You’ve Never Seen An Arnold Schwarzenegger Movie Like This

by

People going to see a new Arnold Schwarzenegger movie generally know he has two main styles: serious action hero and funny man. He first became famous playing intense characters in films like The Terminator and Predator, and later in movies such as The Expendables and Escape Plan. He also showed his comedic side in films like Kindergarten Cop and Jingle All The Way.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is known for both action and comedy roles, and when those worlds collide, like in the film True Lies, the results are fantastic. However, he doesn’t often stray far from those familiar genres. In 2017, though, he took on a role completely different from anything he’d done before.

What Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Aftermath Is About

If you go into Aftermath knowing nothing about the story, it’s easy to assume it’s a typical late-career action movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. The title and the promotional materials – showing Schwarzenegger amidst explosions – suggest a fast-paced thriller. Even knowing it’s about revenge, you might expect a non-stop action film like Taken.

Aftermath is not that.

Inspired by the tragic 2002 mid-air collision over Überlingen, Aftermath is a thoughtful and somber exploration of loss and responsibility. The film centers on two characters: Roman Melnyk (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger), who lost his family in the crash (based on the real person Vitaly Kaloyev), and Jacob (played by Scoot McNairy), the air traffic controller on duty that day.

As a film lover, what really struck me about this 90-minute movie was how it showed the disaster’s effect on two different men. We see Roman grappling with a deep sense of loss, trying to rebuild his life, while Jacob’s family and mental health are clearly falling apart. Their stories unfold separately for most of the film, but it’s fascinating how those parallel journeys eventually collide in a powerful finale.

Aftermath Is An Arnold Schwarzenegger Movie Like No Other

In Aftermath, Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a husband and father struggling with intense grief and anger. While action stars often portray such emotions, this film challenges Schwarzenegger by forcing his character to cope internally. Instead of taking action, his character, Roman, is consumed by quiet reflection and inner conflict until the very end.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is taking on a role audiences haven’t seen from him before. Typically, dramatic and thoughtful parts based on true stories are given to actors like Aaron Eckhart or Jake Gyllenhaal, not the iconic action star known for saying “I’ll be back.” The film Aftermath seems determined to make viewers forget Schwarzenegger’s action hero persona, placing his character in a rare situation where he has no control.

Arnold Schwarzenegger might not seem like the typical choice for the role, but his acting style actually enhances the film Aftermath. He doesn’t have much dialogue, which emphasizes the character’s shock and disorientation as he deals with a difficult situation. Instead, the movie relies on his facial expressions to show emotion, and this plays to Schwarzenegger’s strengths. While he’s known for intense looks, they’re presented with more vulnerability and humanity here.

While Aftermath isn’t Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best film, it’s a surprisingly different role for the actor, and might show you a side of him you haven’t seen before.

Read More

2026-02-21 19:11