The Forgotten Battalion Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

The Forgotten Battalion Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 22, 2026

“Frankly, I just want to die.” Those are the sobering words of disabled Marine veteran Christopher Bryde, a young double amputee who spearheads recovery opportunities for his fellow veterans. His story -- their stories -- are the focus of Director Mark A. Smith's The Forgotten Battalion, a 55-minute documentary chronicling the aftermath of one battalion's experiences in Afghanistan. It's a sobering, but ultimately hopeful, account of the challenges these returning veterans face as they attempt to re-integrate into normalcy back home, and certainly their experiences are not unlike countless thousands more recently returned from war.

The film tells the story of men with an impossible mission. “We had it pretty rough.” They had no air support and no backup. This handful of men would go hundreds of miles, on foot, into Taliban territory. The fighting was intense. Casualties were high. But the true fight was only beginning. This is the story of the men of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regimen, or 2/7. They were deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 and would be the hardest-hit battalion in the Marine Corps that year. And, often when coming under attack, they were often outnumbered by many multiples. The constant attacks, the lack of good sleep, and the stress of going on difficult and seemingly meaningless missions took a toll. When a 100-pound IED devastates their bodies and nerves, many return home only to face new challenges and an almost universal desire to end their own lives.

The Forgotten Battalion looks at a lot of different realities stemming from the harsh combat conditions and repercussions each of the men interviewed faced, from the hopelessness of the missions and the lack of medical support and combat backup to Bryde’s own experiences back home, including a four-year hospital stay to deal with his damaged legs, both of which are ultimately amputated despite the doctors’ best efforts to save them. The pain in their faces is tangible; smiles cannot hide the trauma, but they also reveal hope: hope in one another. Some of the most sobering moments in the film come not when they are recounting their experiences in combat in Afghanistan but rather their treatment at home: college students spitting at them, tone-deaf questions about their service, and their inability to find employment. But there is also the hope they find in camaraderie and being together.

The film explores, mostly in its second half, that camaraderie and times of healing together through fishing trips orchestrated by Christopher Bryde. “He’s an animal.” “He’s insane,” the men say of him, speaking in those terms in the best possible way. Despite his suicidal tendencies, he finds value I seeking to help others like him persevere, whether they experienced combat directly with him or elsewhere. Much of the latter part of the film looks at the men’s suicidal tendencies and the importance that they stay connected and integral to one another’s lives. Finally, the film explores how art therapy is helping these veterans cope with their trauma.

The Forgotten Battalion Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Gravitas Ventures releases The Forgotten Battalion to Blu-ray with a solid 1080p presentation. Certainly, the film is very simplistic in its visuals. It's little more than a point-and-shoot documentary that focuses primarily on single shot interior footage of the interviewees discussing their experiences, intermixed with some select outdoor shots showing them walking through the woods, fishing, or hanging out and doing art by the beach. In these shots and scenes, clarity is very good. The digital source presents the elements with tangible sharpness, showcasing every skin bump, facial hair, and tattoo ink with just about perfect clarity. The image is stable and accurate as well, and even those outdoor shots showcase great clarity in leaves and paints on canvas. Colors are bright and bold as well, again considering tattoos, natural greenery, and skin tones. There is some archival footage from Afghanistan, which is older and understandably of varied, and lesser, quality. These elements do not factor into the score, because the source is what it is. All of the fresh content, produced for this film, looks great, beyond the odd bit of minor macroblocking or a sprinkling of noise. Do note that the disc is burned, not pressed.

The Forgotten Battalion Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There's not much to say here. The included DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack is perfectly adequate in delivering the film's meager sonic needs with all of the essential clarity necessary for a film such as this. All that really matters is that the spoken word is clear and images perfectly well to the center. There are some (seemingly) inserted sound effects here and there in the Afghanistan shots, as well as some light music, both with good spread across the front. There's no need for any sort of multichannel 5.1 (or larger) presentation here. The 2.0 configuration suits this material just fine.

The Forgotten Battalion Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The only supplement included with this Blu-ray release of The Forgotten Battalion is its Trailer (1080p, 1:45). Nothing else is included on the disc, and there are no other extras to be found, like a slipcover, a DVD copy of the film, or a digital copy voucher. This is as close to bare-bones as they come.

The Forgotten Battalion Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Horror" and "hope" are the words I walk away with after watching The Forgotten Battalion. It's a film full of dark and sobering stories of combat and life at home, but also of the hope that is found in perseverance through darkness and despair. It's a simple documentary film but technically well done. It's quick and well paced, offering ample time for the men to share their stories but not overextending its welcome. Don't let the short run time sway you away from this; it's well worth it. And, for anyone looking to support Christopher Bryde, he is a published author who has written a novel titled Upgunner, available on Amazon. Gravitas Ventures' Blu-ray delivers crisp video, solid audio, and no extras beyond the film's trailer. Recommended.