Directed by

Jack Fessenden
Made by

Samuel Goldwyn Films
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Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Foxhole (2022). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.
Morton Alex Hurt and his Union detachment defend a foxhole on a fog-shrouded Civil War battlefield. When a bleeding Motell Gyn Foster Jackson stumbles toward them, they face a moral dilemma: aid him and risk court-martial for abandoning their post, or refuse care and keep their line secure. Jackson warns of an impending attack by three Confederate regiments, heightening the tension as they debate whether to bring him in for treatment or leave him behind. The fog muffles the distant artillery as loyalty, duty, and humanity collide under the threat of a brutal assault.
In darkness, a German soldier Alex Breaux runs into a horse on a World War I battlefield. Corporal Morton’s detachment labors to lay barbed-wire obstacles to seal a breach while under constant fire. They capture the German prisoner and debate whether to bring him in for questioning or execute him so they can finish the mission before first light. The German scout warns of another attack on the gap. A panicked Morton tries to shoot him, but the others intervene; the noise betrays their position, and a bullet finds Morton. The German seizes the moment to escape, leaving the remaining soldiers to reckon with how quickly a life-and-death decision can alter a unit’s fate.
In the final sequence, a US Marine detachment rides through a desert in an armored Humvee armed with a .50 caliber machine gun. The driver Andi Matichak Gale is distracted by a malfunctioning CD-player, and the vehicle strikes an improvised explosive device. The blast disables the truck and wounds Wilson James LeGros, isolating the team from their base. During a later clash, they kill an enemy bearer of a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Gale volunteers to join Sergeant Jackson Motell Gyn Foster in retrieving the launcher before its grenade can devastate them all. A sniper shoots the rocket, and Gale takes shrapnel, yet she and Jackson push back toward safety. Their commander orders everyone to wait for rescue, but dawn rekindles a fighting resolve, and they make a final push for escape.
Follow the complete movie timeline of Foxhole (2022) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.
Civil War foxhole defense in heavy fog
Morton and his Union detachment hold a foxhole on a fog-shrouded Civil War battlefield. A bleeding Jackson from the 3rd Mississippi staggers into their shelter, forcing a moral debate about aiding a comrade who could trigger a court-martial for abandoning their post. The looming Confederate attack raises the stakes and tests their humanity under fire.
Jackson warns of approaching Confederate attack
Jackson warns that three Confederate regiments are nearing and urges the detachment to consider the consequences of carrying him to safety. The soldiers grapple with duty versus compassion, knowing they risk discipline if they abandon their post. The warning heightens the moral dilemma at the foxhole.
Debate over mercy vs. duty
The men argue whether aiding Jackson is worth the risk to their position and future careers. They fear a court-martial but acknowledge the wounded man’s need. The argument tests loyalty, humanity, and resolve in a pressure-cooker moment.
World War I foxhole encounter with a German prisoner
A German soldier stumbles into the foxhole, triggering a debate over whether to bring him in for questioning or execute him to finish their mission before first light. A German scout warns of an impending attack on the wire gap. In the panic, Morton reaches for a gun, but the others intervene; the noise reveals their position, and Morton is killed as the German escapes.
Desert Humvee strike: IED hits and chaos
A US Marine detachment rides in an armored Humvee through a desert battlefield when a malfunctioning CD-player distracts the driver, Gale. The vehicle strikes an improvised explosive device, crippling the truck and wounding Wilson. The crew struggles to assess casualties while under ongoing fire.
RPG threat neutralized but sniper fire follows
During the ensuing firefight, they kill an enemy carrying an RPG launcher, attempting to neutralize a major threat. A sniper opens fire, threatening their exit route and forcing a rapid response. Gale is wounded by shrapnel, but she and Sergeant Jackson manage to reach the Humvee.
Gale volunteers to retrieve the launcher
With danger still present, Gale volunteers to join Jackson in retrieving the launcher before its grenade can kill them all. The mission requires moving across open ground under fire, a risky but potentially decisive action. They steel themselves for a perilous extraction.
Sniper hits the rocket during the extraction
A sniper shoots the rocket as they attempt to relocate it, complicating the mission and forcing them to improvise under pressure. The new threat tightens the perimeter and increases the odds of being pinned down. The team presses on, trying to salvage the operation.
Gale wounded again; plan to retreat
The shrapnel injuries worsen Gale's condition, but she and Jackson manage to make it back to the Humvee. Jackson orders the crew to stay put and await rescue, though the stance shifts as night falls. The group weighs options for a safer escape under increasingly hostile conditions.
Nightfall rethinking and move toward safety
By nightfall, Jackson reassesses the situation and decides to move toward safety rather than wait for distant rescue. They prepare for a dangerous breakout at first light, balancing caution with the need to escape. The plan emphasizes timing against enemy threats.
First light escape attempt
At first light, the unit makes a bid for safety, sprinting across exposed ground toward their Humvee. The wounded travelers add urgency as they push through the open desert while danger closes in. The escape marks a tense turning point in the contemporary war segment.
Desert exfiltration under dawn
Dawn breaks as the team presses the final stretch to safety, illustrating endurance amid constant threat. The sequence ends with the makeshift exfiltration, showing how moral and tactical decisions resonate across eras. They escape, but the costs and memories linger.
Explore all characters from Foxhole (2022). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.
Morton (Alex Hurt)
A steady Union soldier who defends a foxhole while weighing the mercy of aiding a wounded comrade against the risk of court-martial and jeopardizing the mission.
Jackson (Motell Gyn Foster)
A wounded soldier connected to the Mississippi unit, whose presence and needs test the soldiers’ willingness to break protocol for kinship and humanity.
The German (Alex Breaux)
A German soldier encountered in the WWI foxhole who becomes a focal point for a crucial decision: interrogate, execute, or hold for questions while the clock ticks toward first light.
Gale (Andi Matichak)
A US Marine in the desert operation who demonstrates initiative, volunteering to retrieve a launcher and participate in a high-stakes rescue mission.
Wilson (James LeGros)
A Marine who endures the chaos of an ambush, contributing to the unit’s struggle to survive and complete their mission under fire.
Sergeant Jackson (Motell Gyn Foster)
The Marine sergeant in the desert sequence who reassesses strategy under pressure and coordinates the dangerous extraction of the launcher as night falls.
Confederate Soldier (Asa Spurlock)
A Confederate soldier encountered in the Civil War scenes, whose presence adds to the moral complexity of helping an enemy combatant or enforcing the rules of engagement.
Confederate Lieutenant (Braxton Sohns)
An officer in the Civil War vignette whose role underscores military hierarchy and the tension between discipline and compassion in battle.
Learn where and when Foxhole (2022) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.
Time period
1860s; 1910s; 21st century
The film traverses three eras: the 1860s Civil War, the 1910s World War I, and a modern desert operation. Each period presents the same core dilemma reframed by its unique combat environment. The transitions underscore how time and setting shape choices under fire.
Location
American Civil War battlefield, World War I battlefield, Desert front
The story unfolds across three war zones. In the Civil War segment, a fog-shrouded foxhole sets the tense stage for a life-or-death decision. The World War I sequence centers on trench-like obstacles and the moral debate around prisoner treatment. The desert finale follows a Marine unit navigating open terrain where timing and risk determine survival.
Discover the main themes in Foxhole (2022). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.
⚖️
Moral Dilemma
The central conflict pits humanitarian impulse against military duty. The soldiers wrestle with whether to risk court-martial to aid a wounded comrade in the Civil War scene, then confront similarly stark choices about mercy versus mission in the WWI sequence.
🤝
Brotherhood
Loyalty and solidarity bind the men as they debate and weigh risks to protect one another. The shared danger exposes both cooperative bonds and tensions that arise when command and conscience clash.
🔥
War's Futility
Across three wars, the same soldiers confront recurring cycles of violence and sacrifice. The outcomes—whether death, punishment, or escape—highlight the repetitive and corrosive nature of combat on moral judgment.
🧭
Leadership & Consequences
Authority figures impose boundaries that collide with individual conscience. The fear of punishment competes with the instinct to do what’s right, forcing hard trade-offs under extreme pressure.

