Steven Luke's problematic World War II thriller OperationSeawolf doesn't do enough to make its Nazi protagonists or their experiences worthy of your attention.
At a time when anti-Semitic extremists are storming the U.S Capitol, running for office, and declaring war on Jewish people via social media, it might not be the best time for a movie that expects you to sympathize with Nazis. And yet, that hasn’t stopped Operation Seawolf from sailing into theaters and on-demand streaming services this month.
The devils you know Written and directed by Steven Luke, Operation Seawolf casts Lundgren alongside Andrew Stecker as an ambitious lieutenant aboard Kessler’s ship and Frank Grillo as Cmdr. Race Ingram, the American officer determined to thwart the Nazi U-boats’ mission. That’s not to suggest it’s impossible to present sympathetic characters who also happen to be Nazis. Taika Waititi recently did exactly that with the brilliantly dark satire Jojo Rabbit, while Wolfgang Petersen pulled it off decades earlier in 1981’s Oscar-nominated U-boat thriller Das Boot. And as much as Operation Seawolf tries to be Das Boot, it simply doesn’t measure up.
As the only member of the U-boat’s crew that Kessler interacts with in any meaningful way, Stecker’s bitter lieutenant has potential, but it goes largely unrealized in the film’s confusing narrative. His character’s arc has him vying for control of the ship with Kessler, having a mental breakdown, receiving some wisdom from Kessler that reverses the course of their relationship, and eventually becoming the captain’s heir apparent.
Do you even know history, bro? In what might best be described as an unfortunate decision to not read the room, Operation Seawolf opts not to spend any time whatsoever on the Allied forces tasked with stopping the U-boats headed to New York. The U.S. forces responsible for stopping what would have been a catastrophic attack on American soil are limited to a few minutes of screen time, with Grillo reading reports and barking commands ,and a few short scenes featuring The Great War actor Hiram A.
From its confusing narrative to its frustrating casting choices and questionable storytelling decisions, Operation Seawolf takes an interesting premise — the dramatization of a very real, important moment in the waning days of World War II — and manages to do all the wrong things with that material in bringing it to the screen. It’s a shame, because the story behind Operation Seawolf feels like one that’s worth telling.
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