The Fourth War 1990

In a world enveloped by a frigid landscape, where the only sound is the crunch of snow underfoot, Colonel Jack Knowles, portrayed by Roy Scheider, is a decorated war hero known for his unparalleled courage. However, he is soon caught in a intensified personal vendetta against his Soviet rival, Colonel Valachev, played by Jürgen Prochnow. This gung-ho attitude, which has previously served him well during the turbulent Vietnam War, now threatens to ignite chaos along the tense border between West Germany and Czechoslovakia.

Knowles’ fury boils over when he witnesses the tragic fate of a Czech asylum seeker at the hands of Soviet soldiers, forcing him to confront the gruesome realities surrounding him. His sense of duty morphs into an obsessive, solitary campaign as he undertakes dangerous night missions, targeting enemy installations with an abandon that borders on recklessness. This unchecked fervor for retribution puts him at odds with his methodical second-in-command, Lieutenant Colonel Clark, played by Harry Dean Stanton, as well as drawing the ire of his superior, General Hackworth, enacted by Dale Dye.

Despite the General’s urgent calls for him to stop, Knowles stubbornly remains fixated on his goal of vengeance. The escalating feud between him and Valachev inches closer to a catastrophic climax, culminating in a brutal hand-to-hand combat standoff on a desolate frozen lake. Here, both armies—equipped with assault rifles, tanks, and attack helicopters—bear down upon them, ready for conflict.

As the tumult subsides, both Knowles and Valachev are confronted with the staggering mass destruction their obsessive rivalry has wrought. Oblivious to anything beyond their immediate hatred, the once-proud colonels must finally acknowledge the dangerous precipice their actions have led them to. Their private war has pushed the fragile balance between East and West to the brink of calamity, forcing them to reevaluate the grim ramifications of their relentless vendetta.