The petty war between the two colonels threatens to escalate into a full scale conflict as they engage in hand-to-hand combat on a frozen lake on the border, with armed units from their respective countries arriving.

Oblivious to anything outside their personal fight, the two men only relent when they finally notice their heavily armed forces – with assault rifles, tanks and attack helicopters aimed at each other – watching the brawl.

[5] Variety called it "a well-made Cold War thriller" and praised the casting, as well as Frankenheimer's direction for having "an eye for comic relief as well as tension maintenance".

"[7] Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman gave it a B− and wrote: "The Fourth War is an old-soldiers-never-die movie—an ironic elegy—and though much of the story is contrived and second-rate, Scheider gives a richly felt performance.

"[8] Michael Wilmington of the Los Angeles Times wrote: "The Fourth War doesn't make much sense, but it's powerfully acted and beautifully directed.