Review by Tim, Matchflick.com

If Hitler only knew about this...

In Enemy Hands is a great war/drama that gives you a different plot then your normal submarine film. This film follows American subs and German U-boats fighting each other in the middle of Hitler's reign.

After the USS Swordfish is hit with a torpedo the remaining crew is captured by the German U-boat 429. The problem is that with the Americans comes what is believed to be meningitis, a deadly disease that quickly wipes out more then half of the German crew. The German's go to their destination point in which they are suppose to drop off the Americans and re-supply but their ship never shows. Now the German Kapitän Jonas Herdt must make a very difficult decision.

Either he can let himself and his crew die or he can let the American crew work with his German crew and ultimately land the sub in American waters which is the closest available. He makes this decision knowing that he and his crew will be captured but being captured is better then death.

I took a chance on this film because William H. Macy was on the cover. It was a straight to video film but I believe that it would have done decent in the theatre. For any war or submarine enthusiasts this is perfect.

It features likeable characters, some good actors and a good, different plot which has not been created time and time again. The budget was of course small and they did use some old stock footage that is pretty apparent but I feel as if they did the best they could with what they had to work with.

This story is about two breeds of men that absolutely hate each other but have to learn to work with each other for their only chance of survival.

If you know history then I'm sure you have heard of the Christmas Truce of 1914 in which German and American soldiers quit fighting on a battlefield on Christmas day. They exchanged cigarettes, drinks and food. They shook each other hands and even played football together. This was during the first World War. In Enemy Hands touches on the same mood as this, that people can learn to like and respect each other even though they have been raised to hate.

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