The Objective

The Objective
Promotional film poster
Directed by	Daniel Myrick
Written by	Daniel Myrick Mark A. Patton Wesley Clark Jr.
Produced by	Zev Guber Jeremy Wall Richard Halpern Karim Debbagh
Starring	Jonas Ball Matthew R. Anderson Jon Huertas Michael C. Williams (actor)
Narrated by	Jonas Ball
Cinematography	Stephanie Martin
Edited by	Michael J. Duthie Robert Florio
Music by	Kays Al-Atrakchi
Distributed by	IFC Films
Release dates	April 24, 2008 (2008-04-24) (Morocco) February 6, 2009 (2009-02-06) (United States)
Running time	90 minutes
Countries	United States Morocco
Language	English

The Objective is a 2008 science fiction horror film directed by Daniel Myrick and co-written by Myrick, Mark A. Patton, and Wesley Clark Jr. The film stars Jonas Ball, Matthew R. Anderson, and Michael C. Williams. The narrative follows CIA agent Benjamin Keynes, who leads a U.S. Special Forces team into the mountains of Afghanistan under the pretense of locating a missing Afghan cleric. As the mission progresses, the team encounters a series of inexplicable and supernatural events.

The film premiered in Morocco in April 2008 and received a limited theatrical release in the United States on February 4, 2009. It grossed $95 during its one-week domestic run in a single theater. The film was subsequently released on DVD by IFC Films on October 13, 2009, and later made available through digital platforms. Critical reception was mixed, with reviewers citing its atmospheric tension and premise as strengths while noting shortcomings in pacing and narrative resolution.

In Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, CIA operative Benjamin Keynes is assigned to accompany a U.S. Army Special Forces team on a covert mission to locate a missing Afghan cleric, Mohammed Aban. Led by Chief Warrant Officer Wally Hamer, the team includes several seasoned soldiers and is guided by a local man named Abdul. As they venture deeper into the remote mountains, they begin to experience a series of increasingly unexplainable events.

After an ambush leaves one team member dead, the soldiers discover that the attackers' bodies have vanished. Strange lights appear in the night sky, communications equipment fails, and an unseen helicopter seems to hover overhead before vanishing without a trace. The team’s supplies begin to fail—canteens are filled with sand, GPS signals are lost, and members experience paranoia and hallucinations.

The soldiers find temporary shelter in a cave with a mysterious old man, who is later revealed to be wearing a British army uniform from the 19th century. A firefight ensues after one soldier sees ghostly figures through night vision equipment. As more members are killed by unseen forces, Abdul warns that the group is confronting a force beyond human comprehension before taking his own life.

Pressed by the surviving soldiers, Keynes reveals the mission’s true purpose. The CIA has been monitoring unexplained phenomena in the region for decades, linked to ancient accounts of flying machines known as Vimanas. Keynes admits the team was sent to gather intelligence and was considered expendable. As the soldiers succumb one by one to the hostile, near-invisible forces, Keynes is left alone, physically and mentally broken.

Eventually, he encounters a strange oasis and is confronted by glowing beings who trigger visions and leave him in a trance. In the final scene, Keynes is shown levitating in a hospital bed under observation, clutching a talisman from the mission. In a dazed whisper, he utters, “It will save us all.” During the credits, an interview with Keynes' wife confirms that he remains missing.

• Jonas Ball as CIA Agent Benjamin Keynes
• Matthew R. Anderson as Chief Warrant Officer Wally Hamer, 180A SF Warrant Officer
• Jon Huertas as Sergeant Vincent Degetau, 18D SF Medical Sgt.
• Michael C. Williams as Sergeant Joe Trinoski, 18C SF Demolitions/Engineering Sgt.
• Sam Hunter as Sergeant Tim Cole, 18E SF Communications Sgt.
• Jeff Prewett as Sergeant Pete Sadler, 18B SF Weapons Sgt./Sniper
• Kenny Taylor as Master Sergeant Kenny Tanner, 18Z/18F Senior Team Sgt. / Intelligence Sgt.
• Chems-Eddine Zinoune as Abdul
• P. David Miller as Major Matt McCarthy, 18A SF Officer
• Vanessa Johansson as Stacy Keanes
• Jacqueline Harris as Matilde Seymour

The Objective received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an approval rating of 33% based on 12 reviews.^[1] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 26 out of 100, based on five critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews."^[2]

Writing for Variety, Alissa Simon criticized the film's "low-budget look, clichéd dialogue, stale plot, and so-so acting," concluding that it was unlikely to replicate the success of director Daniel Myrick’s earlier work.^[3] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter noted the film's suspenseful atmosphere but felt it failed to distinguish itself beyond its familiar setup.^[4] Screen Daily commented that while the film attempted to explore new thematic territory, it ultimately did not provide a satisfying narrative payoff.^[5] Time Out observed that the film started with a strong premise but "descends into gratuitous references" to The Blair Witch Project (1999), also directed by Myrick.^[6]

In a more favorable review, Jim Vejvoda of IGN wrote that the film "offers some solid atmosphere and intrigue," though he noted that its pacing and ambiguity might not appeal to all viewers.^[7]

• The Objective at IMDb
• The Objective at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Objective at Box Office Mojo