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The Objective

The Objective is a 2008 American science fiction horror film directed by Daniel Myrick and co-written by Myrick, Mark A. Patton, and Wesley Clark Jr.^[1]^[2] The story centers on a CIA operative leading a special operations team on a reconnaissance mission in the remote mountains of Afghanistan shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks, where they investigate a mysterious radioactive signal and encounter supernatural forces in a forbidden region described as a Middle Eastern "Bermuda Triangle."^[3]^[2] The film stars Jonas Ball as CIA agent Benjamin Keynes, who spearheads the operation suspecting a potential nuclear threat, with supporting roles played by Jon Huertas as Sgt. Vincent Degetau, Matthew R. Anderson as Sgt. Wally Hamer, Chems-Eddine Zinoune as the local guide Abdul, and Michael C. Williams as Sgt. Trucker.^[2]^[1] Produced by companies including Jaz Films and Kasbah Films on a budget of $4 million, The Objective blends war thriller elements with horror, incorporating found-footage-style sequences to depict the team's descent into paranoia and unexplained phenomena, including equipment malfunctions, hallucinations, and team member disappearances.^[2]^[3] Released theatrically in the United States on February 4, 2009, after premiering at film festivals in 2008, the movie grossed just $95 at the domestic box office.^[4]^[2] Critically, it holds a 33% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 12 reviews, with critics noting its atmospheric tension but critiquing pacing and narrative clarity.^[3] The film explores themes of post-9/11 geopolitical fears, ancient mysticism, and the unknown, drawing loose historical parallels to events like Alexander the Great's campaigns and the 19th-century British retreat from Kabul.^[3]^[2]

Production

Development

Daniel Myrick, known for co-directing the groundbreaking found-footage horror film The Blair Witch Project (1999), sought to evolve that style in The Objective by integrating it with more structured narrative elements in a military thriller context.^[5] Drawing from his experience with immersive, documentary-like storytelling, Myrick aimed to create a sense of realism amid supernatural horror, emphasizing the found-footage technique's potential for mainstream application.^[5] The screenplay was co-written by Myrick, Mark A. Patton, and Wesley Clark Jr., originating from Myrick's initial concept before collaborative expansion into a full script.^[6] The writing process incorporated consultations with military technical advisers to ensure accurate depictions of operations and terminology.^[5] Inspirations drew from post-9/11 geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, reflecting uncertainties in U.S. military engagements, alongside ancient Indian mythology—specifically the Vimanas, described as triangular, spiritually significant UFO-like entities from regional folklore.^[7] Myrick noted, "It deals with the Vimanas. It is a triangular UFO that is known in that part of the world."^[7] Conceived in the mid-2000s, the project advanced through pre-production and research phases in 2006-2007, with principal photography following shortly thereafter ahead of its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2008.^[5] Budgeted at approximately $4 million, the film was financed through independent producers, including Zev Guber and Jeremy Wall, enabling a lean production model with minimal equipment.^[5]^[8] IFC Films later acquired U.S. distribution rights in January 2009.^[9] A pivotal pre-production decision was setting the story in Afghanistan's Ghazni Province to authentically portray U.S. special operations in rugged, hostile terrain, informed by real-world footage and cultural research.^[7] This choice grounded the narrative in contemporary conflict zones while allowing integration of mythological elements.^[7] Jonas Ball was cast in the lead role during this phase to anchor the film's central perspective.^[2]

Filming

Principal photography for The Objective primarily took place in Morocco, which served as a stand-in for Afghanistan's rugged terrain, selected for safety and cost-effectiveness amid the ongoing instability in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks.^[10]^[11] Filming occurred over several weeks from April 23 to May 22, 2007, in remote desert and mountain areas to capture the harsh, isolated environments central to the story.^[10] The production employed handheld cameras extensively to emulate a documentary style, enhancing the film's sense of immediacy and realism.^[5]^[12] The shoot presented significant logistical challenges, including transporting a shipping container of authentic special operations equipment—such as M4 rifles and rocket-propelled grenades (some real, others rubber props)—to inaccessible locations, compounded by extreme weather like high desert temperatures and dust.^[5]^[13] Ensuring actor and crew safety in these unforgiving terrains required constant vigilance against environmental hazards.^[14] Additionally, heightened security measures post the 2003 Casablanca bombings led to strict Moroccan government oversight, with three military personnel monitoring the crew and gear throughout production.^[5] Cinematographer Stephanie Martin focused on natural lighting and improvised shots to amplify tension and authenticity, leveraging the stark Moroccan landscapes for visually striking, unpolished compositions that underscored the narrative's isolation and unease.^[6]^[11]

