The Recce (2018) User Reviews (10)

If you're into tragedy...

[demitrinikiforos · 5/10 · 4 October 2018]

Based on the poster, summary, and trailer my wife and I purchased our tickets eagerly anticipating a South African version of Mission Impossible. The movie we sat down to was definitely not that. More of a slow-paced visualization of a one-man recce mission (seriously?) with a strong anti-war sentiment.

Yes, being a soldier in wartime is an unpleasant occupation, so I get the anti-war message. But having served in SADF myself in the 1980's, I believe SA's Border War vets/heroes deserve a great deal more honour than was bestowed upon them in this movie. We did defend our borders from insurgents & 'die rooi gevaar' was a very real threat. Consider the world at that time - it was at the height of the Cold War.

The demonization of the SADF brass in the movie is most unfortunate in my opinion. They did their fair share of border time themselves and truly earned their medals and awards. Hopefully some future movies will be made to pay homage to these elite fighters and their forces.

Back to RECCE: Sad to say, our fearless blood streaked hero, Henk Viljoen, doesn't make it home alive to celebrate the birth of his baby. Instead he is gunned down while asleep in a tree by an assassin (towards the end of the movie) and his body mercilessly cremated in the bush. Left me feeling really sorry for his wife!

What kind of movie is this? Definitely not a Mission Impossible! Personally I would categorize RECCE as a tragedy.

Shakespeare would love it.

Slow, unrealistic and pointless

[russeltfa · 1/10 · 20 September 2020]

The only good part was being able, on Showmax, to skip through all the senseless slow-motion and repetitions, to be able to see if he makes it or not. One of the most pointless, unrealistic, boring and slow (literally, with all the slow-motion) so called movies I have ever seen. NOT what I would expect from a South African film. And definitely NOT something I as a veteran would consider a reflection of the war or to honor those who served in it, on all sides.

Don't waste your time - very dissapointing

[gsvheerden · 1/10 · 6 October 2018]

I had high hopes for a movie about the South African border war. This movie was so far from factual that I barely watched it to the end. This is a communist propaganda film that depicts the South African military fighting against communism as the bad guys. It also shows that the most elite military unit of the South African military to be poorly trained, which is very far from the truth. The Recce units were the best in the world, yes even better than the SEAL teams of that time and probably could compare to today's SEAL team and their training. The film shows that the military did not care about its elite units (untrue) and that the military and their families did not know why they are fighting - very untrue. This film could also not get dates correct as well as military ranks. Although this film is not based on any true events it is the worst depiction of the African Military I could ever see and somehow shows the communists to be heroes. In the end I guess the world will always see the white Afrikaner as the bad guy because of the apartheid regime even though they were fighting the same enemy as the western world. I think the ANC government sponsored the creation of this film and directed it. Shameful!

Dissapointing version of such a specialized unit and the Border War

[neilfranklin-93311 · 2/10 · 9 June 2019]

Having served in the SANDF and fortunate to have done national service with the Recces and saw their professional and fierce character including four months in the Caprivi, I was hoping to see this captured for once, well in a movie. It deserves to be properly shown and this movie didn't deliver for me. I even purchased the DVD to form part of my good collection of books on the same topic. Just couldn't get going with a story line.

Poor effort

[deondocs · 1/10 · 16 March 2019]

I am shocked, disappointed, furious and speechless. Facts are wrong, timeline is wrong and the most infuriating issue is the political b.s. It falls inline with District 9 and Invictus. The political war continues in this propaganda as it depicts the South African Military in a poor light. The SADF were the most effective operational military force in Africa, and this movie does not do that justice. A 24 year war, backed by Russia, Cuba, America, and England and a few others appears to be our fault. Absolute B.S.

Dramatic & beautiful film

[miena-27817 · 10/10 · 9 October 2018]

Fantastic South African production with great production value! This film is fictional and an ode to the men that fought and died. Also to the woman and children and the innocents that were affected by the atrocities of war. Above all, the film lauds the courage, prowess and humanity intrinsic in the Recces. Great South African actors like Greg Kriek, Christia Visser, Marius Weyers, Grant Swanby etc. with brilliant acting performances! Beautiful scenery, outstanding cinematography! The film is yet another reminder how many people are still hurting after the border war. Indeed as described: A dramatic story of great sorrow in a time of war but also of faith, family and the good in people! Will recommend to everybody!

Poor

[nightsky-24849 · 1/10 · 29 March 2019]

Story line 1 star too much jumping from bush too family it breaks the action to dull moments they should have showed more action in the bush too much effort on family back home however the families did suffer to they could have made a seperate movie about that... Production 1 star out of 10 Cast 1 star out of 10 Special effects 1 star out of 10 Make up 2 star out of 10

Worst Border War movie EVER

[jftitmus · 1/10 · 26 December 2022]

Not just a pathetic, biased storyline, but from a realistic side VERY weak. Uncocked rifles in a "warzone"? Saluting without a hat? Camo? The best actor was the Captain, with Weyers & Maritz not getting enough screen time. The story jumps around so much it was like a VERY bad Tarantino style, without the skills to even be allowed to use an old Super 8 camera. The use of "Filters" to create some kind of effect didn't work. A PATHETIC attempt and discredits one of the best fighting units ever. Shameful. I would've expected an attempt like this to at least have employed a technical advisor to make sure of protocols and expected levels of activities.

I've seen cancer move faster

[eagleestates · 1/10 · 12 January 2021]

Don't waste your time. Sadly disappointed in how a member of a unit that was considered one of the best in the world was depicted like this.

The film makers should have taken the option to have a military advisor on board and been truer to the recces professionalism.

Brilliant

[mariusoosthuizen · 10/10 · 24 September 2020]

Dramatic scenes,fantastic music and all round outstanding acting