The Veteran

Robert Miller returns to civilian life after serving in Afghanistan, but the rhythms of his old neighborhood and the rules of everyday society feel alien. He takes a job doing undercover surveillance, and that work pulls him closer to a violent patch of his city where gang activity overlaps with suspected terrorism. As Miller tries to piece together who is behind the crimes, his anger and training push him toward increasingly violent choices. The story follows his moral decline and the cost of seeking justice on his own terms, keeping the focus tight on character and escalating tension without revealing key twists.

Directed by Matthew Hope and created by Robert Henry Craft, The Veteran was released in 2011 as a British crime thriller. It features Toby Kebbell in the lead, with Brian Cox and Tony Curran in supporting roles.

The film did not register as a major commercial hit and saw a limited theatrical release, so there are no widely cited box office totals for its run.

Though not a mainstream cultural phenomenon, the movie has found a niche among fans of gritty British thrillers. Brian Cox's presence and the film's unglamorous depiction of council estate life have made a few scenes stick in viewers' minds, and it often gets mentioned when people discuss contemporary portrayals of urban violence and policing in UK cinema.

Critical reaction has been mixed, reflected in a vote average around 5.8 out of 10 from viewers. Reviewers tend to praise Kebbell's committed, intense performance while pointing out rough edges in plotting and tone. Major themes include the aftereffects of combat on soldiers, the blurred lines between law enforcement and vigilantism, and the ethical hazards of private surveillance. Overall, the film feels like a character study wrapped in a tense, violent thriller.