Focusing on the relatively new concept of the dehumanising effects of combat at a distance, Good Kill also raises many other questions, including how violence and entertainment can frequently be seen to be the same thing. Egan sits behind a desk, in front of his monitors, joystick in hand, looking just like a modern video-gamer. It’s not an image that would look out of place in many of our own homes, except that Egan is piloting a real drone and killing real people. One character even states that, ‘war is now a first-person shooter’. Good Kill raises the question of what happens to us when we can distance ourselves emotionally from our actions.
In the clip we are focusing on, we see Egan given his mission by his new (faceless) boss. Due to ‘reasons of security’, Egan is reminded that any missions he carries out will ‘never have happened’. Egan’s team wrestles with the directive to kill someone who is not necessarily a threat, and afterwards it is clear that Egan is uncomfortable with his actions. To make matters worse, Egan is ordered to perform a ‘follow-up’ action and strike again at the people who are converging on the blast site, even if they are thought to be rescuers. Please note that this clip does contain one swear word and so is suitable for more mature groups aged 15 and over.
After showing the clip as a stimulus, break into small discussion groups and discuss the following questions:
- What is your opinion on drone technology? Is it a positive development?
- Is using drones an ethical way to conduct the ‘war on terrorism’?
- Is it ever justified to kill another person?
- Could a Christian ever have Egan’s job?
After discussing the first set of questions, read through Joshua 8 together and return to your groups to discuss the next set of questions:
- What is God’s involvement in the battle in this passage?
- Was Joshua right to lead his men and kill his enemies?
- What should the Christian view on war be?
- Should Christians ignore stories of war in the Old Testament?
Good Kill is an attempt to help a modern audience imagine what sacrifice and service look like in 21st Century combat; with the right mature group it can provide a great platform for discussion. Why not make an evening of it and watch the whole film with your group?
