Movie: Warfare
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Directors: Ray Mendoza, Alex Garland
Runtime: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Genre: War
Rating: B-
“Everything is based on memory.”
That is the tagline of Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s “Warfare.” To show moviegoers the experience of one battle in the Iraq War where a simple reconnaissance mission turns into a fight for survival, Mendoza (an Iraq War veteran played by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai in the film) only depicted the memories of the Navy SEALs who were part of this traumatizing situation.
As a result of telling the story this way, the film makes the audience feel like they are witnessing something real. There are no Hollywood tricks to make the experience of war seem flashy for the audience’s viewing pleasure. It is gritty, agonizing and potentially the most authentic portrayal of war on film.
Even before the actual fighting begins, this authenticity shines through by showing how much sitting and waiting is involved in the military. A sniper looks through his scope, taking notes for so long he begins to cramp up. Squad leaders sit on the floor in a house, periodically checking in with air support over the radio. It is a mundane and accurate reflection of military life that avoids dramatization for the sake of excitement.
When chaos finally erupts, it does so without warning or a dramatic buildup. In an instant, these young men are thrust into a terrifying fight for their survival as bullets and grenades pour into the building they are in. Throughout the chaos, Garland and Mendoza’s commitment to accuracy holds firm, with every action taken by the soldiers feeling as authentic as possible.
There are no heroes who single-handedly take out the entire enemy force like in unrealistic action films. In fact, rarely does an American soldier actually hit the Iraqi forces. They deliberately empty entire magazines of bullets into the walls around the enemy so they can inch forward to escape.
The film’s commitment to realism extends to its technical qualities. The handheld cinematography gives the situation an intense and claustrophobic quality. Close-ups and over-the-shoulder shots make the audience feel like they are there in the moment with the characters.
There is no music score to help guide emotions. Instead, the space is filled with deafening gunshots and explosions that shake the characters to their core. The sound design behind the fighting will scare audiences more than any horror movie could.
While portraying this heart-pounding experience in the most accurate way possible provides an immersive experience, there are still issues with doing so. By simply recreating one specific battle and nothing else, there is very little for the audience to connect to on an emotional level.
The scope of the film feels incredibly limited for something as expansive and politically charged as the Iraq War. While some may appreciate that this film doesn’t attempt to make a statement, others may feel like the lack of one makes the entire experience pointless.
The character writing also lacks a great deal of depth, which may prevent some from connecting to these soldiers emotionally. None of them are given any distinct traits or character arcs that separate them from the rest, making everyone feel like a body in a conflict and nothing more.
Flaws in the character writing aside, every actor does a great job with what they are given. They are all able to convey the trauma and pain of the horrific situation convincingly. Joseph Quinn and Cosmo Jarvis are especially remarkable, as their performances feel raw and agonizing.
Overall, “Warfare” provides a unique, heart-pounding theatrical experience that captures war as authentic as it has ever been on film. While elements of the storytelling and characters will leave something to be desired, the film’s immersiveness will still keep viewers at the edge of their seats, anxiously anticipating what will happen next.