Release

Distribution

The world premiere of The Objective took place on April 24, 2008, at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, where it screened as part of the Encounters section for narrative features.^[15]^[16] In the United States, the film received a limited theatrical release on February 4, 2009, distributed by IFC Films through its day-and-date platform combining select cinemas and video-on-demand.^[3]^[9] The rollout targeted urban markets in cities such as New York and Los Angeles, with promotional materials highlighting its supernatural horror and science fiction elements set against a military backdrop.^[9] Internationally, The Objective saw limited theatrical releases in Europe and select other regions via independent distributors, facilitated by international sales agent JAZ Films.^[17] Marketing efforts emphasized director Daniel Myrick's legacy from The Blair Witch Project—often dubbing the film a "Blair Witch in the desert"—while underscoring its post-9/11 thematic resonance with American military operations in Afghanistan.^[5]^[18] Home media distribution followed in 2009, with the DVD release on October 13 via IFC Films, featuring special editions that included behind-the-scenes footage and commentary on the production. Digital formats became available concurrently, expanding access beyond initial theatrical windows.^[19] As of November 2025, the film is available to stream on platforms such as Netflix and Tubi (free with ads).^[20]^[21]

Box office

The Objective achieved a domestic gross of $95 in U.S. theaters during its limited release on February 4, 2009, opening in just one theater and reflecting its niche appeal as an independent horror film.^[4] International earnings were $0, contributing to a worldwide total of $95 due to highly restricted distribution beyond North America.^[4] Several factors influenced this underwhelming performance, including the film's low-budget independent status, stiff competition from major horror releases like the Friday the 13th remake that dominated the February 2009 box office with a $40 million opening, and the timing amid the 2008-2009 economic downturn, which strained financing and audience turnout for niche titles.^[4]^[22]^[23] Estimated at a production budget of $4,000,000, the film significantly underperformed theatrically relative to its costs and recouped primarily through ancillary markets like DVD sales.^[2]

Film

Plot

The film is framed by CIA agent Benjamin Keynes recalling the mission through post-mission interviews and found footage. In 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks, CIA operative Benjamin Keynes leads a team of U.S. Special Forces soldiers into the remote Ghazni Province of Afghanistan on a mission to capture the influential cleric Mohammed Aban, whose support could sway local opinion against the Taliban.^[24] The team, consisting of experienced operatives including Chief Warrant Officer Wally Hamer, is accompanied by a local guide named Abdul.^[25] As they navigate the harsh, mountainous terrain, the initial objective appears straightforward, but Keynes withholds details about classified satellite imagery detecting an anomalous energy source in the area, suspected to be linked to potential Al Qaeda nuclear activity.^[26] As the team advances deeper into the isolated valley, they encounter increasingly bizarre and terrifying phenomena that defy explanation. Gunmen spotted in the distance vanish without trace, replaced by eerie lights hovering in the sky, and compasses and GPS devices malfunction, leading the group astray into what locals describe as a cursed region.^[26] Team members begin to disappear or suffer mysterious deaths: one soldier is found mutilated near a stream, another is incinerated in a sudden explosion of unknown origin, and paranoia spreads as whispers of jinn—supernatural beings from Islamic folklore—circulate among the ranks. The guide Abdul warns of ancient evils tied to the land, but tensions rise between Keynes and Hamer over the mission's shifting priorities and the encroaching sense of an invisible, non-human presence stalking them.^[27] The plot reaches its climax when Keynes reveals the true CIA directive: beyond capturing the cleric, the mission involves investigating an ancient, otherworldly object buried in the mountains, potentially connected to Vimana mythology from Hindu texts—flying machines of divine origin that some interpret as extraterrestrial technology. Overwhelmed by visions of glowing artifacts and hallucinatory encounters, Keynes enters a trance-like state, experiencing what appears to be communion with the energy source, while the remaining team members confront manifestations of the entity, including shadowy figures and disorienting temporal distortions.^[26] The narrative culminates ambiguously, with the objective of supernatural exploration supplanting the original capture mission; most of the team perishes, and Keynes, portrayed by Jonas Ball, emerges as the sole survivor, forever altered and left to ponder the blurred line between reality and the unknown as he is extracted.^[24]

Cast

The lead role of Benjamin Keynes, the CIA operative guiding a special operations team on a classified mission in Afghanistan, is played by Jonas Ball.^[6] Key supporting roles include Matthew R. Anderson as Chief Warrant Officer Wally Hamer, the team's experienced leader overseeing tactical decisions; Jon Huertas as Sgt. Vincent Degetau, the unit's sniper providing long-range reconnaissance and cover fire; and Michael C. Williams as Sgt. Joe Trinoski, the demolitions/engineering sergeant.^[6]^[28] Additional cast members feature Sam Hunter as Sgt. Tim Cole, the communications sergeant; Jeff Prewett as Sgt. Pete Sadler, the weapons sergeant/sniper; Kenny Taylor as MSgt. Kenny Tanner, the senior team/intelligence sergeant; and Chems-Eddine Zinoune as Abdul, the local guide. Minor roles are filled by P. David Miller, Vanessa Johansson, and Jacqueline Harris.^[6]^[28] The casting prioritized military authenticity by incorporating current and former military personnel into many roles, enhancing the film's realistic depiction of special operations.^[29]^[30] Furthermore, actors like Michael C. Williams brought prior experience in the horror genre from his appearance in The Blair Witch Project.

Analysis

Themes

The Objective employs the War on Terror as a central allegory, blending gritty military realism with escalating horror to critique U.S. interventions in Afghanistan following the September 11, 2001 attacks. Set just months after 9/11, the film depicts a CIA-led Special Forces team navigating hostile terrain in search of a missing unit, where routine threats like landmines and Taliban snipers give way to inexplicable phenomena, symbolizing the uncertainty and invisible dangers of post-9/11 conflicts. This setup portrays American military operations as ventures into the unknown, where technological superiority falters against unseen forces, reflecting broader anxieties about endless wars and their psychological toll.^[31]^[17] The integration of supernatural elements draws heavily on ancient mythology, particularly Vimana lore reimagined as otherworldly craft or entities that challenge human understanding. In the narrative, mysterious lights and radiation sources in the Afghan mountains evoke these mythical flying machines, mistaken by U.S. intelligence for nuclear threats, serving as a metaphor for humanity's hubris in meddling with divine or extraterrestrial powers. Local legends of forbidden zones like the "Hill of Bones" further embed this motif.^[17]^[31]^[32] Isolation in remote, unforgiving landscapes amplifies themes of psychological strain, mirroring the disorientation and trauma experienced by soldiers in protracted conflicts. The team's stranding in arid valleys, cut off from support amid equipment failures and anomalous events, erodes their cohesion, leading to paranoia, breakdowns, and a sense of lost control. This portrayal emphasizes the characters' vulnerability amid isolation.^[17] The film's found-footage aesthetic heightens the ambiguity of reality, questioning the veracity of the recorded events and blurring lines between objective documentation and subjective hallucination. Presented as recovered footage from a doomed mission, it echoes tropes from films like The Blair Witch Project, leaving viewers uncertain whether the horrors stem from psychological delusion, extraterrestrial intervention, or supernatural forces, thereby critiquing the unreliability of wartime narratives and media portrayals.^[17]

