Hunter Killer

Submerging itself in familiarity and drowning in clichés, Hunter Killer is a lackluster entry into the subgenre involving old-fashioned submarine warfare.

Following in the Cold War footsteps of The Hunt for Red October or Crimson Tide, this derivative effort by comparison fails to make a splash, as it’s unable to generate much suspense or urgency.

The film opens with American and Russian military officials feeling mutual unease after a pair of subs — one from each side — go missing in the Arctic Ocean. That leads the enlistment of a former Navy officer Joe Glass (Gerard Butler), known for his unorthodox methods, to lead another submarine crew on an investigative mission.

Trouble arises when suspicions arise amid a coup attempt that endangers the Russian president (Alexander Dyachenko) and leaves Glass reluctantly partnering with an enemy sub commander (Michael Nyqvist) on a mutually beneficial solution. Meanwhile, government officials including a high-strung Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Gary Oldman) scramble to formulate a plan to avoid military conflict.

“If we don’t pull this off, things could get ugly,” explains a diplomat in an effort to raise the stakes, while also unintentionally describing the film’s trajectory, especially in a soggy final hour.

As directed by Donovan Marsh (Spud), the predictable film strains to be provocative by tossing around some topical buzzwords. It doesn’t derive much tension from its claustrophobic setting, in part because it tries to toggle so many subplots out of the water.

With its mechanical dialogue and cartoonish Russian villains, the convoluted screenplay lacks narrative coherence and sociopolitical complexity — although it does demonstrate a sufficient knowledge of sonar and submarine terminology.

Butler is surprisingly understated yet within his element as the action hero growling out orders in an effort to prevent another global war. However, Oldman is unfortunately squandered in his follow-up to his Oscar-winning turn in Darkest Hour.

The title for Hunter Killer comes from the nickname for attack-style submarines used by Americans and Russians alike since World War II, not that you’ll receive such an explanation in the film itself.

At any rate, the result is more tedious than thrilling. While the titular vessel dives deep, the movie remains on the surface.

Rated R, 121 minutes.