The Wages of Fear (2024) sees four down-on-their-luck men drive trucks laden with nitroglycerine through the mountains as part of an operation to extinguish an oil well fire. Through the one hour and forty-five minute runtime, our hearts are kept racing and jumping into our throats as we expect something to go horribly wrong. After losing some members along the way, there are moments you think the film will take a dark twist and have a cruel ending. However, this doesn’t happen, and to be honest, the story didn’t need it.
What The Wages of Fear, a remake of the 50s French classic, has to offer in 2024 is showing off the film industry’s developments in CGI and stunts. There are some impressive action sequences, but it lacks character depth and character arcs to make it anything more than just another countdown to disaster action film. The ending is simple but effective, and fulfilling.
The premise sees an oil well catching fire in the middle of the desert, near a refugee camp, which is a direct threat to the population. The oil well must be detonated with nitroglycerin within 24 hours otherwise everyone will die, so our heroes set out to drive 800km transporting 200kg of explosives in two trucks.
Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire
Roughly halfway through the film, there is a huge explosion, killing some men and causing the team to lose some explosives, showing the reality of their situation and heightening the tension.
This is then followed by a shootout, where Djibril is killed, and the team mourns his loss. They’re now being hunted by the gang who killed Djibril, in another suspenseful shoot-out sequence, but this time in moving vehicles. They quickly overcome this, only to then enter a minefield. Even though there is one thing after another, it doesn’t feel over-the-top or overly ridiculous.
The Wages of Fear
The Wages of Fear Ends With A Successful Mission
The build-up to the end is an intense race to the finish line. The team is tired but still full of determination. After a dramatic shootout, the team manages to complete their mission and there is a huge explosion signifying their success.
The final few shots are of happy local people running in slow motion as our heroes look exhausted. After seeing people happy and free, the credits roll.
The ending is not drawn out, and we don’t get to see the aftermath of how the team is feeling or any cheesy shots of them in the future (back in France drinking wine, for example), which I appreciated. We get the satisfaction that they succeeded, and that is enough. The ending is simple, predictable, but no less fulfilling. Action films such as this give audiences a sense of satisfaction and self-worth, as they overcome the impossible. As our characters survive the unthinkable, and audiences can bask in their success.
Our review of The Wages of Fear (2024) gives a more detailed breakdown of our thoughts on the film, and if you liked it, here are some recommendations for movies like The Wages of Fear you might also enjoy.
