Collateral Damage (2002), directed by Andrew Davis, is an action thriller starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as Gordy Brewer, a Los Angeles firefighter who becomes entangled in a personal quest for justice after his wife and son are killed in a terrorist bombing. The film blends high-stakes action with political intrigue, touching on themes of revenge, terrorism, and the moral complexities that emerge in a battle against those who harm innocent lives.

The movie begins with Gordy Brewer living a content and unᴀssuming life as a firefighter in L.A. That life is shattered when his family is killed in a mᴀssive explosion, orchestrated by a Colombian terrorist known as “El Lobo” (The Wolf), played by Cliff Curtis. The bombing targets a government building but also results in extensive civilian casualties. Gordy arrives just moments too late to save his loved ones, and their deaths drive him into a state of grief and rage. When it becomes apparent that traditional law enforcement and diplomatic channels are unlikely to bring El Lobo to justice quickly, Gordy takes matters into his own hands.

In an era that was marked by heightened concerns about terrorism (particularly in the wake of 9/11), Collateral Damage focuses on one man’s desperate and personal war against those he holds responsible. Gordy’s journey leads him to Colombia, where he infiltrates dangerous and volatile terrain to track down El Lobo. Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of Gordy eschews his usual superhuman, indestructible action persona for a more grounded and vulnerable character. Unlike some of his iconic roles, Gordy is not a trained soldier or secret agent; he’s an ordinary man driven by grief and an overwhelming sense of loss. While he still proves resourceful and tough, the film emphasizes the toll that his quest for revenge takes on him, both physically and emotionally.

The film also attempts to delve into the political dynamics fueling the conflict. El Lobo’s motivations are rooted in a complex political struggle involving U.S. involvement in Colombian affairs. His wife, Selena (Francesca Neri), adds further complexity to the narrative as a character who is both a mother and a participant in her husband’s cause. These elements aim to give the story more depth than a standard revenge thriller, although the film’s treatment of such issues has been critiqued as somewhat superficial or stereotypical.

As Gordy pursues El Lobo, Collateral Damage features numerous action sequences, including tense infiltration scenes, jungle chases, and explosive set pieces. Andrew Davis, known for directing The Fugitive (1993), demonstrates his skill with suspenseful pacing and тιԍнтly-choreographed action. However, the film’s tone shifts between serious political commentary and classic action-revenge tropes, sometimes leading to uneven pacing and mixed messages about its themes.

The film’s release was delayed due to the real-world terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, which lent unintended poignancy and sensitivity to its subject matter. The delay and subsequent marketing changes reflected the film industry’s evolving approach to depicting terrorism in a dramatically altered political and cultural landscape.

Critically, Collateral Damage received mixed reviews, with praise directed at Schwarzenegger’s more subdued and humanized performance but criticism for its uneven handling of political themes and familiar action tropes. It was also noted that the film, despite its attempts to present a more complex narrative, ultimately functions best as a vehicle for action thrills rather than a nuanced exploration of terrorism and geopolitical conflict.

Despite its flaws, Collateral Damage offers an engaging story of one man’s relentless pursuit of justice. Schwarzenegger’s portrayal of a grieving husband and father showcases a different side of the action star, providing a more grounded and vulnerable performance than some of his more iconic roles. For fans of thrillers with a mix of explosive action and personal stakes, the film delivers an adrenaline-fueled ride while reflecting the era’s anxieties surrounding global terrorism and the human cost of violence.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.