What Is In Enemy Hands About?
The premise of In Enemy Hands in 319 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the harsh winter of 1943 the Atlantic is a battlefield of steel and thunder, where German wolfpacks stalk the seas and every convoy carries the weight of a nation’s hope. The U.S.S. Swordfish, a seasoned American submarine, has spent months beneath the waves and is finally on its long‑awaited return home. Its crew lives in tight quarters, bound by relentless drills and the whispered promise of reunion, while the ocean itself feels like a restless, unforgiving adversary. The atmosphere is dense with the scent of oil, the low hum of engines, and an ever‑present sense that danger may be a single torpedo away.
At the heart of the story is Nathan Travers, the ship’s commanding officer who bears a private vow to his wife, Rachel Travers, that he will see her again. Beside him serves the sharp‑tongued and fiercely loyal Lt. Cmdr. Randall Sullivan, whose experience and quiet determination make him both a mentor and a man grappling with his own hidden burdens. Overhead, Admiral Kentz watches the war’s shifting tides, aware that the outcome of each submerged encounter could tip the balance of the larger conflict. Their world is one of disciplined routine interrupted by moments of stark uncertainty, where the line between duty and humanity blurs beneath the pressure of the deep.
When the Swordfish vanishes without a trace, the surviving crew finds themselves thrust into an unlikely and uneasy partnership with the crew of a German U‑boat, Jonas Herdt’s vessel, as they are forced to navigate captivity together. The film’s tone is tense and claustrophobic, marked by a constant undercurrent of moral dilemma: strangers bound by circumstance must decide whether rivalry can be set aside in the name of survival. Against a backdrop of war‑torn seas and flickering radios playing distant music, the narrative explores loyalty, the weight of promises, and the uneasy camaraderie that can arise when survival hangs on a single, shared breath.
What Happens in In Enemy Hands?
The complete story of In Enemy Hands, from the first scene to the last, in 831 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 10 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Lt. Cmdr. Randall Sullivan opens the story with a stark reminder of how deadly the Atlantic became when German U-boats formed relentless wolfpacks, sinking hundreds of Allied ships and tilting the balance of World War II. By 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill make halting the U-boats the top priority, and with the United States fully committed to the war, Allied forces begin to claw back control of the sea.
In June 1943, Admiral Kentz discusses Sullivan’s upcoming mission, praising his leadership and suggesting Sullivan has something to learn. At home, Sullivan’s captain, Nathan Travers, promises his wife, Rachel Travers, that he will return safely, a vow that becomes a quiet thread through the perilous voyage. A couple of months later, Travers takes command of the fictional submarine USS Swordfish, based on the real vessel, with Sullivan at his side aboard a crew that constantly drills for every emergency point, ready to face whatever the sea throws at them.
Meanwhile, the German U-boat U-429, commanded by Jonas Herdt, survives a depth-charge onslaught and receives news that Hamburg has been bombed, a blow that hits him personally as he learns his daughter’s school was destroyed and there were no survivors. On the Swordfish, the mission’s tension grows as the XO, Teddy Goodman, becomes ill with a stomach rash that doctors fear could be meningitis, a highly contagious and sometimes deadly disease. Unbeknownst to the crew, Sullivan himself also bears a rash, signaling that he may be infected as well.
A second German U-boat, U-821, sinks a British merchant vessel, and Swordfish heads to investigate after there’s been little U-boat activity nearby. Radio operator Virgil Wright recognizes music from Glenn Miller emanating from U-821, and the Swordfish readies an attack. U-821 evades the first torpedoes, but the battle turns as Goodman dies from illness, and Travers presses on, taking command as the Swordfish fires a decisive third torpedo that cripples the U-821. The success is short-lived; the U-821 retaliates, delivering a torpedo that cripples and nearly sinks the Swordfish and forces Sullivan, Travers, and a handful of crew—Danny Miller, Ox, Benny Romano, and others including Wright, Abers, and Cooper—along with their German captors, to abandon ship and fall under the control of U-429.
The Germans split their prisoners between the bow and stern sections of the U-429. Wright tends to Sullivan, and Abers identifies Sullivan’s rash as meningitis, a revelation that casts a shadow over the prisoners’ prospects. The U-429, now crippled, is primed to attack the American destroyer USS Logan, prompting Travers and his group to improvise a ruse: they untether and fire a torpedo off course to signal their location, drawing Logan’s attention to the threat. Logan counters with depth charges, and both crews fight for survival, but Sullivan is killed while defending his men during a guard’s assault, a moment that marks a turning point in the mission and in Travers’s leadership.
