WARFARE (2025)

SYNOPSIS: Written and directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Civil War, 28 Days Later), Warfare embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALs in the home of an Iraqi family, overwatching the movement of US forces through insurgent territory. A visceral, boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare, told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it.

MOVIE REVIEW:

Warfare drops audiences straight into the chaos. There are no setups, no backstories, no character arcs not even a prologue. From the first frame, we’re thrust alongside a platoon of young Navy SEALs occupying a civilian home in Al Qaeda-controlled Ramadi, Iraq, where they spy on insurgents across the street. But things quickly spiral out of control as the soldiers find themselves surrounded and hunted.

For a brisk 96-minute runtime, the opening stretch feels deceptively quiet. For the first half-hour, the soldiers linger inside the stifling house, fiddling with radios while two men take turns watching the enemy through a sniper scope. Yet an undercurrent of dread lingers. Sooner or later, disaster is inevitable.

Co-directed by Alex Garland (Civil War, Ex Machina) and former Navy SEAL Rey Mendoza, Warfare is built on the memories of an actual SEAL team something proudly declared in the opening credits. Unlike modern war films such as Black Hawk Down or The Hurt Locker, this is storytelling stripped to the bone: no political stance, no sentimental brotherhood speeches just a brutal, claustrophobic survival tale.

For military enthusiasts, the technical details and jargon are a treat. The film spares no effort in replicating the mission with authenticity. Once the first shot is fired, the tension never relents. The immersive sound design and stark cinematography make you feel pinned down, unsettled and on edge as bullets and explosions tear frighteningly close.

The ensemble cast is strong without relying on marquee names. Will Poulter (The Maze Runner) leads as the squad commander, joined by Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), Charles Melton (May December), Michael Gandolfini (Daredevil: Born Again), and Noah Centineo (Black Adam), among others. The lack of A-list stars works in the film’s favor, keeping attention firmly on the mission’s realism rather than celebrity distractions.

At its core, Warfare is a lean, unflinching war thriller that confronts the brutality and psychological toll of combat. These are young men fighting for country and conviction but the fate awaiting them may not be the one they hoped for. And that’s what lingers long after the credits roll.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee