War films are a dime a dozen. Every major war has had dozens of films made about it too, with the Vietnam war being one of the most popular. A common theme throughout many of them is the effect the war had on the people who lived through it and the atrocities that Americans committed. Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People? is the latest, and while this film based on the true story of Allen Nelson doesn’t offer anything truly unique, it still strikes the heart strings of those who watch it.
For some, the film may feel a little disjointed as it jumps throughout the timeline of Allen Nelson’s life. While it’s fairly easy to determine what stage of his life is in based on his location, or the colour of his beard, it can still be a little hard to follow.
The acting in Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People? is nothing to write home about, except by Rodney Hicks, who plays the older version of Allen. He brings real sadness to the role, which gives the film the emotional edge it needs. In fact without his performance the film may have fallen apart altogether. Geoffrey Rush who won an Oscar for 1997’s Shine, offers nothing to the film, other than repeating the same line over and over.
In the end, Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?, is just another addition to films telling the story of the horrors of the Vietnam War.
- Rated: PG12
- Genre: Drama, True Story, War
- Release Date: 9/15/2026
- Directed by: Shinya Tsukamoto
- Starring: Geoffrey Rush, Lily Franky, Mark Merphy, Rodney Hicks, Tatyana Ali
- Produced by: Christopher Frey, Yumiko Takebe
- Written by: Shinya Tsukamoto
- Studio: Chánh Phương Films, Cross Media International, J&B Entertainment, Kino Films, Kinoshita Group