The meningitis outbreak spreads, decimating two-thirds of the German crew, including Benny Romano. As Travers wrestles with the memory of his wife’s plea to return home, Jonas chooses to break the usual captor–prisoner rules and work with Travers’s men to reach the United States coast, hoping to spare more lives. He argues that he’s tired of war and wants to protect those who can go home, insisting that if they encounter enemies, their own men must still be allowed to return home.
During their voyage toward safety, Klause, the U-429’s quartermaster, grows disillusioned with Jonas’s defiance and allies with Bauer and Christophe to mount a mutiny. Abers and Wright subdue Christophe, and Hans neutralizes Bauer to protect Ox. Klause’s mutiny succeeds only in derailing the mutinous plan; Jonas, mortally wounded, bequeaths command to Cremer with his last breath, and the U-429 continues under Cremer’s leadership.
The U-429 again encounters Logan and the pursuing U-1221 moves in, firing torpedoes in a desperate bid to sink the doomed submarine. The stern tubes hold just one torpedo, and the decision is made to fire it where the enemy lies, but the detonation fails to deliver the decisive blow. The Logan, closing in with sonar, returns fire and destroys the U-429. In a final act of resolve, Travers, who has been wrestling with the choice to keep the Enigma out of enemy hands, disconnects from the Logan by faking a sinking to safeguard the submarine’s secrets and honor his promise to Cremer.
Back on dry land, Travers confronts Admiral Kentz, who acknowledges that the Germans remain enemies, but vows to do what he can to ensure they will be remembered and treated humanely. Travers and Rachel are reunited, and they visit Cremer in a POW camp. Rachel thanks Cremer for saving her husband’s life, and the two men exchange quiet, hopeful talks about a war that might soon end. Travers presents Cremer with cigarettes and acknowledges the sense of relief in seeing him once more, while Cremer watches with a hint of cautious optimism as the war inches toward its conclusion.
In Enemy Hands Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “War in the Atlantic escalates as U-boats threaten Allied shipping” to “Mutual respect and the war's end in sight”. 13 events name a place, across 9 locations.
- 1
War in the Atlantic escalates as U-boats threaten Allied shipping
Old film introduces the U-boat threat and its devastating impact. In 1942-1943, German wolfpacks sink thousands of Allied ships, shifting the war's momentum. The Allies place a top priority on stopping the U-boats, aided by new technology and American involvement.
When:1942-1943 Where:Atlantic Ocean
- 2
Sullivan and Kentz discuss the upcoming mission
Lt. Cmdr. Randall Sullivan briefs Admiral Kentz about the mission and his future COB, Nathan Travers. Kentz notes Travers is a good man from whom Sullivan can learn. The exchange foreshadows the intertwined fates of the two crews.
When:June 1943
- 3
Travers bids farewell to his wife
Travers prepares to depart while his wife Rachel implores him to promise to come home safe. He reassures her despite the dangers ahead. The scene establishes the personal stakes behind the war.
When:June 1943 Where:Travers' home
- 4
Swordfish sails for patrol as the crew drills
Two months after the briefing, the Swordfish departs with Sullivan in command and the crew kept in constant drills. An ominous rash on the chest of XO Teddy Goodman concerns the doctor, who suspects meningitis. Sullivan also discovers a rash on his arm, signaling he may be infected as well.
When:August 1943 Where:Onboard USS Swordfish
- 5
U-429 survives a depth-charge attack and learns of Hamburg's bombing
U-429, commanded by Jonas Herdt, survives a depth-charge attack as an American destroyer closes in. Jonas receives news that Hamburg was bombed, and his daughter's school was destroyed with no survivors. The revelation personalizes the war for the German crew.
When:1943 Where:U-429 (North Atlantic)
- 6
U-821 sinks Achilles; Swordfish closes in
U-821 sinks the British merchant vessel Achilles, triggering Swordfish to investigate. A distant tune from Glenn Miller hints at a human side amid the war. The Swordfish fires a third torpedo and destroys U-821, but the delay from Goodman’s illness allows the U-boat to strike the Swordfish, severely damaging it and forcing a surface surrender.
When:Mid-1943 Where:Atlantic Ocean
- 7
Prisoners are split and disease takes hold
After surfacing, Travers, Ox, Cooper, and Miller, along with Sullivan's group, are captured by U-429 and split into two sections. The Germans nurse the prisoners while a meningitis outbreak spreads, threatening both sides. The disease quickly escalates into a desperate race for survival.
