There are plenty of well-known films set during World War 2, with Saving Private Ryan, Enemy at the Gates and Dunkirk all firm favourites. But World War 1 has also inspired many directors and producers to create standout movies. Two of these are said to be “twins”, with one seemingly rated higher than the other. Beneath Hill 60 is an Australian picture and was released in 2010. Based on a true story, it depicts tunnellers on the front line in Belgium in 1917. Allied units burrowed under German lines and blew up strategic positions.
But enemy units had the same mission, and the two sides risked encountering each other beneath the surface. Beneath Hill 60 has been described as a “gem”, and has a 7/10 rating on IMDb. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an 85% critic score and 77% audience rating. Critic David Stratton said: “The production design by Clayton Jauncey is particularly impressive with the dank, dripping trenches seeming to echo the futility of it all.”
Another reviewer said: “Fantastic film, epic and action-packed. Townsville provided a perfect location for filming. I have watched it many, many times and will continue to do so.”
Others were less impressed. One viewer said: “I love war movies and especially Australian ones, but this one is terrible. The acting is stilted and hopelessly fake.
“A great story ruined by poor acting, bad direction and very ordinary sets. It is the first time in a long time that I didn’t even bother seeing a movie through to the end.”
The War Below was released in 2021. Also based on a true story, it follows a group of British miners recruited to tunnel underneath no man’s land.
Its cast includes Baby Reindeer star Tom Goodman-Hill, who plays Hellfire Jack.
The film has a slightly lower 6.5/10 IMDb score. But, on Rotten Tomatoes, its critic score is slightly higher than Beneath Hill 60, at 88%.
Audience-wise, though, it is rated at 72%, slightly lower.
Despite the closeness of these numbers, a movie enthusiast on Reddit posted that there is “no contest which movie is superior”.
They said The War Below is almost an identical story to Beneath Hill 60, and added: “Comparing the two, Beneath Hill 60 is by far the better movie.
“It brilliantly captures the horrific conditions and the gut-wrenching tension experienced by the diggers. The characters are given depth, and the story feels accurate and compelling. Brendan Cowell gives an incredible performance.
“On the other hand, A War Below felt completely flat. It boils the massive operation down to a rag tag group of five people. The characters are as forgettable as the dialogue. There were no memorable scenes and the tension was barely captured.”
