Most folks heading into a theater to see the latest Arnold Schwarzenegger movie will be aware that the actor typically has two settings: Action Arnold and Comedy Arnold. It was Action Arnold who first caught the world’s attention through The Terminator and Predator, then more recently, The Expendables and Escape Plan. Comedy Arnold came forth via movies such as Kindergarten Cop and Jingle All The Way.

Occasionally, Action Arnold and Comedy Arnold will collaborate, and we get gems like True Lies, but rarely does the Austrian Oak venture beyond these borders entirely. In 2017, however, Schwarzenegger starred in a movie unlike anything else in his career.

What Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Aftermath Is About

If you come at Aftermath without any inkling as to what it’s really about, the movie is easy to mistake for a late-career Arnold Schwarzenegger action thriller/shooter. The title already feels high-octane, and marketing doubles down with a shot of an intense-looking Schwarzenegger surrounded by fire and destruction. Even after reading the synopsis and discovering that Aftermath is a tale of one man’s quest for revenge, anyone would be forgiven for expecting a Taken-esque kill-a-minute thrill ride.

Aftermath is not that.

Based on the real story of the collision between two planes over Überlingen in 2002, Aftermath is a slow, brooding mediation on grief and guilt. Half of the story follows Schwarzenegger’s Roman Melnyk, whose family is killed in the incident (based on real-life figure Vitaly Kaloyev). The other half focuses on Scoot McNairy’s Jacob, who was the air traffic controller at the time.

Across the 90-minute runtime, we see the impact of the disaster upon both men. Roman’s profound sense of loss and struggle to move forward alongside Jacob’s deteriorating family life and mental state. These two individuals run in parallel before their paths eventually converge in the final act.

Aftermath Is An Arnold Schwarzenegger Movie Like No Other

Aftermath has Arnold Schwarzenegger playing a grieving father and husband – a man filled with rage and sadness. That’s not wholly unusual for an action star, but Aftermath pushes Schwarzenegger beyond his comfort zone because his character has nowhere to channel those emotions. There’s no movement or definitive action until the very end, with Roman instead locked in solemn contemplation and inner turmoil.

It’s not a role anyone is used to seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger play onscreen. These dramatic, introspective parts based on real stories would typically go to someone like Aaron Eckhart or Jake Gyllenhaal, not the man famous for uttering “I’ll be back.” It’s almost like Aftermath wants the audience to forget Schwarzenegger is an action hero at all, putting his character in the unusual position of having no power.

While Arnie certainly wouldn’t be the most obvious casting for Roman, his usual acting tropes are in service to Aftermath. His lines are few and far between, adding to the stunned shock of the character as he navigates a life-changing experience. Instead, much of the emotion is conveyed through facial expressions, which works in Schwarzenegger’s favor. His usual arsenal of glares and grimaces is softened with a greater degree of humanity.

By no means is Aftermath Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s greatest movie, but for anyone who believes they’ve witnessed everything the actor is capable of, it’s a surprising departure for one of Hollywood’s most familiar faces.

Birthdate

July 30, 1947

Birthplace

Thal, Styria, Austria

Height

6 feet 2 inches

Professions

Actor, Bodybuilder, Politician, Businessman, Producer, Director