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‘The Engineer’ Review: Emile Hirsch Is an Unlikely Israeli Intelligence Tough Guy in a Dull Suicide Bomber Drama

Danny A. Abeckaser’s U.S. production dramatizes to less-than-compelling effect the hunt for a notorious Palestinian bombmaker three decades ago.

By Dennis Harvey

Dennis Harvey

Film Critic

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The crisis is such that expat American Etan (Hirsch), a Mossad interrogation specialist suspended for utilizing excessively rough techniques, is dragged back into active service by colleague Yakov (Abeckaser), who tells him, “I need you. Israel needs you.” It’s a moment typical of screenwriter Kosta Kondilopoulous’s flatfooted dialogue. Etan is assigned to work with Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency) experts played by Oshri Cohen, Dan Mor and Yarden Toussia-Cohenn, tracking down any leads to the whereabouts of the deadly “Engineer.”

Unconstrained by government minders, this trio carves a bloodier path seeking their elusive quarry — though that grows even thornier once the domineering Senator himself shows up, risking an international diplomatic incident in his zeal to taste revenge first-hand. Eventually the two camps cross paths, to the initial dismay of the officially sanctioned side. Nonetheless, they decide to collaborate in a final stretch that closes in on Ayyash (played by Adam Haloon).

What should be an exciting climax only reinforces the film’s shortcomings, however, as director Abeckaser shows little aptitude for the mechanics of building suspense, overall or in individual sequences. This ends up feeling like one of those movies where the “action” consists largely of figures yelling at each other about things that happen off-screen. The screenplay lays out its intrigue in simplistically obvious fashion, and an air of forced, play-acting machismo (with dire lines like “Smugglers make my balls itch”) is only heightened by the bludgeoning percussion of Lionel Cohen’s score.

Though decently shot by cinematographer Barry Markowitz on credible locations, the film never ignites as a thriller. Meanwhile, basic plausibility is constantly distanced by script, casting and language choices. Even a screenplay with less one-dimensional characters would have had trouble selling Hirsch as a steely purveyor of state-approved torture. “The last man I interrogated, I almost killed,” he admits. That statement seems so at odds with the star’s boyish personality, it almost gets a laugh.

Abeckaser himself, a habitué of organized crime movies (including bits in a couple of Scorseses), plays Etan’s superior like some Joisey high school football coach, while Davi essays his senior politician in the style of a stereotypical mob boss. Smatterings of Hebrew and Arabic aside, the non-U.S. actors are saddled with speaking primarily in English, which makes no sense for the setting and is handled with varying levels of awkwardness.

Attempting to cover all bases while managing none particularly well, “The Engineer” ends with more onscreen text, now offering an olive-branch sentiment to the effect that most Israelis and Palestinians alike still desire a peaceful resolution. But that conciliatory gesture is immediately contradicted by a final shot of a fictive, presumably present-day female suicide bomber in full, cartoonish “fanatic” form. It provides an appropriate end note for a movie that pays rather inept lip service to complex political issues, but at heart is on the level of a lesser, later Charles Bronson movie — and one that skimps on the expected cheap thrills.

Reviewed online, August 9, 2023. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 93 MIN.

Production: A Lionsgate release of a Lionsgate, Grindstone Entertainment Group presentation in association with 2B Entertainment of a Yoav Gross production. Producers: Danny A. Abeckaser, Yoav Gross. Executive producers: Isaac Gindi, Eddie Gindi, Ron Rolf, Todd Turner, Barry Brooker, Stan Wertlieb.
Crew: Director: Danny A. Abeckaser. Screenplay: Kosta Kondilopoulous. Camera: Barry Markowitz. Editors: Eric Yalkut Chase, Steve Hansel. Music: Lionel Cohen.
With: Emile Hirsch, Angel Bonanni, Danny A. Abeckaser, Tzahi Halevi, Oshri Cohen, Dan Mor, Omer Hazan, Stefani Yunger, Kyle Stefanski, Yarden Toussia-Cohen, Adam Haloon, Robert Davi.

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The Engineer Reviews

Ticas is a likeable subject, even if his obsession with death can get a little disturbing, and his comments on how he deals with such a life-threatening job are fascinating to hear.

