Nautical action thriller starring Gerard Butler as an unconventional submarine skipper sent to investigate the torpedoing of US and Russian vessels. With Gary Oldman, Linda Cardellini and Common. A hunter-killer is defined in the OED as ‘a naval vessel, particularly a submarine, equipped to locate and destroy enemy vessels, especially submarines.’ So, it looks as if this one can wrap up pretty quickly – an American sub has disappeared, a Russian sub is believed responsible. Hunt. Kill. Off goes Captain Joe Glass (Butler) in his craft to do just that. Ah, but things aren’t quite as simple because back at the Pentagon CJCS Charles Donnegan (Oldman) and RA John Fisk (Common) are watching what appears to be a coup d’état in Russia, as the president gets taken hostage. Jayne Norquist (Linda Cardellini) duly points out that they are dealing with a single rogue minister. Unfortunately, the rogue in question is the defence minister, who appears to have mobilised most of the Russian military. So, even though it sticks in Donnegan’s craw, it looks as though the US military might have to rescue a Russian president. Cue Bill Bearman (Toby Stephens) and his elite crew of special forces soldiers to do the deed. Meanwhile, can Glass keep his finger off the trigger and use his brain long enough to engage in the game of submersible chess occurring beneath the ice caps of the Barents Sea?
Hunter Killer – Sunday 10.10pm on Channel 4