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Discover the spoiler-free summary of Foxhole (2022). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.
In the relentless heat of battle, a solitary foxhole becomes a timeless crossroads where three generations of soldiers find themselves sharing the same cramped space. The film opens with the grim mud‑laden fields of the American Civil War, shifts to the rain‑soaked trenches of World I, and finally lands amid the blistering deserts of the Iraq War. Each era is rendered with unflinching realism, the camera lingering on the claustrophobic earth‑filled walls that echo with the same breath‑shortening tension, no matter the uniform or the century. The atmosphere is heavy with the sounds of distant artillery, the rustle of sand, and the muted chatter of men trying to hold onto a sliver of humanity in a world that demands surrender.
At the heart of the Civil War segment stands Morton, a young Union soldier whose steady hand belies a restless conscience. Beside him, a wounded stranger—Jackson—emerges from the fog, forcing the detachment to confront the uneasy balance between duty and compassion. Their uneasy alliance hints at larger questions about loyalty, sacrifice, and the cost of war, setting a tone that reverberates through the later periods.
The World I tableau follows a battered platoon tasked with sealing a critical breach. Here, Morton reappears, now a hardened corporal wrestling with the same moral quandaries under a sky scarred by shellfire. The fleeting encounters with an enemy combatant underscore the fragile line between survival and humanity, a theme that subtly threads through the narrative.
In the stark, modern desert, Gale—a Marine driver—navigates a battered Humvee through an unforgiving landscape. The hum of a malfunctioning CD‑player becomes a surreal counterpoint to the looming threat of unseen explosives, while the presence of a seasoned sergeant, also named Jackson, deepens the film’s meditation on brotherhood and resolve. Across all three periods, the foxhole serves not only as a physical refuge but as a symbolic crucible, where the universal weight of conflict presses upon each soldier’s spirit, inviting the audience to contemplate the enduring echo of war’s moral complexities.
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