Warfare Movie Review

Released: 18th April 2025 (UK and US)

Length: 95 Minutes

Certificate: 15

Director: Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland

Starring: Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis and Michael Gandolfini

Modern war films have several creative choices to make; do they delve into the physical and mental degeneration of soldiers or plant the viewer into a place they would never venture? Warfare from Alex Garland and former serviceman Ray Mendoza opts for the latter approach and strikes harder than many of its contemporaries.

The film covers an engagement in the Battle of Ramadi which took place in 2006 in Iraq. Under cover of darkness, the Navy Seal Platoon Alpha One takes control of a multi-story house; the soldiers take up an overwatch position (providing cover to friendlies) while searching for the enemy. When insurgent forces find their position, a deadly engagement takes place with an early escape attempt leading to disaster. With no fluff and no fat, Warfare is a combat movie that aims to recreate a single battle as authentically as possible. The filmmakers recreated the same street and buildings with great accuracy while never leaving the platoon’s perspective. It doesn’t waste any time with external scenes; much like the soldiers, we are unable to exit the situation. In this way, it rises above the disappointment of last year’s Civil War; that film had a wider context and ended up saying so little. By contrast, Warfare is concentrated purely on the tension and brutality of modern conflict, placing the audience right in the moment and what the platoon went through. It’s notable that the film starts with quiet reconnaissance inside the house, showing a calmer operation before combat begins. Dialogue is minimal and the underlying tension is palpable. There is one exception to this rule and that’s the ending; we’re treated to a quick slideshow of production stills and placing the actors next to their real-life counterparts. It feels quite jarring when the rest of the film is so laser-focused on the battlefield.

The ensemble cast is incredibly simple with the actors leaning into more physical performances. Well-known names like Joseph Quinn, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis and Michael Gandolfini are present, but aside from a quick opening break scene, Warfare doesn’t dwell on characterisation. The details of how they handle their weapons, individual equipment and manoeuvres are all perfectly in tune with the action, showing great authenticity. Admittedly, the audience will lose track of the characters and their individual traits when the chaos erupts. More detail could have been woven into the quieter moments to show their differences, though the contrast between the troops and an innocent Iraqi family stands out the most. Caught up in the chaos, they shelter fearfully in the back room with the film occasionally panning back to their perspective. The silence in the house as they exit at the end of the film is very impactful.

Warfare’s realistic portrayal is among the best in the genre. It’s incredibly visceral and unrelenting; once again Alex Garland proves the master of sound design, heightening the intensity at every turn. Between assault rifles, light machine guns and explosives, every gunfight feels appropriately devastating. This is reflected in the shots and camera angles; when we’re next to a solider, the noise is amplified and inside the house the walls muffle the bullet impacts. The surrounding elements are equally superb; the roar of a fighter jet as it blasts over the street in a show of force will rock your eardrums and so too will the detonation of an IED. The sound drains out of the scene at critical moments and this is paired up with excellent representations of trauma. The grievous injuries and grisly screams are deeply unnerving. Aside from aerial views from satellites, the film never cuts away from the dire situation and the lack of music enhances the tone. When it comes to complete audience immersion, Warfare is in a class of its own.

Warfare delivers a simple but highly potent experience; it’s ninety-minutes of razor-sharp tension that puts you as close to the frontline as possible. Seeing it on the big screen is an absolute must for the full effect, though reduced characterisation and an out-of-place end segment also stick out.

Rating: 4/5 Stars (Great)