A war film, described as a “hidden gem”, starring Daniel Craig is streaming now in the UK. The Trench (1999) is set during World War 1 and follows a group of young British troops in the two days leading up to the Battle of the Somme in 1916, one of the conflict’s most deadly battles.

Daniel Craig, best known for his acclaimed performances as James Bond, plays Sgt. Telford Winter attempts to prepare his young and inexperienced charges for the horror that’s about to befall them. Audiences live out the awful anticipation through the eyes of young Private Pte. Billy Macfarlane (Paul Nicholls). The cast includes several other major British and Irish stars, including Danny Dyer, James D’Arcy, Ben Whishaw, and Cillian Murphy.

It was written and directed by William Boyd. Fans have flocked to IMDb to heap praise upon the film. One called it a “brilliant piece of British film making”. “There are many superlatives to describe The Trench,” they wrote. “Moving, heart rendering, eye opening and though provoking are some that come to mind”, hailing it as a “hidden gem”.

Another said The Trench is “genuinely affecting”, writing: “Special praise must go to Daniel Craig as the war-weary scouse sergeant, Julian Rhind-Tutt as the anxious toff officer and most surprisingly Paul Nicholls (yes, him from Eastenders) as the wet-behind-the-ears private who, as the movies true ‘everyman’ character, we’re all rooting for to survive.

“It seems somehow inappropriate to call such a harrowing story enjoyable, but it is enjoyable all the same. Recommended to anybody with an interest in the subject matter.”

Not everyone was blown away by the film, reflected in its unremarkable 5.9/10 score on IMDb. Some questioned the authenticity of how the chain of commanded, while another wasn’t convinced by the portayal of trench life, writing: “We know that it was not uncommon for soldiers to wear the same clothes and boots for weeks at a time without washing or changing, but all the soldiers we saw looked as though they had just walked out of the local hair dressers – perfectly clean styled hair to a man.”

But others praised the film despite its stripped-down approach. “The story has been told before, of course, and this rendition adds little that is new, and its low budget gives the film somewhat the air of a stage play, but it is affecting and well done,” one wrote.

“Some of the critics seem to have expected a Hollywood big-budget spectacular, but it was a British tragedy that’s done here in a British way, and it’s well worth watching for those who have an interest.”

Another gave it a 10/10, saying: “This movie is an excellent dramatisation of what it must have been like to be a soldier in the trenches on the Western Front prior to a major attack.

“The waiting seemed interminable, which added to the stress of knowing that you may be killed. The movie shows that the soldiers really have no idea why the war is being fought.”

The film has a 15 certificate and contains strong language and violence, so viewer discretion is advised.

The Trench is streaming now on Amazon Prime. It’s also available to buy or rent on Sky Store, YouTube, and Apple TV.