Hyena Road

Hyena Road runs two hours long, but its entire narrative could be wedged into a half-hour documentary.

"Hyena Road" is a skillfully filmed reminder, if one is needed, about why Afghanistan earned its status as the "graveyard of empires."

Gross ... is ultimately unable to satisfy the rules of dramatic engagement.

Viewers are graced with a few disappointingly subdued action scenes, two humdrum romantic subplots, and a virtual museum of bad acting.

Paul Gross situates the film's events somewhere between violent, militaristic fantasy and gentler, anti-war lament.

The war story featuring good people making the best of a bad situation may feel very familiar, but it is a better kind of familiarity that also characterizes Hyena Road.

Paints a picture of the difficulty in fighting a war in very confusing times.

It's enjoyable enough on first watch, but it's unlikely you'll want to see it again.

Gross manages to craft a feature that's horrifying and strangely inviting at the same time, delivering solid characterization to go with all the chaos.

The explosions are so wonderfully photographed; if only we actually cared about the characters exploding.