When:Days after capture Where:U-429
- 8
Logan is alerted; Travers and crew fight to break free
Travers and his group break their bonds and fire a torpedo off course, signaling the Logan to their presence. The Logan attacks with depth charges, forcing the U-429 to surface for a clash. Sullivan fights a German guard to protect his men but is killed in the effort.
When:Days after capture Where:USS Logan and U-429
- 9
Meningitis outbreak spreads and reshapes loyalties
Meningitis kills a large portion of the German crew, including Romano. Travers is haunted by a vision of his wife Rachel reminding him of his promise to return home. Jonas Herdt chooses to defy protocol and work with Travers' men to maximize their chances of survival.
When:Days after capture Where:U-429
- 10
Mutiny erupts aboard U-429; Cremer takes command
Klause and two others attempt a mutiny aboard U-429. Abers and Wright subdue Christophe, and Hans knocks out Bauer to protect the mission. Klause fatally stabs Jonas; Travers kills Klause, and Cremer is named the new commander as order is restored.
When:Mutiny night Where:U-429
Show the other 4 events of In Enemy Hands Hide the last 4 events
- 11
The final duel: U-429 vs U-1221; Logan intervenes
U-1221 fires several torpedoes at U-429 while the Logan closes in on the scene. The stern torpedo misfires, sparing the U-429 momentarily, but the Logan arrives and destroys the U-429 with gunfire and depth charges, ending the German threat.
When:Late voyage Where:Atlantic Ocean
- 12
Travers seizes the Enigma and escapes under cover
Captain Littleton orders Travers to take the Enigma; Travers pretends the U-429 is sinking and disconnects from the Logan to protect his prize. The crew floods the submarine and is rescued by the Logan, keeping their mission and survival intact.
When:Final escape Where:Onboard USS Logan
- 13
Homecoming and reconciliation
Travers returns home and confronts Admiral Kentz about the Germans saving their lives. Kentz reframes the war as ongoing, but promises to take care of the survivors. Travers and Rachel visit Cremer in a POW camp, thanking him for saving her husband.
When:Post-rescue Where:Home; POW camp
- 14
Mutual respect and the war's end in sight
Travers and Cremer acknowledge Jonas Herdt's mercy, recognizing that lives were saved on both sides. They sense the war will end soon and that the two sides will eventually go home. Travers gives Cremer cigarettes as a final gesture before parting.
When:Post-rescue Where:POW compound
Who Are the Main Characters in In Enemy Hands?
9 characters, among them Randall Sullivan (Scott Caan), Nathan Travers (William H. Macy) and Ludwig Cremer (Thomas Kretschmann): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- RS
Randall Sullivan (Scott Caan)
Played by Scott Caan
Lt. Cmdr. Randall Sullivan commands the Swordfish with discipline and resolve. He confronts a meningitis diagnosis alongside his crew and ultimately sacrifices himself to protect them, embodying steadfast leadership and personal courage under fire.
- 🎖️ Leader
- 🧠 Strategist
- 💪 Courageous
-
Nathan Travers (William H. Macy)
Played by William H. Macy
Chief of Boat and Sullivan’s second-in-command, Travers is practical, steadfast, and protective of his men. After Goodman’s death, he rises to the challenge, forms a fragile alliance with Cremer, and strives to honor his promise to return home to his wife.
- 🎖️ Leader
- 🧠 Strategist
- 💪 Resilient
-
Ludwig Cremer (Thomas Kretschmann)
Played by Thomas Kretschmann
Cremer is the U-429’s First Watch Officer who ultimately takes command during a crisis. He demonstrates restraint in combat, a willingness to cooperate with the enemy for the sake of his crew, and steady leadership that guides both sides toward safety.
- 🧭 Leader
- 💔 Compassionate
- 🤝 Peacemaker
-
Jonas Herdt (Til Schweiger)
Played by Til Schweiger
Captain of U-429, weary of the war and capable of pragmatic mercy. He saves Travers’ men against protocol and ultimately dies after a mutiny, leaving a lasting impression on both sides and steering the outcome toward humane action.
- ⚔️ Commander
- 🧭 Pragmatic
- 🕊️ Compassionate
-
Admiral Kentz (Xander Berkeley)
Played by Xander Berkeley
Admiral Kentz oversees Allied operations and upholds hard wartime policy. He remains wary of the German side even as he respects acts of mercy; his stance underscores the tension between duty, ethics, and pragmatism in wartime leadership.
