Film Review: ExTerritorial (6/10)

Ricky Giamatti
Dec 22, 2025
6 min read

A High-Stakes Consulate Nightmare That Almost Sticks the Landing

The mid-budget action thriller gets a gritty, German-language shot in the arm with Netflix’s latest global hit, Exterritorial (2025). Written and directed by Christian Zübert, this kinetic thriller stars Jeanne Goursaud (Barbarians) as a mother pushed to the edge, alongside veteran Dougray Scott, Lera Abova, and Kayode Akinyemi.

The plot follows Sara Wulf, a former Special Forces soldier struggling with PTSD, who visits the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt to apply for a visa only to have her young son, Josh, vanish without a trace inside the building. What follows is a desperate, labyrinthine search through a "city within a city" where no one—not the security cameras, the guards, or even her own family—claims the boy ever existed. It is a high-octane, single-location "Taken-style" mystery that uses its unique diplomatic setting to crank the tension to the breaking point.

STORY (1.5/2)

The story being told in Exterritorial is a taut, claustrophobic mystery that successfully weaponizes the "gaslighting" trope against a backdrop of international intrigue. Sara’s search for Josh is made significantly more complex by the setting; because the U.S. Consulate is technically American territory, German police are legally toothless, leaving Sara trapped in a "no-man's land" where she has no rights and no allies. This unique legal gimmick adds a layer of genuine helplessness that drives the story forward, forcing Sara to rely on her tactical training rather than official channels. The mystery of whether Josh is a figment of Sara's PTSD or a victim of a deep-state conspiracy is handled with enough skill to keep the audience guessing through a series of "set-'em-up-knock-'em-down" narrative beats.

While the premise is distinct and the first half is incredibly taut, the story structure begins to wobble once the conspiratorial curtain is pulled back. As Sara moves deeper into the consulate's sub-levels, the complexity gives way to some fairly familiar action-movie tropes and a few "plot conveniences" that stretch the bounds of belief. However, the pacing remains brisk, and the narrative accessibility is high, making it an easy, engaging watch for fans of the genre. The uniqueness of a mother—not a father—in this "search and destroy" role provides a refreshing emotional energy, even if the third act relies a little too heavily on a clunky exposition dump to explain the villains' true motivations. It’s a well-constructed, high-stakes ride that mostly succeeds in turning a bureaucratic building into a terrifying, lawless maze.

VISUALS (1.5/2)

Visually, the film is an impressive display of "bright" horror, utilizing the sterile, oppressively white hallways of the consulate to create a sense of mounting clinical dread. The picture quality is top-tier, showcasing the "labyrinthine" depth of the building with sharp cinematography by Matthias Pötsch. One of the most unique and impactful visual elements is Zübert’s insistence on long, continuous takes during the fight sequences. These moments are stunning, capturing the kinetic reality of Sara’s combat skills as she navigates hallways and overcomes multiple assailants without the crutch of rapid-fire editing. It gives the action an authentic, visceral feel that stands out from the typical "shaky-cam" chaos seen in lower-budget thrillers.

There were very few distracting issues with the visual quality, though some of the lower-level bunker scenes felt a bit "set-like" and lacked the lived-in grit of the main consulate floors. A standout visual moment occurs during an early hallway chase where the camera stays locked on Sara’s panicked expression as she realizes the security monitors have been wiped—a scene that perfectly marries the character's psychological angst with the film's clinical aesthetic. While it doesn't reinvent the wheel, the visual style is consistent and polished, effectively communicating the scale of the consulate while maintaining the intimacy of a mother's personal nightmare. The clean, modern look of the facility serves as a perfect, cold foil to the raw, bleeding emotions of the protagonist.

SOUND (1/2)

The audio mix for Exterritorial is a professional, high-impact package that focuses heavily on the environmental tension of a "locked-down" facility. The balance between the booming alarms, the tactile sounds of hand-to-hand combat, and the whispered dialogue is solid, ensuring that the audience is never lost in the noise. The music score by Sara Barone does a decent job of complimenting the film's pressing rhythm, though it leans into some fairly standard thriller motifs that don't always leave a lasting emotional impression. The surround sound mix is a benefit during the infiltration sequences, allowing the audience to track the movement of guards through the vents and hallways alongside Sara, adding to the immersive experience.

