The thing about immortality is that it sounds exhausting. Most superhero movies treat living forever like a winning lottery ticket, but The Old Guard treats it like a shift at a factory that never closes. When the film hit Netflix in mid-2020, we were all stuck inside, feeling like time had stopped moving anyway. Maybe that’s why it clicked. It wasn't just another action flick; it was a moody, grounded take on what it actually costs to keep living when everyone you love keeps dying.
Honestly, it’s one of the few comic book adaptations that feels like it’s about people instead of power levels. Led by Charlize Theron as Andy (short for Andromache of Scythia), the story follows a small group of mercenaries who can't die. Well, they can, but they don't know when the "reset" button stops working. That’s the hook. Their healing factor isn't a guarantee; it’s a temporary lease.
The Old Guard and the Burden of History
The movie is based on the graphic novel by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández. Rucka also wrote the screenplay, which explains why the film retains that specific, weary DNA of the source material. Most blockbusters spend twenty minutes explaining "how" the magic works. The Old Guard basically says, "It just does, and it sucks."
Andy has been alive for thousands of years. Think about that. She’s seen empires rise, flourish, and crumble into dust. By the time we meet her, she’s done. She’s cynical. She’s tired of saving a world that seems intent on breaking itself over and over again. This isn't the shiny optimism of Captain America. This is a woman who has forgotten what her own mother’s face looks like.
Then you have the rest of the crew: Booker, Joe, and Nicky.
Joe and Nicky are the emotional heart of the whole thing. They met during the Crusades—on opposite sides. They spent years killing each other until they realized they couldn't stay dead, eventually falling in love. It’s one of the most honest portrayals of a relationship in a genre that usually treats romance as a subplot for the second act. When Joe gives that speech in the back of the van about Nicky not being "his boyfriend" but being everything to him? That’s the peak of the movie.
Why the Action Feels Different
Gina Prince-Bythewood directed this, which was an interesting choice at the time. She came from a background of character-driven dramas like Love & Basketball. You can tell. She focuses on the weight of the weapons and the exhaustion of the fighters.
The combat in The Old Guard is tactical.
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Andy uses a labrys—a double-headed ancient axe—but she also uses a modern pistol. The team fights with a blend of ancient martial arts and contemporary military drills. It looks messy because it is. They aren’t invincible gods; they feel pain. They just happen to get back up. The cinematography doesn't hide the brutality behind quick cuts. You see the toll it takes.
Charlize Theron did a massive amount of her own stunt work here. We know she’s an action powerhouse from Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde, but here, she adds a layer of physical fatigue. Every punch looks like it requires a massive amount of emotional effort.
Nile Freeman and the New Blood
The plot kicks into gear when a new immortal "wakes up." Nile Freeman, played by KiKi Layne, is a US Marine who gets her throat slit during a mission in Afghanistan, only to wake up without a scratch the next morning.
Nile is the audience surrogate. Through her, we learn the rules. But more importantly, through her, we see the horror of immortality. She has a family. She has a life. Andy and the team basically kidnap her because, in their world, you don't get a choice. You stay or you get captured and experimented on by pharmaceutical CEOs who want to patent your DNA.
The villain, Merrick (played by Harry Melling), is a bit of a cliché—a tech-bro billionaire with a god complex—but he represents a very modern fear. He doesn't want to kill the "Old Guard." He wants to harvest them. He wants to turn their suffering into a commodity. It’s a sharp contrast to the ancient, honor-bound history of the protagonists.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Ending
People often complain that the movie ends on a cliffhanger. They see the mid-credits scene with Quynh—Andy’s former companion who was locked in an iron maiden and dropped into the ocean—and think it’s just sequel bait.
It’s more than that.
Quynh represents the ultimate nightmare of their existence. If you can’t die, then being trapped at the bottom of the sea, drowning and reviving for five hundred years, is the worst possible fate. It’s the "horror" side of the "superhero" coin. Her return isn't just a plot point for a potential The Old Guard 2; it’s the personification of Andy’s guilt.
The film isn't trying to set up a cinematic universe in the way Marvel does. It’s trying to explore the trauma of longevity. When Booker betrays the group, it isn't because he’s "evil." It’s because he’s lonely. He’s seen his children grow old and die while he stayed the same age. He wants out.
The Sound of Immortality
One thing that doesn't get talked about enough is the soundtrack. It’s very contemporary. Some people hated it, saying it didn't fit a story about ancient warriors. I’d argue the opposite.
The use of modern R&B and pop tracks makes the characters feel like they belong to the now. They aren't museum exhibits. They live in our world. They wear hoodies, drink cheap beer, and listen to the radio. The music anchors them to the present, making their ancient past feel like a heavy shadow they’re trying to outrun.
Real Talk: The Limitations
Is it a perfect movie? No.
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The pacing slows down significantly in the second act. Some of the green-screen work in the final skyscraper battle looks a bit dated compared to big-budget theatrical releases. And yes, the villain is pretty one-dimensional. But the chemistry between the core cast carries it through the rough patches.
The movie succeeded because it asked a question we all think about: If you could live forever, would you actually want to? Most of us say yes until we see what it does to Andy. By the end of The Old Guard, you’re not jealous of them. You’re sorry for them.
How to Dive Deeper into The Old Guard
If you’ve watched the movie and want more, don't just wait for the sequel (which has faced several production delays but is reportedly still in the works). You should actually look at the source material.
- Read the Comics: Pick up The Old Guard: Force Multiplied. It goes much deeper into the backstory of the other members, especially Nicky and Joe’s time during the wars in Europe.
- Watch for Directorial Cues: Re-watch the scene where Andy tests Nile’s healing for the first time. Notice how the camera stays tight on their faces rather than the wounds. It’s a film about the psychological impact, not the gore.
- Track the History: Research the "Labrys." The weapon Andy carries has deep roots in Minoan and Scythian culture, often associated with female power and goddesses. It’s a tiny detail that shows how much thought went into her character's origin.
- Check the Production Updates: As of early 2026, the sequel has moved through post-production hurdles. Keep an eye on official Netflix channels for the first teaser, which is expected to focus on the fallout of Quynh’s return.
The legacy of this film isn't in its box office or its special effects. It's in the way it redefined the "immortal" trope. It swapped out the capes for trauma and the glory for a long, weary walk through history. That’s why we’re still talking about it.