There are a lot of movies out there about killing Nazis, and for good reason. They are, after all, one of the only groups of people whose deaths are rightfully celebrated by pretty much everyone. The film we’ll be talking about today, Blood & Gold, is another wonderful entry in that niche of filmography.

Set at the end of World War Two, our story follows Heinrich, a German soldier. When he finds out that his pregnant wife and son were killed during a bombing raid, he attempts to get back to his daughter, who has been taken in by neighbors.

His plans are thwarted when he’s caught by SS soldiers who are looking for gold in a nearby town. They hang him for deserting his post, leaving him for dead. He’s saved by a woman named Elsa and her brother, Paule, who has down syndrome.

When the three of them cross paths with the SS again, they leave Nazi bodies in their wake, as they do whatever it takes to survive until the end of the war.

The action is not only sufficiently bloody, it’s also very well choreographed. This film has a style reminiscent of Tarantino’s. Both in it’s over the top action and in it’s character driven plot that ties everything up nicely in the end.

This is a story about greed, corruption, fascism and the worst impulses humanity has to offer. Every character has a role to play. There are some who want to protect the innocent and others who are only interested in gaining what they can while the war rages on.

I highly recommend this movie for lovers of action and drama alike. Whatever your preference you won’t be disappointed.

The action in this movie is both brutal and highly entertaining. There’s plenty of shootouts, hand to hand combat and explosions. The choreography is really well done, and every scene feels dynamic and easy to follow.

While the Nazis meet deservedly grisly ends, the film doesn’t shy away from killing off the character’s that you like as well. This adds a lot of tension, since you’re never certain that anyone’s actually safe.

One of the best aspects of the film is that everyone is given a reason to fight and kill. Because of this every character is involved in the conflict. Some may have smaller roles to play but everyone has a motivation to do what they do.

The story has a character driven plot. Not only does this mean everyone has a motivation to be apart of and stay in the story, but they also actively drive the plot forward.

For example when Paule, Elsa’s brother, leaves the camp and goes back to the farm, this ultimately results in him getting caught and later killed, bringing Elsa and Heinrich back to the center of the main conflict.

It might seem silly that Paule would go back for his cow while knowing that the SS are lingering around, however, I think that this use of storytelling is effective. It easily allows for the story to develop while also making him feel like a real person that we can empathize with.

The story also makes you ask many questions as it works to setup it’s central premise. Importantly though, it never fails to answer any of those questions, which left me feeling satisfied. Overall I think the story, while not perfect, was very well done and I appreciate that there were no loose ends.

The themes of this film aren’t exactly subtle and the central conflict makes everything readily apparent. For that reason the film is pretty simple in terms of it’s philosophy, however, I think it still says something important.

The greed and corruption that sets this plot into motion is no accident. This is a movie set in Germany during World War Two, after all. Those things are built into the core of fascism.

You can’t have egregious self gain without the exploitation and harm of others. This is clearly spelled out for us through the actions of the SS and Sonja, both of which are only interested in getting rich, to the point that they actively kill and hurt others both during the greater conflict of the war and this film.

I wouldn’t say that the movie is ground breaking in it’s themes, but I do think there’s some comparison’s to be made to our contemporary society and the things we’re currently experiencing.

This movie sets up and delivers on multiple fronts. It’s a compelling drama with characters who all seem like real, though sometimes horrible people. It tells it’s story in a simple yet very effective manner and the action is very entertaining.

I’m gonna give this movie six gold bars taken from dead Nazis, who got what they deserved.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!!