‘It has a hook in me, one that you cannot see, but it is there…’
You know what you’re getting with a Guy Ritchie film. A heist. Smart-talking gangsters. Lots of guns and lots of fun. And I’m here for that. But all that being said, The Covenant is a different beast entirely. This is a serious movie and it goes some way to proving that Ritchie is far from a one-trick pony…
There are a lot of twists and turns in this one so I’ll remain light on plot. Sergeant John Kinley (Jake Gyllenhaal) develops a bond with Ahmed (Dar Salim) a local interpreter. Together, the two men will embark on a violent and life-changing odyssey into the depths of hell. Yes. That’s right. I have gone full ’90s VHS-box plot description. And it feels good.
Ritchie has always been adept at coaxing good performances out of his leads (see Brad Pitt in Snatch or Hugh Grant in The Gentleman – probably avoid Madonna in Swept Away, mind) and The Covenant is no exception with Gyllenhaal at his brooding best and Salim, an actor I knew very little about going into this film, also excellent. Together they share a compelling and authentic chemistry that carries The Covenant and ensures that the film feels different to Ritchie’s usual fare. There is very little humour here, but then there doesn’t need to be. The story is captivating enough and the characters absorbing enough on their own without Ritchie’s trademark one-liners and needle drops. This is a film that requires neither bells nor whistles. It is merely an engrossing story told well.
The Covenant is proof that Ritchie remains one of the UK’s most interesting filmmakers. Well worth seeking out.