Production Co
Screen Australia
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Runtime
1h 17m
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