Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Boring

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

I'm nostalgic for a good war drama pre 1970. I thought I had seen them all, being middle aged, but I had never watched this one before (it's on TCM). At first I was dismissive, Robert Redford? Oh boy this is going to suck. But no, I was wrong, this is a great war film. It's totally unpredictable, I honestly did not know where this was going. I would suggest to not read any reviews past this point and just watch it first as a spoiler would probably ruin the film. John Saxon puts on an awesome performance and the dialog of everyone involved was real enough for me to become involved. It's not over the top, it's very, very character driven and very engrossing. If you liked low budget war films such as Attack!, Men In War, and Hell Is For Heroes, you will enjoy this. 10 out of 10. It probably deserves it's mid 6 rating technically but as a character driven war drama I don't think you can do any better. I don't want to give away spoilers but every character involved in this was plausible and real. The less you know before watching the better your experience will be.

John Saxon has a memorable role as a black-faced, gun-crazy soldier who volunteers for solitary nightly ambushes on the enemy until he finally cracks up completely and wants to be left behind in Korea. The film also marked the screen debuts of Robert Redford (as the clean-cut rookie hero who stands up to Saxon’s fearsome grip on his unit), Sydney Pollack (a rare early acting stint for him as a sympathetic sergeant) and Tom Skerritt (as a cheerful sergeant); of course, the latter would later appear in the ultimate Korean War movie, Robert Altman’s M.A.S.H. (1970). Other cast members include Tommy Matsuda (as an orphaned Korean boy taken under Saxon’s wing and unwisely befriended by Redford), Charles Aidman (as the Captain who often covers for Saxon’s insubordination given the importance of the information he gathers from his nightly rounds) and Gavin MacLeod (who advises Redford to steer clear of the highly-strung Saxon).Being set during the final days of the Korean War, the film features the deceptive and ironic musical interludes played on loudspeakers by the teasing enemy prior to the inevitable combat; despite its obviously modest budget and low-key nature, it is effectively shot in gritty, black-and-white by veteran cinematographer Ted McCord and nicely scored by Bud Shank. On the other hand, co-producer Terry Sanders was an award-winning documentarian who seemingly brought to the film an unusually sensitive and anti-militaristic outlook, while his brother Denis was an occasional feature film director – including the sci-fi/exploitation flick INVASION OF THE BEE GIRLS (1973) – who had previously co-written the screenplay for Raoul Walsh’s WWII epic THE NAKED AND THE DEAD (1958). Trivia note: reportedly, Francis Ford Coppola appears uncredited as a truck driver; also, the film’s associate producer (Noel Black) later became an erratic director himself – most notably of PRETTY POISON (1968).

Other comments made here about the film are accurate enough. A few words about John Saxon's character though......The question was asked how he ever made it through boot camp... being unable to "comprehend authority, let alone obey it..." The answer is that most serial killers do not spring forth fully developed. ...Whatever his background, (almost certainly a loner) he was an easy target for the draft if he had not enlisted. Most discipline problems show up as individual ones, and not with someone in ranks... Not all nut jobs are weeded out in boot camp (I have served in the Marine Corps and elsewhere and have seen such... though certainly not on his scale) He probably completed his training with all of the inspiration of a man on an escalator......Whatever his demons... they could suddenly spring out on his first solo patrols... like an airbag in an accident, and just as impossible to put back... ...He was permitted to set up not only his own rules, but his own world... The military establishment existed in his mind only to support that world... His sole loyalty to command was to the company commander who both supported him and gave him fatherly approval... ...He chose not to take R&R. His company commander could not afford to be without his services... and if not fearing mayhem during such a leave, at a minimum feared that his most valuable man would get into enough trouble to vanish into the military justice system... ...Historian T.R. Fehrenbach in his work THIS KIND OF WAR: Korea-A study in unpreparedness, tells the story of "Gypsy" Martin... While not a serial killer, he submerged his whole identity into the war... headscarf and all. Martin was different from most soldiers... utterly useless for anything but combat. He had the good fortune to be killed in action before the fighting ended... F.J.

The 'psychotic' hero is an essay captured in two fine War films: Donald Siegal's "Hell Is For Heroes"— the story of a sergeant who for being psychotic embarked on suicidal heroic missions, and our distinguished film "War Hunt."The picture is clearly stated and openly defined... Pvt. Raymond Endore (John Saxon) goes out at night on 'solitary' patrols... The information he brings back is very useful for Capt. Wallace Pratt (Charles Aidman) whose posture toward Endore is 'paternal' gratification...But the strong reason to his voluntary patrol is to murder... He is a ritual killer practicing a formal act with his knife, and after finishing with his victim, he stands behind the body in mystical meditation...Even after the cease-fire on the Korean front, Endore extends his night patrols... This 'psycho' mind is already sick, and there is nothing to be done to narrow his actions...With just one major battle scene, "War Hunt" is absolutely a penetrating study of War drama, focusing on its traumatic effects: The 'fighting' soldier and the 'non-fighting' man..."War Hunt" is ingenious, deeply stimulating, and cautiously photographed... The extraordinary hand-to-hand fight, between Redford and the Chinese soldier, proves it...John Saxon is terrific as the tormentor and Robert Redford (in his film's debut) is excellent as the idealistic Pvt. Roy Loomis...