This week’s Sunday night movie, The Outpost, is based on the true story of the American Combat Outpost Keating. Located in the town of Kamdesh in Afghanistan, the outpost was attacked by Taliban forces on 3 October 2009 in what became known as the Battle of Kamdesh.
Starring Scott Eastwood and Caleb Landry Jones as two of the soldiers stationed at the outpost, the film follows the events leading up to and including the attack. Check out a few more facts about the film below.
- The Outpost only had a limited release at the cinema. It was meant to premiere at last year’s South by Southwest Film Festival, but had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.
- It’s directed by Rod Lurie, who was behind the lens for political dramas such as The Contender and Nothing but the Truth, as well as the 2011 remake of Straw Dogs.
- Lurie is a former military man himself, having served in the U.S. Army.
- If you’re wondering about the last name Eastwood, you wondered for a reason. Scott Eastwood is the son of legendary actor and director, Clint Eastwood.
- He’s not the only offspring of a famous actor in the film. Mel Gibson’s son Milo appears in the film as Captain Robert Yllescas. Another actor with famous family is Will Attenborough: he’s the grandson of the late actor and director Richard Attenborough and great-nephew of everyone’s favourite voice, David Attenborough.
- The film also stars Orlando Bloom. No stranger to war movies, he has also appeared in Black Hawk Down, Troy, and Kingdom of Heaven.
- Ty Carter (played by Jones in the film) is one of the soldiers who was stationed at Combat Outpost Keating. He makes a cameo appearance in the film.
- Jones’s brother is an ex-Marine and encouraged him to take on the role.
Watch The Outpost, your Sunday night movie, on 21 February at 20:05 on M-Net channel 101.
Want to watch more war movies? Watch the South African war drama Moffie on Showmax.