An Authentic War Film That Is Somehow Unconventional
One of the most anticipated films of 2025 was without a doubt Warfare, co-directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland, and produced by the film company A24. Warfare is a war film based on a true event, following the memories of a Navy SEAL platoon stationed in Ramadi, Iraq, on November 19th, 2006. In support of a U.S. Marine Corps operation, the Navy SEAL platoon took sniper positions in a local house during the American occupation. What transpires next, in a lean 95 minutes, is the harsh realities of war, told in some of the most authentic and gruesome ways ever shown on the big screen.
Step Into The Boots of a U.S. Navy SEAL Platoon
From the moment the Navy SEALs’ boots were on the ground and in the midst of their mission, the film’s pace is breakneck, and it does not relent until the end credits appear. Sure, there are brief reprieves from the conflict and funny back-and-forths between the Navy SEALs, but this all causes the environment to feel lived-in and familiar, which enhances the viewer’s awareness of what is happening at each split-second on the screen. Co-directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland do an incredible job here by making the viewer feel as if they are a part of the nightmare scenario on the screen.
The film takes place primarily in one building — the local house where they are holed up. However, the rooms are symbolic, representing distinct aspects of war and evolving at various moments throughout the film, creating palpable tension that any viewer can feel. Tonally, the film is, as expected, chaotic and unpredictable. IEDs and grenades going off, endless gunfire, dogs barking in the near-distance, and unknown people yelling create an unsettling and at times foreign atmosphere that is somehow captivating. Add in a helpless environment surrounded by wrong turns and fatality, and the film’s tension becomes insurmountable.
Fresh-Faced Hollywood Studs Turn Grizzled War Vets
The cast of Warfare is full of some of Hollywood’s most popular fresh faces: D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, Cosmo Jarvis, and Kit Connor, to name some. The actors did a stellar job here, and each of them executed their roles brilliantly by bringing the real-life people behind them to a cinematic reality. Some of the supporting characters were aggravating to watch at times throughout the film, but not because of ‘bad acting’ or poor development of character. They were simply meant to be unlikeable people based on their nuanced actions and attitudes. Both the likeable and unlikeable characters were portrayed perfectly here, which almost became uncanny at times.
The acting was so believable that it was nearly impossible at first to watch promotional interviews with the cast without thinking they were veterans telling their own stories. In reality, none of the actors have military backgrounds or experience, which is a testament to the unmatched directing and preparation for a film in the war genre.
Is This Reality or Fiction?
At many different times during the film, it feels more like a documentary than a cinematic conveyance of a true story. It is filmed unapologetically, with noticeable camera shake, during intimate moments between SEALs, and with all of the film’s realistic brutality on full display. The only moments that make the film more cinematic are the scenes where the sound is muffled after an intense attack. Zeroing in on the SEAL’s facial reactions and what they are looking at. These scenes are effective but lack the unedited rawness of the rest of the film.
Sometimes, the most important part of a film is making the camera seem non-existent. And that is exactly what is done masterfully here. Yes, it feels like a documentary, yes, it feels like a movie. But the most important aspect is making it so immersive that you could reach out and feel the scene for yourself. Another, more or less ignored way the film succeeds in immersing the viewer is the sound design. IED, rocket, and grenade explosions boom in the chest, gunfire is heard left, right, and center, dogs barking, people screaming and crying, doors opening, and buildings crumbling to the ground. At the height of immersion in this film, ducking from the sound of bullets is just a part of the experience.
The Greatest War Film of The Decade
Warfare is arguably the most authentic war film ever made, yet it is completely unconventional. The reason for that is, the film industry doesn’t often fund projects which depict war to-a-T because it doesn’t sell nearly as well as the glorified and overproduced stuff. But Warfare is an anomaly in the war genre of films. Thanks to the artistic integrity of the film company, A24, co-directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland were given the go-ahead to capture their vision exactly as it was in their mind.
What is offered to the audience is a gut-wrenching experience filled with hyper-realistic brutality, unlike most films today, and compelling storytelling that matches anything released in the past five years. The life-like performances and mix of standard and documentary-style cinematography enhance the experience, warranting multiple viewings of the film. Warfare raises the bar for the war genre by demanding truth over spectacle.
Stream Warfare on Apple TV, or rent or buy on Prime Video.
Warfare (2024) Official A24 Trailer
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Author
Elke Simmons' writing portfolio includes contributions to The Laredo Morning Times, Walt Disney World Eyes and Ears, Extinction Rebellion (XR) News/Blog, and Dead Talk News.