War in the Movies: War Hunt 1962 Robert Redford

War Hunt is a war drama set during the final days of the Korean War. The film opens with a fresh-faced recruit, Private Roy Loomis (played by Robert Redford, in his screen debut), arriving at the front lines, where the soldiers are entrenched and waiting out the last moments of the war. Loomis quickly learns that the mood among his fellow soldiers is tense, but not due to enemy fire; rather, it is due to the unsettling behavior of one of their own, Private Raymond Endore (played by John Saxon).

Endore is a mysterious and isolated figure. At night, while his comrades are resting, he sneaks out to perform clandestine solo raids behind enemy lines, using a knife to kill North Korean soldiers silently. Endore seems less motivated by duty and more driven by a pathological desire for violence. He does not just kill the enemy but engages in ritualistic behavior, taking trophies and performing burial rites for his victims. Endore's macabre actions unsettle the other soldiers, who are unsure of how to deal with him.

Loomis, disturbed by Endore's actions, tries to engage him, and a peculiar bond forms between the two. Endore has also taken under his wing a young Korean orphan, named Charlie (Tommy Matsuda), whom he treats almost like an apprentice in his strange and violent ways. Loomis becomes increasingly concerned about the influence Endore is having on the boy, fearing that Charlie may become desensitized to the horrors of war.

The tension builds as the war winds down and a ceasefire is declared. However, Endore's inability—or unwillingness—to adapt to the cessation of violence becomes more pronounced. Loomis, determined to protect the boy and prevent Endore's violent tendencies from continuing, confronts Endore in a gripping climax.

In the end, the movie raises difficult questions about the psychological toll of war on soldiers, the fine line between duty and madness, and the influence of war on children. The film concludes on an ambiguous note, leaving the viewer to ponder whether Loomis's attempt to save Charlie has truly succeeded or if the scars of war will ultimately prove too deep.

War Hunt stands out as a unique and deeply psychological take on the war genre, especially when compared to more conventional war films of its era. Directed by Denis Sanders, the film is notable for its focus on character-driven drama, particularly its exploration of the psychological consequences of war. It's a smaller-scale, intimate film, yet it manages to deliver potent commentary on the brutality of warfare and the effect it has on those who partake in it.

One of the film's most striking features is its atmosphere of eerie tension. Unlike many war films that focus on large battles or action-packed sequences, War Hunt is more about the quiet, unsettling moments. The scenes involving Endore's nocturnal missions and his interactions with the young boy Charlie are disturbing and create a sense of moral ambiguity. Endore’s character, played with chilling intensity by John Saxon, is at once pitiable and terrifying—a man clearly broken by war, whose psychotic tendencies manifest in grotesque ways. His portrayal of a soldier who has become unmoored from conventional morality is both fascinating and horrifying.

Robert Redford, in his first on-screen role, delivers a solid performance as Loomis. Even though the film doesn't focus solely on him, his portrayal of the naive yet morally steadfast soldier provides an important counterpoint to Endore's descent into madness. Loomis’s interactions with Endore and his growing concern for Charlie create the film's emotional backbone, as he tries to navigate the ethical dilemmas presented by both the war and Endore’s actions. Redford’s performance may not have the polish of his later roles, but it’s easy to see the star power that would later define his career.

The film also explores the theme of war’s impact on children, embodied in the character of Charlie, the orphaned boy. His relationship with Endore introduces a tragic element, as we see how the violence and trauma of war can poison innocence. The film subtly critiques the cycles of violence that wars create, particularly how the young and impressionable are often drawn into that cycle, either by force or circumstance.

Stylistically, War Hunt is restrained and almost minimalist, which works in its favor. The black-and-white cinematography adds to the bleakness of the setting and the overall mood of the film. The lack of large-scale battle scenes focuses the viewer’s attention on the personal struggles of the characters. This allows War Hunt to delve deeper into its thematic concerns without the distractions of elaborate war set pieces. The film's quiet moments of introspection and confrontation between the characters give it an almost claustrophobic intensity.

While the movie is not widely remembered or as famous as other war films from the early 1960s, it’s an important entry in the genre due to its psychological depth and anti-war message. In its own way, War Hunt anticipates later war films that would take a more critical look at the personal costs of war, such as Apocalypse Now or Full Metal Jacket.

War Hunt is a somber, introspective film that addresses the darker psychological aspects of war. While it may not have the action sequences or epic scale of many war films from the same period, its power comes from its ability to evoke deep discomfort and thought through its characters and moral ambiguities. John Saxon’s haunting portrayal of a soldier lost to his violent impulses, and Robert Redford’s earnest turn as a soldier seeking to preserve some humanity in the madness, anchor this underrated gem. If you appreciate war films that focus more on psychological drama than action, War Hunt is well worth your time.