Novelist William Boyd steps behind the camera for his first directorial effort, a lugubrious war picture that while backing away from the jingoistic tone of more recent films, still fails to make much of an impression in the wake of similarly themed releases. The film's strength lies in its seemingly accurate depiction of the eponymous trench, getting its dirt-infested grime down pat. But the filmmaking is another matter, as The Trench's screenplay gives each of its soldiers no more than one character trait to embody. Furthermore, though it isn't based on stage material, it certainly feels so, as Boyd makes no attempt to cinematically enliven the surroundings in which the story takes place. Daniel Craig stands out as the boys' gruff captain with his overt physicality and undeniable presence, but the rest of the performers seem right out of central casting, giving the viewer little to hold on to in terms of concise characterization.