Style and influences

The Objective employs a found-footage aesthetic characterized by handheld cameras and a pseudo-documentary "recovered video" style, which immerses viewers in the perspective of a military team documenting their mission. This approach avoids excessive shaky-cam techniques seen in earlier works, instead blending cinematic fluidity with realistic documentary elements to heighten tension in remote settings.^[7]^[24] The style draws direct influence from director Daniel Myrick's The Blair Witch Project (1999), adapting its conceit of a small group encountering the supernatural in isolated terrain to a modern war context.^[33]^[24] The film's sound design features an otherworldly, ethnic-tinged score composed by Kays Al-Atrakchi, which integrates ambient desert noises to amplify dread and underscore the characters' isolation amid vast, unforgiving landscapes. Sound supervisor Karl W. Lohninger and designer Walter New contribute to this minimalist audio layer, using subtle environmental cues like wind and echoes to evoke unease without overt musical cues.^[24] This technique enhances the grounded realism of the proceedings, mirroring the sparse, tension-building audio in faux-documentaries that inspired Myrick.^[33] Visually, the film incorporates motifs of triangular objects—referencing ancient Vimana lore—and unexplained light phenomena, captured through special effects that aim for a tangible, sci-fi horror atmosphere against the Moroccan deserts standing in for Afghanistan. Cinematographer Stephanie Martin emphasizes the harsh majesty of these expansive terrains, with night-vision sequences and eerie beams of light creating a sense of cosmic intrusion.^[7]^[24] Genre influences include war footage from CNN reports and real-time desert operations, lending procedural realism to the special ops narrative, while drawing from UFO-themed faux-documentaries like Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972) for its paranormal ambiguity.^[33]^[7] This fusion positions The Objective as a hybrid of military thriller and supernatural horror, echoing the isolated peril of The Blair Witch Project but expanded to geopolitical and extraterrestrial scales.^[24]

Reception

Critical response

The Objective received mixed reviews from critics, who praised its atmospheric tension and genre-blending ambitions while criticizing its pacing, underdeveloped characters, and low-budget production values. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 33% approval rating based on 12 reviews, with an average score of 5.1/10.^[3] Metacritic assigns it a score of 26 out of 100, based on four critic reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable" reception.^[34] Critics highlighted the film's ability to build suspense through its desolate Afghan setting, often noting director Daniel Myrick's skill in evoking dread reminiscent of his work on The Blair Witch Project. Variety commended the "beauty of [the] Moroccan desert locations" and the "serviceable lensing" that captures the terrain's harsh majesty, contributing to an atmosphere of disorientation, though it faulted the overall execution for failing to fully exploit the metaphorical potential of the war-on-terror backdrop.^[24] Fangoria's Michael Gingold praised the "incremental tension buildup" blending supernatural and human threats, along with strong lead performances by Jonas Ball and Matt Anderson, and effective, understated digital effects that enhance the horror elements without overreliance on spectacle.^[25] However, reviews frequently pointed to inconsistencies in pacing and character development as major flaws, with some describing the narrative as confusing and the production as amateurish. Screen International called it a "cheap-looking film clearly shot on a low budget with a small cast of sub-par thesps," though it acknowledged the "striking rock formations" and "eerie sound design" as redeeming features.^[17] Variety echoed these sentiments, decrying the "cliched dialogue, a stale plot and so-so acting" that undermine the suspense, and noted that the supernatural threat remains too vaguely defined to sustain engagement.^[24] Fangoria observed that supporting characters lack distinction and the ambiguous ending, while thought-provoking, risks leaving viewers unsatisfied by its dramatic inconclusiveness.^[25] Overall, The Objective was viewed as an ambitious but uneven follow-up to The Blair Witch Project, with its innovative fusion of found-footage horror and military thriller elements earning respect for tension but hampered by budgetary constraints and narrative ambiguity. The film's IMDb user rating averages 5.4/10 based on 8,762 votes, reflecting broader lukewarm sentiment.^[2]

Audience reception

Upon its limited theatrical release in 2009, The Objective garnered a niche but positive response from horror enthusiasts, who praised its tense, brooding atmosphere and innovative found-footage style amid the remote Afghan setting.^[35] Viewers highlighted the film's ability to evoke unease through subtle supernatural elements rather than overt scares, distinguishing it from conventional ghost stories.^[36] Over time, the film developed a modest cult following, particularly through home video releases and later availability on streaming platforms, where it found appreciation among fans for its underrated blend of sci-fi horror and military thriller tropes.^[36] Early retrospective reviews noted its potential for enduring appeal within genre circles, emphasizing the eerie cinematography and atmospheric tension that resonated in post-release discussions.^[37] As of November 2025, The Objective maintains mixed long-term perceptions, with user ratings at 5.4 out of 10 on IMDb based on 8,762 ratings.^[2] It continues to attract viewers interested in found-footage horror and military-themed narratives, often cited for its prescient exploration of isolation and the unknown in conflict zones. Audience sentiment underscores its polarizing nature, with praise for originality tempered by critiques of pacing and resolution.^[3]

