Killing Season

Two veterans of a brutal Bosnian war cross paths in the remote hills of the Smoky Mountains, and what begins as a chance encounter swiftly escalates into a relentless game of survival. Benjamin Ford, an American ex-soldier, and Emil Kovac, a former Serb officer, find themselves stranded far from civilization after a tense dispute that shatters any sense of safety. With the forest closing in and winter tightening its grip, each man studies the other, weighing loyalties, motives, and the sins of the past. The mountains become a maze of ambushes and traps, where a single misstep can be fatal. As the days wear on, the confrontation reveals personal demons and a chilling truth about revenge.

Directed by Mark Steven Johnson from a screenplay by Evan Daugherty, Killing Season stars Robert De Niro and John Travolta. The film premiered in 2013 and sets its action in the rugged Smoky Mountain wilderness.

Critics acknowledged the austere mood and the charged performances, but the film drew mixed reviews for its thin plot and repetitive setup. The story probes themes of legacy and vengeance, framing a confrontation that questions how wars haunt individuals long after combat ends.