‘Hounds of War’ (2024) Movie Review - Frank Grillo’s Mercenary Showdown Goes Retro

Imagine a 90s action flick caught in a time warp and dropped into 2024. That’s Hounds of War in a nutshell. With Frank Grillo leading the charge, it’s a tale of soldiers of fortune, questionable morals, and a dash of conspiracy. But if you were expecting some gritty, modern war drama with deep emotional turmoil, think again. This is a film that proudly wears its testosterone on its sleeve, and well, it makes no apologies for it.

Frank Grillo plays, well, Frank Grillo – that classic hardened, morally gray merc who probably eats bullets for breakfast. He’s back at it again with a crew of elite mercenaries, this time betrayed by Robert Patrick’s scheming villain who clearly enjoys playing "I’ll stab you in the back for money" a little too much. If you're surprised by that, you must be new to the genre. Patrick's performance is just the right amount of sleaze, and you can almost see him twirling an invisible mustache with each line.

Now, let’s talk about the fights because that’s what Hounds of War is really selling. Directed by Isaac Florentine, the action sequences are a blend of martial arts choreography that feels like a tribute to the late 90s straight-to-video era. You’ve got Florentine’s signature action style, all hyper-stylized combat with some decent brawling, and Grillo flexing his jiu-jitsu skills. It’s fun, but it's also predictable, like watching a rerun of your favorite Saturday morning action show where you already know the hero’s going to win, but you don’t care because, hey, the punches land with a satisfying thud.

Speaking of predictability, the plot isn’t going to win any points for originality. It's your standard revenge narrative: mercs get double-crossed, a lot of explosions follow, and there’s a showdown with the big bad. In fact, the movie feels almost too comfortable recycling every action trope imaginable. If there were an award for squeezing in the most clichés in under two hours, this film would take the gold.

Despite all the paint-by-numbers storytelling, there’s a certain charm to how unapologetically action-heavy Hounds of War is. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel; it just blows it up. Grillo is solid in his role, but there’s only so much a scowl and a clenched jaw can do when the script insists on keeping things surface-level. I kept waiting for the emotional payoff or some deeper character exploration, but it never arrived. Maybe Grillo’s character just doesn’t do feelings – fair enough.

Robert Patrick as the villain is perhaps the most engaging part of the movie. Sure, he’s one-dimensional, but he's having so much fun being evil that you can’t help but enjoy it too. It’s like he knows he’s in a B-grade action flick and decided to just go full ham. There’s also a fun supporting cast that gets in on the action – Joey Ansah, Lee Charles, and others bring some cool martial arts moves, which definitely spice things up.

The cinematography is serviceable, if not groundbreaking. You get your sweeping drone shots, desert landscapes, and shadowy backroom deals. The explosions are big and loud, which is a win in the "things go boom" department, but the film could have done without some of the over-the-top slow-motion shots that feel like they belong in an old-school Michael Bay movie.

As far as pacing goes, the film alternates between bursts of gunfire and moments where you’re waiting for the next set piece to roll around. The quieter scenes are usually spent explaining some convoluted double-cross, but honestly, you’re better off ignoring the plot details and just enjoying the fireworks.

The dialogue? Let’s just say it’s exactly what you’d expect from a film like this. The characters say things that sound cool in the moment, but when you think about it, you realize it’s all a bit cringe. A few lines might make you chuckle unintentionally, which I guess adds to the charm. It’s the kind of movie where characters are either talking about "the mission" or dramatically growling about "betrayal," and it works because they know we’re not here for the Shakespearean monologues.

So, should you watch Hounds of War? Well, if you’re into mindless action, Grillo’s signature brand of brooding, and some martial arts mixed with explosions, sure, why not? It’s a fun throwback that doesn’t pretend to be anything more than what it is – a big, dumb action movie with a budget just high enough to make the explosions look cool. Just don’t go in expecting any depth, and you’ll probably have a good time.

In the end, Hounds of War feels like comfort food for action junkies. It’s not going to blow your mind, but it’s loud, fast, and kind of fun in a guilty pleasure way. You won’t walk away having learned anything new about life, war, or even the characters, but sometimes that’s all you need from a movie like this. Just grab some popcorn, turn your brain off, and enjoy the chaos.

Final Score- [4/10]
Reviewed by - Anjali Sharma
Follow @AnjaliS54769166 on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times