Netflix's 85-minute action thriller rockets into the all-time streaming elite

Netflix has this uncanny knack for digging up action films from anywhere and everywhere – doesn’t matter if it’s a Hollywood franchise with a star budget or some completely off-the-grid gem where the only Hollywood thing involved is the sweat. The latest one everyone’s talking about? 'Counterstrike'. The title alone could’ve been spat out by an algorithm, but ignore that – it’s put its boots firmly on the action-thriller hall of fame, stomping around like a five-headed John Wick let loose in the world of Sicario.

A Cartel, Five Friends, and Absolutely No Common Sense

Here’s the basic set-up: five mates out shopping, minding their own business, stumble on a kidnapping-in-progress – woman and her daughter, snatched by gangsters. The lads step in, fists flying, jobs a good’un. Only, of course, it’s never that simple. The gangsters are cartel muscle, pissed off and very well armed. Most people would leg it. But here’s the twist – these aren’t just regular punters with dodgy haircuts and heroic intentions: every single one’s an elite soldier, Mexican Special Forces, known as the Murciélagos (yes, like the bat).

These lads’ reputation? According to one line in the film, 'they can only be killed from behind.' Not exactly comforting, but good luck to the bad guys trying their luck with that. Pretty much, it’s as if Netflix said: what if all the friends in an action movie actually had the same CV as John Wick’s dog-walker?

Director, Cast, and the Usual Bloodbath

Chava Cartas, who’s done his fair share of punch-ups on screen (think the action series 'Rosario Tijeras'), takes the director’s chair. The script comes via Jose Ruben Escalante Mendez, who seems to specialise in giving normal people military-grade problems. 'Counterstrike' boasts a cast you’ll know if you watch loads of Mexican drama:

• Luis Alberti ('Workforce')
• Leonardo Alonso ('New Order')
• Luis Curiel ('Control Z')
• Noé Hernández ('Kokoloko')
• Israel Islas ('The Chosen One')
• Mayra Batalla ('Prayers for the Stolen')

These are all playing former or current 'Murciélagos', the sort who, faced with cartel assassins, don’t duck behind the nearest bin, but head straight at the trouble.

A Netflix Hit, Even If No One Really Noticed

Now, here’s where the story gets properly odd – because despite outperforming most action releases, 'Counterstrike' slipped by without making much noise in the usual circles. On its opening weekend, 18.6 million Netflix accounts clocked the whole thing front-to-back. Even with that, there were barely any critic takes; not enough for a Rotten Tomatoes score. Honestly, it’s the cinematic equivalent of one of those pop-up food stalls that’s rammed with regulars but the city guide never mentions it.

Proper stats, though. Within its run so far: 66.9 million views globally, 94.8 million hours watched. That vaults it all the way up to number 8 on Netflix’s all-time Top 10 Non-English Movies list. Only seven films ever have been streamed more times – and those include heavy-hitters like the disaster flick 'Under Paris', survival drama 'Society of the Snow', and the Norwegian monster rampage 'Troll'.

Netflix’s Top 10 Non-English Films by Views (so far):

• 1. Troll – 103 million views
• 2. Under Paris – 102.3 million views
• 3. Society of the Snow – 98.5 million views
• 4. Exterritorial – 91.7 million views
• 5. The Great Flood – 86.6 million views
• 6. Nowhere – 85.7 million views
• 7. The Platform – 82.8 million views
• 8. Counterstrike (aka Contraataque) – 66.9 million views
• 9. Ad Vitam – 63.1 million views
• 10. Brick – 61.8 million views

'Must-Watch' Status From the Few Who Spoke Up

So if you’re wondering whether it’s any good, the handful of folks who did get round to reviewing it were properly impressed. The biggest compliment? In their words:

'In a runtime of 85 minutes, he and his team have packed in so many creative moments that it puts every other bloated action epic to shame.'

Four- and five-star reviews cropped up wherever someone bothered, all going heavy on 'excellent', 'engaging', and 'must watch'. It’s a pint-sized, cartel-wrecking, special forces shootout with just enough daft bravado to keep things lively – and apparently, Netflix viewers can’t get enough of it.