Paul Nicholls, Daniel Craig, Cillian Murphy

Stuck in their putrid, claustrophobic trench, 17-year-old Billy Macfarlane and his mates desperately try to distract themselves from what is rapidly approaching – by whatever means necessary. Only a s...( read more  read more... )hort time ago, these brash young men had raced to sign up and fight the Kaiser. Now, with the countdown to war ticking away, the awful truth of what they are about to encounter begins to sink in. Surrounded by snipers and with the artillery barrage thundering constantly overhead, the war is closing in around them. When the order finally comes to fix bayonets and clamber over the top, these frightened soldiers are forced out of the trench and into a hellish maelstrom of smoke, blood and destiny. Who will survive? Who will wish they had not?

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51% liked it

964 ratings

Unrated, 95 min.

Directed by: William Boyd

Release Date: September 17, 1999

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DVD Release Date: March 18, 2003

Stats: 65 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (65)


  • February 6, 2007
    Well made but overly soapy WWI drama featuring the usual mix of niave young recruits, hardened veterans and foppish officers who bond/squabble until the inevitable anti-war based conclusion.
  • November 8, 2009
    I was not disappointed in this production at all as I went in not knowing what was in store for me, or the boys in the trench. The film is set bound with in the British trenches of World War I and this adds to the claustrophobia of the situation. For me this tale was a nail bitte...( read more)r in that I knew that anything could happen at any moment. Death is stalking these boys and has been for so long that some are in a quiet panic, other numbed by his presence with them in the trenches. Death has become a bunkmate, a drinking buddy, and the one who shows you the naughty French postcards.

    A fine ensemble of actors is gathered here and under the whizzing flairs and constant distant booming of artillery they do some wonderful work on screen. And again Mr. Daniel Craig brings something wonderful to the table as a hardened Sergeant who knows that he must keep his boys busy to keep them sane. It is a pleasure to watch him particularly in the "Jam" scene. The range of emotion he shows at the beginning of the scene when the boys can't see him as he eats from a jar of homemade jam sent by his wife is stunning and real, near tears he shoves the jam in his mouth as if to stuff down his impossible sorrow. Watch as this brilliant actor moves on to offer some jam to his superior officer. This is brilliant work by an actor who even in 1999 and early on in his career had a grasp of what it is to be a multi faceted human being and the talent to project that onto the screen. Daniel Craig is one of the best there is in world cinema.

    The film is well worth seeing for these reasons and many more. At times very graphic and violent and still deeply touching and sad beyond the deepest wounds of war and the human heart.
  • October 4, 2009
    mmmm.... wow oh okay ... the movie was crap ......
  • July 3, 2009
    Cillian Murphy is in it so I NEED 2 SEE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • March 30, 2009
    The trench is a good hard hitting gritty drama about life in the trenches during the first world war. The acting is great from Daniel Craig as the hard edged Sgt. Danny Dyer gives a great performance as soldier with a perchant for porn and even a early entry from Cillian Murphy w...( read more)hich is fairly brief turns in a turn as an irish soldier. But it's Paul Nicholls who leads this film as the whole story is near enough told through his eyes but told in a third person view format. There are a couple of disturbing scenes and a nice bit of claret but it's the ending that really stood out for me. As you would have thought about this movie before even staring to watch it, it's a life told through the trenches during world war 1 so obviously the soldiers must go over the top into no man's land from which there is no return. The final battle is brutal without going too graphic but the calm before the storm is possibly the most frightening bit as you know what is going to happen but no other war movie has had an ending like this one and it is fairly shocking to see even though you knew something like that wass going to happen.
  • July 17, 2008
    wow i have just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is an ok war movie...this is nothing special but i guess its ok 2 see..this is a strange role 4 daniel craig - mr. james bond to play but this is an ok movie 2 watch its nothing special but its alright 2 watch...thi...( read more)s has got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout the movie..the director had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie because he keeps you on the edge's of your seats throughout this movie so you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie..imn not sure what other movies/tv shows/tv movies paul nicholls has done or been in because this is the only thing of his i think ive ever seen n think that this is an ok war movie..its not the best war movie ever made because theres so many good war movies that have been made like, the trench, apocolypse now, platoon, full metal jacket, saving private ryan, the thin red line, nd a few more war movies but this is ok 2 watch n its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie
  • June 8, 2008
    This was a great film which when i first watched it.. it was on BBC3
  • April 15, 2008
    some good performances by a few famous actors!
  • April 11, 2008
    Not very good; the sets and lighting are pretty dire - a shame really, as it had potential.
  • April 6, 2008
    The story of the men in the trench during the Battle of the Somme. Daniel Craig of James Bond fame is in it

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The Trench Trivia


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