Ghost Soldier Review: Jim Caviezel Stars In This Mediocre Action Throwback

Though it may score points with some for being reminiscent of '80s and '90s action thrillers, Jim Caviezel's Ghost Soldier doesn't have the goods. Published Nov 11, 2026, 10:00 AM EST Josh is a film critic and journalist with over nine years of experience in the entertainment industry. Entering the field at just 17 years old, Josh went on to make his own website, The HoloFiles, and social media brand Star Wars Holocron, the most followed Star Wars fan account on Twitter/X. A member of both the Chicago Indie Critics and the Hollywood Critics Alliance, Josh has covered major industry events including Star Wars Celebration and, most recently, CinemaCon for ScreenRant. His work has appeared in outlets such as Game Rant and Comic Book Resources (CBR), and he has been featured in publications including the BBC and The New York Times. Despite having played history's most famous pacifist – Jesus Christ – Jim Caviezel has become something of an action star. On the big screen, that trajectory solidified with the release of Sound of Freedom in 2023. The film, which centered on a U.S. operative rescuing children from sex traffickers and generated much controversy upon release, thrust him back into the spotlight. Its tremendous financial success proved that, with the right audience behind him, he could be a bankable action hero at this stage of his career. It’s no surprise, then, that Caviezel is back in yet another action thriller that combines faith, governmental corruption, and American patriotism. Ghost Soldier, which opens in theaters on Veterans Day, follows Caviezel’s Henry Fitzgerald, a former celebrated member of the army special forces. He is tasked with defending his town from a corrupt corporation seeking to remove families from their land in order to build cooling centers for artificial intelligence. Ghost Soldier Has A Surprisingly Relevant & Totally Formulaic Story Artificial intelligence has become a significant part of the average person’s day-to-day life, but the realities of the usage of this technology rarely make their way into film or television. That, very surprisingly, changes with Ghost Soldier, a film that highlights the harsh realities of AI and its ever-increasing presence in the modern world. It doesn’t take a direct stance on AI, necessarily, but instead puts forth a very real consequence of the technology: its excessive water usage. Ultimately, the motivation for the antagonists to conquer the town of Valentine, Wyoming is relatively inconsequential, however. The villains’ motives could, hypothetically, be altered without much effect to the overarching story. Yet, the filmmakers still opted to go for something that would make their movie all the more timely, which, in turn, makes this a more entertaining watch as well. Sony Pictures has billed Ghost Soldier as a modern story with the style of a 20th century action movie, of the kind that Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone would have led in decades past. That old-fashioned approach is apparent from the very first scene, for better and for worse. Movies that embrace the pure action and adrenaline in their story have largely faded in recent years, and as a result, Ghost Soldier feels like something of a throwback, equipped with a seemingly faultless protagonist, far-fetched action sequences, and one-liners galore. Unfortunately, Ghost Soldier’s action isn’t enough to pull the film from dwelling in mediocrity. That may be enjoyable for some viewers, and it admittedly does help in making Ghost Soldier feel somewhat fresh at times (what’s old is new again, as the saying goes). Yet, at the same time, it also has the adverse effect. This film embraces action movie tropes that have been used again and again. Caviezel’s special forces soldier is a perfect example of this, as the character has virtually zero flaws. He’s unfailingly moral, just, and Terminator-esque in battle. Again, that may be exactly what some viewers are looking for from a movie like this, but one can’t help but feel these elements also hold Ghost Soldier back from being truly memorable. Ghost Soldier’s Action Lets The Film Down At the end of the day, many audiences are going to watch Ghost Soldier for one reason: its action. It’s almost expected that movies like this are, generally speaking, not the strongest story-wise, but they’re supposed to make up for that with their thrills and fights. Unfortunately, Ghost Soldier’s action isn’t enough to pull the film from dwelling in mediocrity. In an era when your John Wicks are setting the gold standard for action, Ghost Soldier stumbles extraordinarily in this department, failing to come anywhere close to the level seen in other films. The action sequences, most of which come in the film’s third act, aren’t shot poorly by any means, but they’re far from the jaw-dropping, nail-biting experiences that audiences have come to expect. Once again, Ghost Soldier slips into the plain and ordinary, unable to overcome its most fatal of flaws. Ghost Soldier is now playing in theaters. Release Date November 11, 2026 Runtime 90 Minutes Director William Eubank Writers Randall Wallace Producers David Zelon, William Sherak Cast Jim Caviezel Henry "Fitz" Fitzgerald