Are you one of those people who think Hollywood has gone soft? The kind of person who’s noticed the extinction of gritty war movies like Saving Private Ryan, Lone Survivor, 13 hours or Black Hawk Down in modern cinema?
Well, with the release of Warfare, it looks like Hollywood hasn’t quite abandoned the genre, and the good news is that they might have struck gold with this one.
Co-directed by Alex Garland—who previously worked on Civil war, Ex Machina and Annihilation, and his former military advisor on Civil War Ray Mendoza, this A24 release focuses on the chaos of the 2006 Battle of Ramadi.
Told entirely through the memories of Navy SEALs platoon, it’s stripped off exposition and politics to leave you with one of the most visceral, nerve-wracking depictions of modern combat in recent memory.
Synopsis
The plot is basic, a platoon of Navy SEALs is sent on a mission in Ramadi, Iraq, though the details of the operation are intentionally vague. After taking over a local home and preparing for surveillance, they’re suddenly ambushed.
A grenade injures their sniper, Elliot (Cosmo Jarvis), prompting a call for evacuation. The rest of the film follows the team as they try to survive the night, call for help, and hold their ground. By the time a second platoon arrives, it’s unclear who will make it out.
The good
There were two primary things I liked about this film:
David Thompson, the cinematographer, goes for a grounded, documentary-like look.
But when the action begins, there’s this presence of dusty almost suffocating look, that gives the film a gritty, dirty feeling. It does a great job capturing war, Iraqi architecture and ambience in the most realistic way possible.
This film has some of the best use of sound design I’ve seen, or in this case, heard in a long time. The sound is immersive. Weapons, explosions, gunshots, they sound terrifying.
And what they do with the absence of sound during the third act is absolute genius.
The tension. From the second things go south around the 20th minute, the film doesn’t let up. It’s lean, chaotic, and unflinching. The combat feels loud, confusing and terrifying.
The cast helps bring the film to life. It features an ensemble cast who are able to capture the complex emotions of being soldiers under fire.
While everyone is good in the movie, Will Poulter gives a quiet, haunted performance as the officer in charge is really good, and Michael Gandolfini stands out in a role that feels layered despite limited screen time.
All in all, this isn’t just a war film, it’s a film about trauma and the bond between soldiers.
Nitpicks
This isn’t necessarily a flaw, but after the 20th minute, even with its short runtime, the movie doesn’t let you breathe. The intensity is relentless. There’s little room to reflect, which might overwhelm some viewers.
The film’s “just the memories” approach means there’s no concrete, well-defined story. It’s less of Saving Private Ryan and more of 13 hours, basically less of an over arching story and more of one contained event.
Thematically, it works, but some viewers may find the lack of mission details or backstory disorienting.
Conclusion
Warfare is an instant classic. It doesn’t glamorise combat, it throws you into the fog of war and leaves you shaken.
Alex Garland and Mendoza just gaves us a compact war film that focuses on human instinct and fear. This movie belongs alongside the greats, not because it’s loud or heroic, but because it’s honest in its execution.
If a war movie is too intense for you, Sayari, a Kenyan romantic comedy, is also showing in cinemas this week.
