Counterattack / Counterstrike – Review | Netflix (3/5)

COUNTERATTACK on Netflix is a Mexican Action-Thriller (org. title: Contraataque). The movie is also known under the title Counterstrike. This one feels like a typical action flick at first, but has more depth as it evolves. Read our full Counterattack movie review here!

COUNTERATTACK is a new Netflix action-thriller from Mexico (org. title: Contraataque). On IMDb, and even in the official Netflix trailer, it’s also titled Counterstrike. Maybe that title was a bit too tricky due to the popular video game.

In any case, while this movie opens with a scene that feels exactly as macho-fueled as the French Squad 36 (released on Netflix the same day), this Mexican movie has a lot more heart. The characters are more nuanced, and the plot has much more depth.

Also, the runtime is just 84 minutes, so it’s a quicker watch.

Continue reading our Counterattack movie review below. Find it on Netflix from February 28, 2025.

When the good guys refuse to give in

At the heart of the Netflix action thriller Counterattack is a story of how good guys can be outnumbered but still refuse to give in or give up. As long as there are civilians who depend on them, this group will do the right thing.

Of course, it’s in no way simple when the soldiers who truly are “good guys” are also surrounded by both criminals and law enforcement who work with the criminals. In other words, a whole lot of bad guys.

It all takes place very close to the US border, where a hostage rescue mission results in a new enemy for the just-arrived Captain Guerrero. However, they know that as long as there are good people who stand up for what’s right, there is hope for their country.

That’s why Captain Guerro and his elite soldiers fight back when ambushed by a criminal group. The fact that these kidnapped women accidentally came across a mass grave obviously made things much worse for them. They are witnesses to something that should’ve remained hidden.

Several familiar faces in the cast

As I was watching Counterattack on Netflix, I kept seeing actors that I recognized from other productions. Often very good productions, which led me to believe this movie just might offer more than what that opening scene indicated.

In the cast are actors like Luis Alberti from Playing with Fire, Noé Hernández, who was in Prison Cell 211, and Mayra Batalla from Huesera: The Bone Woman. Also, we have Leonardo Alonso from the amazing Sin nombre (2009).

Overall, this Mexican Netflix movie has so many good actors in even the smaller roles. And with a runtime under an hour and a half, there are many actors with little screentime but characters that have importance.

Watch Counterattack on Netflix now

Chava Cartas is the director of Counterattack (org. title: Contraataque) on Netflix. He also directed the 2022 zombie horror-comedy MexZombies, so he’s no stranger to more violent and bloody movies. However, this one is very different from a zombie movie.

The screenplay comes from Jose Ruben Escalante Mendez, who also wrote the horror movie Mark of the Devil (org. title: La marca del demonio), which we’ve reviewed here >

Interestingly, this Mexican production deals with some of the same issues that some Mexican officials have attacked the multi-award-winning Netflix movie Emilia Pérez for perpetuating. Stating that this was no longer the case in Mexico.

However, if you’ve watched a few Mexican documentaries, you’ll know it’s not at all unrealistic. And now, this fictional Netflix movie from Mexico also deals with the issue of missing people being found in mass graves after law enforcement has refused to do much investigation.

Counterattack (or Counterstrike) is on Netflix from February 28, 2025.

Details

Director: Chava Cartas
Writers: Jose Ruben Escalante Mendez
Stars: Luis Alberti, Noé Hernández, Mayra Batalla, Luis Curiel, Roberta Burns, Leonardo Alonso, David Calderón León