Hacksaw Ridge

Desmond T. Doss is a devout Seventh-day Adventist who enlists as a combat medic during World War II but refuses to carry a weapon. His beliefs put him at odds with fellow soldiers and superiors during training, though his steady resolve wins grudging respect. Sent to the Battle of Okinawa, Doss works amid brutal fighting, treating the wounded and executing daring rescues on a sheer cliff face known as Hacksaw Ridge. He repeatedly risks his life to pull comrades to safety, becoming the first conscientious objector in American history to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. He faces strain in his personal life, including doubts from loved ones about the choices he makes.

Directed by Mel Gibson and written by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight, Hacksaw Ridge (2016) recounts the true story of medic Desmond T. Doss, with Andrew Garfield leading a notable ensemble. The production used practical effects and elaborate battle staging.

The film earned multiple Academy Award nominations and won two Oscars, for Best Film Editing and Best Sound Mixing. Those honors highlighted the visceral staging and immersive audio work, and the nominations brought mainstream awards attention to its cast and crew. It raised the film's profile during awards season.

Hacksaw Ridge revived mainstream interest in Desmond Doss's story and prompted renewed discussion about faith and nonviolence during wartime. Its brutal battle sequences, especially the line of wounded men lowered from the ridge, became a lasting visual reference in modern war cinema and popular discourse, and sparked wider public interest.

Critics largely praised Andrew Garfield's committed lead performance and noted Mel Gibson's energetic, old-school approach to large-scale combat filmmaking, while some reviewers objected to the level of on-screen violence. Central themes include conviction, sacrifice, the moral costs of war, and the friction between personal faith and military expectations, and intensity.