War films seldom deliver the 'haunting' or 'visceral' punch of Ole Bornedal's The Bombardment.

Four years after hitting cinemas in 2021, the 1hr 47min epic, powered by its exceptional cast, has landed on Netflix.

The film, also known as The Shadow in My Eye, examines the devastating consequences of military operations that went disastrously wrong in Denmark during WW2.

Based on the real events of Operation Carthage, carried out by the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Copenhagen in 1945, innocent civilians face mortal danger whilst military leaders wrestle with the fallout.

Praised by reviewers as a "cinematic masterpiece", the narrative centres on an RAF assault designed to obliterate Gestapo headquarters in the city, yet tragically a Catholic school was hit by mistake, reports the Express.

This calamity claimed the lives of more than 120 people, including 86 children, with the heartbreaking toll of such a disaster powerfully portrayed by a cast including Betram Bisgaard, Ester Birch, Ella Josephine Lund Nilsson, and Malena Lucia Lodahl amongst others.

The official synopsis reads: "The fates of several Copenhagen residents collide when a WWII bombing mission accidentally targets a school full of children."

Don't just take our word for it - review site Rotten Tomatoes has given it a perfect 100% critics' score whilst also securing strong audience backing (90%). One critic said: "Haunting and visceral, Ole Bornedal's beautifully shot film stays in your mind well after it's over," whilst another noted: "This film forces us to confront the full agony that results from any loss of human life.

"One of the most amazing visual and narrative events I have seen on screen," reads an audience review, with a second adding: "Absolutely fantastic, heart breaking, intense all wrapped in one".

The acclaim continues, with Patriot of the A writing on Rotten Tomatoes: "Gut wrenching, but if you're willing to leave your comfort zone it is a moving experience. War doesn't get much nastier."

You can makeup your own mind about whether it's worth a watch.

The Bombardment is available to stream on Netflix now.

Netflix's 'haunting' war film based on true story hailed 'cinematic masterpiece' by fans - The Mirror