With the release of The Veteran on VOD April 1 and DVD/Blu-ray April 6, here are three key reasons to see it. Central is the emotional bond between an American Vietnam veteran and a young Mexican exile seeking safety.
Liam Neeson films always pack twists, and this delivers. As embittered veteran Jim, he’s thrust into a high-stakes U.S. road trip. Hunted by a Mexican cartel and corrupt police, Jim fights to protect young Miguel, whose mother was killed fleeing Mexico.
Film enthusiasts will spot echoes of Gran Torino’s screenplay and scenes akin to The Mule. Director Robert Lorenz, a key Eastwood collaborator on American Sniper and Million Dollar Baby, brings patriotic depth, shared stylistic touches, and impeccably crafted sets.
Filmed near the U.S.-Mexico border—home to cartel “sicarios”—it spotlights drug violence’s toll on crime. Through Miguel’s family, it humanizes Mexican immigration.
Tolerance shines in the growing trust between Jim and Miguel, united by fate. Jim, the protector, offers fatherly support to the traumatized boy; Miguel inspires with courage and resilience amid horror.
Known for intense action like Taken, the 69-year-old Neeson embodies a nationalist ranch recluse, American flag waving proudly.
Devastated by his wife’s cancer death, Jim drifts in isolation, his loyal dog Jackson his only companion—until a heartbreaking loss reignites his purpose.
Anchored by a strong moral core, the film excels through nuanced characters conveying raw human emotion.
Stream 'The Veteran' on VOD now; DVD and Blu-ray out April 6.
