“The Hurt Locker” is a 2008 U.S. war film that follows Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit members Sgt. JT Stanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Spc. Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) who, after the death of their well-respected staff sergeant. in Iraq, find themselves following a new team leader, Staff Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner) who thrives on war and taking risks, but is highly skilled at defusing bombs.
The film’s name is also a slang term for a place of deep pain and discomfort. To be put in “the hurt locker” signifies that someone is experiencing something significantly painful or troubling.
Below are the top five moments from the film:
The scene shows Staff Sgt. William James walking towards a bomb site when a mysterious man comes speeding in his direction. James initially isn’t able to identify this man’s intent and has to cautiously, but quickly assess what kind of threat the man poses.
In this scene, James goes back to the U.S. after a year of deployment in Iraq and realizes that he can’t get his fix of adrenaline when back home. He decides to sign up for another year in the war. This is a reality for many veterans as they struggle to transition to civilian life.
In this scene, James diffuses a car bomb while Sanborn and Eldridge provide cover. This scene exemplifies fearful suspense while the team combats bombs throughout Jordan.
Like many other situations throughout the movie, the men notice something out of the ordinary and call out the suspect, who refuses to comply. The scene shows the harsh impact of a bomb in the environment around them.
This scene is probably the most iconic in the film. James is trying to save an innocent man who is strapped to a bomb. The clip demonstrates the harsh reality of not being able to save everyone, and how unforgiving war can be to everyone involved, including civilians.
