Aasif Mandvi, Ajay Naidu, Anjeli Chapman, Ayad Akhtar, Charles Daniel Sandoval ...( see more  see more... ) , Firdous Bamji , John Ventimiglia , Mike McGlone , Nandana Sen , Sarita Choudhury , Varun Sriram , Wayman Ezell

'The War Within' is the story of Hassan, a Pakistani engineering student in Paris who is apprehended by western intelligence services for suspected terrorist activities. After his interrogation, Hassa...( read more  read more... )n undergoes a radical transformation and embarks upon a terrorist mission, surreptitiously entering the United States to join a cell based in New York City. After meticulous planning for an event of maximum devastation, all the members of the cell are arrested, except for Hussan and one other. With no alternative and nowhere else to turn, Hassan must rely on the hospitality of his former best friend Sayeed, who is living the American dream with his family in New Jersey. Deciding to go forward and carry out his own attack, Hassan takes advantage of Sayeed's generosity while plotting his strategy and amassing materials to create explosives. Eventually, Hassan's skewed religious fervor clashes with his feelings for Sayeed and his family, especially Sayeed's sister Duri.

Flixster Users

67% liked it

716 ratings

Critics

72% liked it

57 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Joseph Castelo

Release Date: September 30, 2005

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DVD Release Date: January 31, 2006

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Stats: 63 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (63)


  • April 15, 2009
    It does a fairly good job of laying out the basic political motives behind Islamic terrorism. Unfortunately, as a drama, it has its narrative peak in the middle and quickly runs out of story afterward. The film couldn't be more topical, but in the end it feels schematic, and you ...( read more)sense that the filmmakers are trying too hard to be even-handed.
  • March 11, 2008
    Definitely wanna see!
  • May 11, 2007
    oh, so a story about a poor Pakistani who's actually radicalized by nasty western intelligence services??? oh yeah, cause terrorism is our fault, nobody would be radical without the "West" making it that way. We're at fault...
  • April 27, 2007
    What brings a man to strap explosives to his body and head to Grand Central Station? Definitely a movie that could generate some lively discussion and debate. Passion and conviction depicted without over the top theatrics...beautiful shots of NYC...moral and philisophical quest...( read more)ions for contemplation.

    I really liked the late night conversation between Hassan and his best friends son where he tries to, in basic terms, explain what is happening overseas to his 'brothers and sisters'. "What would you do if your neighbors decided they wanted to take your house and force you to move to the backyard? And, they had the police on their side. And then, what would happen if they found there was oil under the backyard and they wanted that too so you had to leave and they had the mayor on their side? What would you do?" Eventually, the little boy says, 'Fight'.

    'Your government takes actions of which its people are unaware. But ignorance is not innocence.'

Critic Reviews


October 14, 2005
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

The details the film provides of how a lonely true believer might try to wreak havoc on thousands of strangers are horrifyingly believable. full review

October 7, 2005
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

A penetrating, provocative, tautly suspenseful character study. full review

September 30, 2005
Kyle Smith, New York Post

Chillingly realistic but deeply repellent, The War Within is a film that should not have been made. full review

September 22, 2005
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

A haunting companion piece to Hany Abu-Assad's forthcoming character study of Palestinian suicide bombers Paradise Now. full review

View more The War Within (Over the Mountains) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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