Full Review | Jun 21, 2019

Cast & crew
User reviews

The Engineer

Follows the biggest manhunt in the history of Israel to find Yahya Ayyash, the mastermind bombmaker who oversaw a group of suicide troops in Israel in the middle of the 1990s. Follows the biggest manhunt in the history of Israel to find Yahya Ayyash, the mastermind bombmaker who oversaw a group of suicide troops in Israel in the middle of the 1990s. Follows the biggest manhunt in the history of Israel to find Yahya Ayyash, the mastermind bombmaker who oversaw a group of suicide troops in Israel in the middle of the 1990s.

Danny A. Abeckaser
Kosta Kondilopoulos
Emile Hirsch
Robert Davi
Stefanie Yunger
24 User reviews
8 Critic reviews

Top cast 16

Senator David Adler

The engineer (yahya ayyash)
Abdel Nasser Issa

Shimon Peres
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

Goofs The opening text states that on October 13, 1993, Rabin, Arafat, and Clinton met in Washington DC to sign a treaty. They met on September 13, 1993.

User reviews 24

Avidviewer-02847
Aug 18, 2023
How long is The Engineer? Powered by Alexa
August 18, 2023 (United States)
United States
Grindstone Entertainment Group
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

Runtime 1 hour 32 minutes

More to explore

The Engineer Movie

Who's Involved:

Emile Hirsch, Danny A. Abeckaser, Kosta Kondilopoulos, Angel Bonanni, Omer Hazan

Release Date:

Friday, August 18, 2023 Limited

Plot: What's the story about?

The story of Yahya Ayyash—the bombmaker who led an army of suicidal soldiers in Israel during the mid ’90s. The story follows the biggest manhunt in the history of Israel to find him.

4.20 / 5 stars ( 5 users)

Poll: Will you see The Engineer?

Who stars in The Engineer: Cast List

Danny A. Abeckaser

Bardejov, Inside Man

Emile Hirsch

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Son

Angel Bonanni

Bardejov

Who's making The Engineer: Crew List

A look at the The Engineer behind-the-scenes crew and production team. The film's director Danny A. Abeckaser last directed Bardejov and Inside Man . The film's writer Kosta Kondilopoulos last wrote I Love Us and Gemini Lounge .

Screenwriters

Kosta Kondilopoulos

Production Company

Yoav Gross Productions

Watch The Engineer Trailers & Videos

Official Trailer

Production: what we know about the engineer.

Emilie Hirsch will play Etan, the head agent (6/4/2023).

Filming Timeline

2023 - June : The film was set to Completed status.

The Engineer Release Date: When was the film released?

The Engineer was a Limited release in 2023 on Friday, August 18, 2023 . There were 20 other movies released on the same date, including Blue Beetle , Back on the Strip and Strays . As a Limited release, The Engineer will only be shown in select movie theaters across major markets. Please check Fandango and Atom Tickets to see if the film is playing in your area.

Q&A Asked about The Engineer

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Follow the Updates

Sat., Jul. 22, 2023
added photos to the photos gallery
set the MPA rating to R
added Official Trailer to movie trailers & videos
changed the US film release date from TBA to August 18, 2023
set film release to Limited
added a poster to the photo gallery
added a photo to the photo gallery
added Yoav Gross Productions as a production company
added Omer Hazan as actor to movie credits
added Angel Bonanni as actor to movie credits

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The engineer.

Directed by Danny A. Abeckaser

The team that took down the mastermind behind the deadliest suicide bombings in history.

As Israel is rocked by a series of terrorist bombings, a US senator's daughter is killed in one bloody explosion. Now, ex-Mossad agent Etan must lead an elite, covert team of agents and mercenaries to find the man responsible—the elusive “Engineer.” Can they find and destroy the madman before more innocent lives are lost?

Emile Hirsch Robert Davi Stefanie Yunger Tsahi Halevi Danny A. Abeckaser Angel Bonanni Yarden Toussia-Cohen Dan Mor Kyle Stefanski Omer Hazan Oshri Cohen Adam Haloon Lee Keinan Amnon Peer Amir Hativ May Almakaies Luna Mansour Aans natour Adi Himelbloy Qader Harini Mia Gabai Mozart Kteilat

Director Director