- 🎖️ Authority
- 🧠 Pragmatic
- ⚖️ Duty
-
Captain Samuel Littleton (Chris Ellis)
Played by Chris Ellis
Captain of the USS Logan, he commands with strategic intent and uses information warfare as Travers bridges contact. He orders Travers to take the Enigma, driving a deception that helps save lives by preventing capture.
- 🎖️ Commander
- 🧠 Strategist
- 🤝 Cooperative
- VW
Virgil Wright (Sam Huntington)
Played by Sam Huntington
Radio Operator who nurses Sullivan and notices the meningitis symptoms in the crew. He remains a calm, loyal presence whose quick assessment helps sustain the group through the crisis.
- 🛰️ Technician
- 🧠 Analytical
- 💪 Loyal
-
Ox (Patrick Gallagher)
Played by Patrick Gallagher
Crew member who stays practical and steady as the group endures capture and disease. He contributes to the survival effort and embodies the submarine crew’s stubborn resilience.
- 💪 Resilient
- 🧠 Resourceful
- 🗡️ Steady
-
Teddy Goodman (Clark Gregg)
Played by Clark Gregg
Executive Officer on the Swordfish whose illness sets off a cascade of events. His death removes a guiding voice and emphasizes the personal costs of war at sea.
- 🎖️ Leader
- 💪 Courageous
- 🧠 Quick-thinking
Where and When Is In Enemy Hands Set?
In Enemy Hands is set in North Atlantic Ocean, aboard the USS Swordfish, U-429, U-821 and USS Logan (1943). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1943
The narrative is anchored in 1943, a pivotal year of intensified Allied anti-submarine warfare against German U-boats. The action spans a period of rapid naval battles, with a deadly meningitis outbreak adding a race-against-time element. The story traces the arc from a high-stakes attack to a fragile, uneasy alliance that ultimately influences the wartime balance on the Atlantic front.
Where
North Atlantic Ocean, aboard the USS Swordfish, U-429, U-821, USS Logan
The film unfolds in the North Atlantic during World War II, primarily inside claustrophobic submarine interiors and on open water. Battles unfold across the sea as American and German vessels engage in depths-charge confrontations and cat-and-mouse maneuvers. Key locations include the Swordfish's hull, the German U-boats U-429 and U-821, and the USS Logan as a rescue and pursuit backdrop.
- 🌊 Ocean
- ⚓ War at Sea
- 🔎 Submarine Environment
What Are the Themes of In Enemy Hands?
4 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Leadership, Alliance and Disease and Mortality.
-
01
Leadership
Leadership is tested under extreme pressure as Sullivan guides a sick, collapsing crew through drills, danger, and the looming threat of capture. His decisions, sacrifices, and sense of duty define how the crew endures the crisis. The theme highlights how strong, humane command can steady a ship under fire and high stakes.
-
02
Alliance
Enemies converge into an unlikely partnership as Cremer and Travers choose cooperation over victory at any cost. They navigate distrust, limited resources, and language barriers to save their men. The narrative shows that survival can trump wartime enmity when lives hang in the balance.
-
03
Disease and Mortality
Meningitis spreads through the crew, turning illness into a weapon that threatens both sides. The disease creates a ticking clock, forcing rapid decisions and shaping loyalties as men fight not only the enemy but time itself. Mortality becomes a constant, altering how characters think and act.
-
04
Humanity in War
Jonas Herdt’s choice to spare Travers’ crew, and Cremer’s tolerance of collaboration, reveal a more nuanced view of war where mercy and shared humanity briefly eclipse national allegiance. The mutiny threat tests moral boundaries, underscoring that individuals can choose mercy even amid devastating conflict. The ending reinforces that personal bonds can outlast propaganda and enmity.
What Kind of Film Is In Enemy Hands?
Tense in tone, with fast pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Tense
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bittersweet
A relentlessly tense and claustrophobic submarine thriller that creates high anxiety through desperate survival scenarios, moral dilemmas, and the grim reality of war, culminating in a bittersweet conclusion.
- claustrophobic
- desperate
- anxious
- gripping
- somber
- grim
- survival
- prisoner of war
- moral conflict
- enemy cooperation
Content notes: war violence, fatal disease, prisoner of war, military combat deaths.
Quiz
How well do you remember In Enemy Hands? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch In Enemy Hands
Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
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