While there were no severely unbalanced or distracting audio moments, the soundscape lacks a truly unique "hook" that would elevate it above other Netflix actioners. Standout musical moments are few and far between, with the score largely serving as a functional tool to ratchet up the heartbeat during chase scenes rather than enhancing the deeper psychological tragedy of Sara’s PTSD. The audio mix successfully captures the hollow, echoing nature of the consulate, but it doesn't quite manage to turn the sound into a narrative weapon. It’s a competent, well-balanced effort that supports the film’s energy but doesn't necessarily push the boundaries of what's possible with a modern action soundscape.

CHARACTER (1/2)

The dissection of the characters in Exterritorial shows a film that is almost entirely carried by its lead. Jeanne Goursaud delivers an incredible, believable performance as Sara, perfectly balancing the grit of an elite soldier with the raw, terrifying vulnerability of a mother losing her grip on reality. Her character arc—fighting against both a physical conspiracy and her own mental health—is the most shocking and engaging part of the film. Dougray Scott is a revelation as Eric Kynch, providing a "kind but undercurrent of menace" performance that keeps you guessing about his true loyalties until the very end. The way their "aggressive dance" drives the plot forward is a testament to the actors' chemistry.

However, the supporting cast feels a bit underutilized, especially Lera Abova’s Irina. While she provides a magnetic presence and an interesting "unlikely ally" dynamic for the middle act, her character becomes somewhat insignificant as the conspiracy takes center stage, and her motivations aren't quite as justified by the script as they could be. The costume and makeup work, particularly the "Die Hard-esque" degradation of Sara’s clothing as the search turns violent, adds a layer of tactical authenticity to the story. Ultimately, the film is a showcase for Goursaud’s "new action hero" status, but it struggles to give the same weight to the people surrounding her, leaving the emotional impact feeling slightly lopsided. It's a great character study for the lead, but the broader ensemble lacks the development needed to make the entire conspiracy feel truly devastating.

FACTOR X (1/2)

As a subjective experience, Exterritorial is a solid "Friday night escape" that hits the "Taken-itch" without being a total carbon copy. I enjoyed the single-location "labyrinth" gimmick, and as a fan of the 90s-style "set-'em-up-knock-'em-down" actioners, I appreciated the film's sincerity and lack of ironic distance. It’s a movie that believes in its protagonist, and that passion translates into some genuinely exciting fight sequences. However, it lacks that definitive "wow" factor that would make it a repeat watch. Once the mystery is solved, the re-watch value drops significantly, as the "clunky exposition" in the final act drains some of the kinetic tension built up in the first hour.

Compared to other Netflix international hits like Rebel Ridge or Barbarians, Exterritorial feels like it’s missing a final narrative "punch" to the gut. It’s a respectable and entertaining effort that treats its creative process with care, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of the masterpieces in the genre. It's a "rock-solid" thriller that I would recommend to anyone looking for a briskly paced action ride, but it doesn't linger in the mind much longer than its 109-minute runtime. It’s the kind of film that confirms the talent of its lead actress while suggesting the director might have had a few more tricks up his sleeve that didn't quite make the final cut.

Exterritorial is a taut, kinetic thriller that succeeds on the back of Jeanne Goursaud’s powerhouse performance and some truly impressive long-take action sequences. While the story struggles with some predictability in the second half and a slightly underwhelming third-act reveal, its unique consulate setting and psychological "gaslighting" elements keep the energy high. If you enjoy grounded, mother-driven action like Kidnap or Flightplan, this is a mandatory stream. It’s currently available on Netflix and is a great example of why international action cinema is dominating the streaming charts right now. It may not be a perfect masterpiece, but it’s a high-impact journey well worth the watch.