The new Netflix film, “Outside the Wire,” is set in the near future–Eastern Europe has been engulfed in a civil war. In an effort to bring peace to the destabilized countries, the U.S. military has deployed Gumps, mechanized combatants to assist soldiers on the battlefield. When drone pilot Lieutenant Harp (Damson Idris) is assigned to Captain Leo (Anthony Mackie), a new, highly advanced type of sentient, mechanized soldier, to take down an enemy warlord, Harp must face the consequences of war up close while determining if this new type of soldier can be trusted.
Despite the cancelation of his previous Netflix science fiction action thriller, Altered Carbon, New Orleans actor and NOCCA alum Anthony Mackie continues to rise to stardom, despite the mediocrity of this latest Netflix film. Directed by Mikael Håfström, Outside the Wire has a lot to say about relevant issues from the costs of war to man versus machine, and wastes no time unpacking those ideas. The first scene of the film features an intense combat scenario, juxtaposing soldiers involved in the firefight on the ground, dealing with wounded, while Harp sits comfortably at a military base, piloting a drone and eating gummy bears until he makes a critical decision to risk a few soldiers to save many. This question of risking a few to save many remains constant throughout the two-hour narrative and is integral to Leo’s outlook as he causes Harp to question the nature of war and the lines between right and wrong.
Anthony Mackie’s Capt. Leo and his existence as a sentient android soldier attempts to be the shining star of Outside the Wire, but doesn’t quite achieve the level of philosophical thinking the film was hoping for. Built as a prototype by the U.S. military, Leo has enhanced speed, strength, and, surprisingly, the ability to think for himself despite his given orders. Leo also feels pain, can be emotional, and can lie. While Mackie succeeds in bringing this entertaining and charismatic character to life, the biggest question is why? Why build a sentient A.I. who is only slightly more advanced than a highly skilled soldier with the ability to easily go rogue? As exciting as the action is, it’s no more impressive than John Wick. The idea of mechanized soldiers isn’t anything new, but Leo doesn’t add anything interesting to the long list of terminators, iRobots, and Cylons.
Netflix’s Outside the Wire tries to insert itself into the conversation of the future of A.I. and its inevitable use in military engagements. However, it falls short by offering too many “why’s” and not enough strong conclusions or answers, and then presents these unanswered questions against a generic Russian nuclear threat to destroy the world. Despite strong performances from Mackie, Idris, and House of Cards alum Michael Kelly, Outside the Wire jumps too high and falls flat.