References

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The Objective - Full Cast & Crew - TV Guide
The Objective - Full Cast & Crew ; Director · Daniel Myrick ; Writer · Daniel Myrick · Mark A. Patton · Wesley Clark ; Actor · Jonas Ball. Benjamin Keynes · Matthew R ...Missing: film | Show results with:film
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Rating 5.4/10 (8,758) A group of Special Ops Reservists on a mission in the harsh and hostile terrain of Afghanistan find themselves lost in a Middle Eastern Bermuda Triangle of ...
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The Objective | Rotten Tomatoes
Rating 33% (12) Ben Keynes (Jonas Ball) is a CIA agent who is monitoring the Middle East region following the September 11th attacks. After seeing satellite readings in ...
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$$95. Cast information · Crew information · Company information · News · Box office. Summary Details. Domestic DistributorIFC Films See full company information.Missing: budget | Show results with:budget
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The Objective (2008) - Cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
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Apr 17, 2008 · What you see in the film is based on folklore that revolves around this sort of mythology. It deals with the Vimanas. It is a triangular UFO ...
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Apr 27, 2008 · Credits: Director: Daniel Myrick; Writers: Daniel Myrick, Mark A. Patton, Wesley Clark Jr.; Producers: Jeremy Wall, Zev Guber; Executive ...
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Jan 13, 2009 · IFC Films has confirmed its US acquisition of The Blair Witch Project co-creator Daniel Myrick's supernatural thriller The Objective, ...Missing: budget | Show results with:budget
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Filming locations. Morocco. (as Afghanistan). Helpful•10. 1. Filming dates. Apr 23, 2007 - May 22, 2007. Production dates. It looks like we don't ...
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Jeff Prewett, Michael C. Williams, Jonas Bull, Matthew Anderson and Jon Huertas attend the premiere of 'The Objective' during the 2008 Tribeca Film...
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Apr 24, 2008 · 2008. USA. 90 mins. Daniel Myrick co-directed the indie commercial sensation The Blair Witch Project with Eduardo Sanchez in 1999. It's nearly a ...Missing: writing pre-
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Rating 4/10 · Review by R.L. ShafferOct 13, 2009 · We're treated to an interesting making-of featurette (17 minutes), trailers and two interviews, one with director Daniel Myrick and one with DP ...Missing: challenges | Show results with:challenges
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Everything You Need to Know About The Objective Movie (2009)
Rating 2.5 (4) The film follows a special ops team carrying out a mission in Afghanistan that finds itself lost in a Bermuda Triangle-type vortex of ancient evil. Horror ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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The final film in the $10,000 club was the overall box office leader, Friday the 13th, which opened with an average of $13,066 in more than 3,000 theaters. More ...
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Apr 29, 2008 · A CIA man takes a special-ops team on a mysterious mission in Afghanistan just after 9/11 in “The Objective,” from Daniel Myrick (“The Blair Witch Project”).Missing: development history writing pre-<|control11|><|separator|>
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Apr 25, 2019 · Reviews: THE OBJECTIVE And KILLER MOVIE. Archive reviews from The ... cleric who can help win support against the Taliban. That's Keynes ...
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A military special operations team, led by a CIA case officer, are on a mission in the harsh and hostile terrain of Afghanistan
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Apr 9, 2014 · The Objective is a Horror/Sci-Fi written and directed by Daniel Myrick, who directed The Blair Witch Project in 1999 and the cult/Armageddon creeper Believers ...Missing: 2008 development process production
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The Objective is a 2008 science fiction horror film directed by Daniel Myrick, and co-written by Myrick, Mark A. Patton, and Wesley Clark Jr.
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... Morocco filming this. Too bad nobody has done the hard work of coming up with a coherent vision, purpose and narrative; of aligning location, characters and ...Missing: challenges difficulties
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The Objective (Movie Review) | Bloody Good Horror
Over the course of "Blair Witch Project" co-director Daniel Myrick's spiffy 2009 sci-fi thriller "The Objective," I unearthed two very important, ...
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Oct 14, 2010 · The Objective is one of the best straight to DVD horror's this year, a bleak odd genre that deserves its place in cult classics and raises hope that Myrick may ...