Young Paul Bäumer joins the German army to protect his homeland during the height of World War I. Joining under the guise of nationalism and the fear of missing out on all the action, Paul soon learns that the Western Front is a literal hell on earth. Death and destruction is rampant as gas canisters and bullets fly over head. Bathed in blood and mud, Paul and his friends band together and try to tough it out until the end so they can go home. But as they begin to fall one by one, Paul learns the horrors of war can pervade even the most peaceful of moments.

All Quiet on the Western Front is based on a novel of the same name and this Netflix iteration is the 3rd attempt at adapting the acclaimed novel. I’ve not read the novel or seen the other versions, but I think I want to after watching this two and a half hour blood bath. The decision to cast an authentic German speaking cast and film the movie in their native language was imperative to the immersion of the audience. This is a gorgeous movie with absolutely disgusting sets and costumes layered over beautifully serene landscapes.

All Quiet on the Western Front is available to stream on Netflix.