Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Jul 17, 2025 4/5

The events portrayed are so imprudently berserk that it borders on unbelievable farce, despite its cited historical inspiration of the man who performed these acts before he was even 21 years old.

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J. R. Jones Chicago Reader Mar 11, 2020

Director Robert Schwentke shoots in black and white, yet the story is strictly black, giving little insight into the cruel, impressively coolheaded Herold (Max Hubacher) except that he's incensed at the German retreat.

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Dominic Griffin Spectrum Culture Jul 17, 2019 2.75/5

Schwentke's made one of the best films of his career here, but it still winds up a superficial exercise.

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Peter Sobczynski eFilmCritic.com Feb 21, 2019

When it is all said and done, it is the kind of film that one can easily shrug off when it is over, something that one might think would be impossible given the source material.

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Nick Johnston Vanyaland Dec 10, 2018

[It's] an engrossing horror-drama about the mask - or, well, the uniform - of sanity and what happens when it's given the legal authority to slip.

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Adam Patterson Film Pulse Nov 20, 2018 8/10

Utterly enthralling from minute one, The Captain is a wild ride with an incredibly bonkers end-credit sequence and, though a difficult watch at times, is well worth a look.

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Ron Wilkinson It's Just Movies Nov 18, 2018 8/10

A super supporting cast of black comedy experts launch this tragedy solidly into the realm of powerful social commentary.

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Rob Aldam Backseat Mafia Oct 30, 2018

The Captain is a hedonistic war drama which delves into the realms of comedy and absurdity in order to enhance the horror of Herold's deeds.

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Joe Friar The Victoria Advocate Oct 28, 2018 3.5/4

Robert Schwentke's powerful film tells a fascinating story that's intensified without the use of color which also makes The Captain easier to digest.

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April Wolfe Village Voice Oct 22, 2018

Hubacher's performance is a masterful physical feat.

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Wendy Ide Observer (UK) Sep 22, 2018 5/5

Captures the moment when fear and chaos bite and the ordered military existence crumbles into savagery and base urges.

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Ed Potton The Times (UK) Sep 21, 2018 4/5

It's a profoundly disturbing film, full of striking images.

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Jordi Costa El Pais (Spain) Sep 20, 2018

The film reveals an unexpected high on the road within the career of Robert Schwentke: a highly personal project. [Full Review in Spanish]

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Philip De Semlyen Time Out Sep 20, 2018 4/5

You've heard of 'Stalag 17', now meet Stalag 666.

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Peter Bradshaw Guardian Sep 19, 2018 4/5

What a chilling performance from Hubacher.

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Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Sep 18, 2018 4/5

Infused with bone-dry humour... punctuated with Kafkaesque absurdity.

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Carlos Marañón Cinemanía (Spain) Sep 17, 2018 4/5

The Captain... is a terrifically filmed horror story that, without grandstanding, confronts fear by portraying it intimately. [Full review in Spanish]

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James Verniere Boston Herald Sep 7, 2018 A minus

Who knew Robert Schwentke ("RED "R.I.P.D.") had this movie in him?

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Peter Keough Boston Globe Sep 6, 2018 2.5/4

Though he belabors the obvious and sensationalizes the carnage and sadism, Schwentke is dealing with some relevant issues.

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Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews Sep 5, 2018 B+

Schwentke's use of black and white fits the monochromatic world of grey uniforms and brown mud where life is but a whim for those, genuine or not, in command.

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