The film Warfare, directed by Alex Garland and Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza, presents a serious and realistic look at a failed U.S. Navy SEAL mission in Iraq in 2006. Instead of focusing on action, it highlights the harsh and unsettling realities of war, drawing from Mendoza’s personal experiences. The movie serves as both a warning and a reflection on the difficulties faced in modern combat.
The performances in Warfare aim to make the soldiers feel like regular people placed in extreme situations. Will Poulter plays Captain Erik, a steady leader, while Cosmo Jarvis portrays Elliott, a sniper focused on his mission. The Iraqi civilians remain mostly unnamed, emphasizing the devastating impact of war. The actors don’t present the soldiers as heroes but rather as vulnerable individuals struggling to survive.
The directing style of Garland and Mendoza is incredibly realistic and keeps the tension high. The film does not glorify war but instead shows its brutal reality. One key scene, where the SEALs quietly monitor an Iraqi home, builds suspense before chaos erupts. The filmmakers use tight spaces and silence to enhance the fear and pressure the soldiers experience, making the audience feel deeply involved.
Technically, the film excels. Cinematographer David J. Thompson uses a raw and simple visual style to make the scenes feel real. The sound design stands out, filling the film with tense noises like radio chatter, gunfire, and painful screams. Notably, Warfare does not include any music, which adds to the unsettling mood. Filming everything in one location makes the experience feel even more intense and claustrophobic, reinforcing the film’s commitment to showing war without embellishment.
Overall, Warfare is not a typical war movie meant to excite audiences. Instead, it presents a grim and deeply moving depiction of combat, stripping away any glamorous ideas of warfare. Through its realistic performances, intense direction, and strong technical details—especially its powerful sound design—the film leaves viewers shaken by its honest and raw portrayal of modern battle. It is a remarkable film that highlights the real human cost of war.