‘Warfare’ Review: Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland Plunge the Audience Into the Hell of Combat in Visceral Real-Time Nerve-Shredder

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The intense sensory impact of “Warfare” deliberately begins with a light-hearted, camaraderie-filled scene reminiscent of a college fraternity comedy, which could easily pass for the sequel to “The Substance”. Here, a tall, blonde woman in a revealing leotard guides a group through an exercise routine filled with suggestive movements. Suddenly, we transition from this low-quality video to a group of Navy SEALS at their base, cheering and shouting like overexcited football fans watching a game in a stadium, drenched in beer.

For the next 90 minutes, we’ll be joining these young men in a realistic portrayal of a 2006 mission in Ramadi, Iraq, where a U.S. sniper unit navigates through an area rife with Al Qaeda insurgency. The talented cast, most notably Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis and Kit Connor, are featured. Interestingly, the boisterous introduction does not highlight them as individuals but as a collective unit, pulsating with testosterone.

The film, penned and helmed by Alex Garland, along with military consultant Ray Mendoza, a retired Navy SEAL who has experience from the Iraq war and was involved in a perilous operation, is comparable to intense combat dramas such as “The Hurt Locker” and “Black Hawk Down.

Warfare portrays a unique atmosphere. Instead of delving into extensive character backgrounds, it focuses on actions taken under stressful conditions. There’s no bravado, no personal life anecdotes, no glorification or political discussions, and no nationalistic cheers. Instead, raw emotions are highlighted – fear, pain, courage, determination, adrenaline, confusion, and disorientation as the chaos intensifies, often with limited visibility. Although movie-like camaraderie is absent due to the gritty realism of the situation, we always sense a strong bond among these men, watching out for each other in extraordinary ways.

In this film, despite the fact that a large portion of their conversations are brief, essential communications filled with military terms, either through radio or among team members, we end up caring about these characters deeply. This is impressive given that this ensemble drama provides no background stories for the soldiers; often, we don’t even learn their names. Yet, the lack of personal details adds to the film’s impact, as it starkly portrays the harsh reality of war and shows us the human side behind the conflict.

In an era where international relations are frequently determined by economic gains and power struggles rather than acts of kindness, this raw portrayal of battlefront action carries a deep impact. It serves as a poignant warning that when nations choose to engage in wars for any reason, it’s usually the young people with bright futures who bear the brunt, whether through death, injury, or psychological trauma.

As the platoon marches down an empty residential street under cover of darkness, a few members continue to mimic seductive exercise moves. However, their playfulness quickly ceases when the senior officer spots a strategically placed house where they will establish their sniper team, silencing the eerie quiet around them.

With the assistance of Iraqi interpreters Heider Ali and Nathan Altai, they rouse a surprised family residing there, followed by forcefully breaking down a sealed entrance into an upper apartment where another family cowered against the wall in fear. The inhabitants were gathered together and told to stay silent as soldiers established their posts for observing the nearby streets. These streets were connected by a bustling open-air marketplace. Their task was to verify that the region was safe for ground troops to move through the next day.

Initially, a routine maneuver unfolds, but soon turns into a life-threatening predicament as they find themselves near an insurgent’s home. The filmmakers maintain suspense subtly during the initial calm and anticipation, escalating it significantly when characters abruptly depart from the marketplace mere seconds before terrorists throw a grenade through a sniper hole, indicating the onset of a prolonged attack.

At first, they were just executing a regular move, but quickly found themselves in a perilous situation when they realized they were close to an enemy’s hideout. The filmmakers skillfully build tension subtly during the initial moments of quiet and suspense, cranking it up dramatically when characters suddenly evacuate the marketplace just as terrorists launch a grenade from a sniper hole, marking the start of a prolonged assault.

After that point, soldiers appear to be disoriented amidst the dust from the blast, with some sustaining severe injuries. It’s seldom that warfare pauses for a rest. A continuous barrage of machine-gun fire and IED explosions relentlessly assault our senses, making us feel as if we are walking in the soldiers’ combat boots. Initial rescue efforts are obstructed, and air support is hindered by Al Qaeda snipers strategically positioned on rooftops.

Glenn Freemantle’s sound design is powerfully impactful, a point that cannot be emphasized enough. Similarly, David Thompson’s nimble camera work, predominantly handheld, deserves equal praise. Lastly, Fin Oates’ editing exhibits a consistent rhythm that underscores an intense sense of urgency and scarcity of thought-time in the atmosphere.

In this film, the direction is masterfully orchestrated, maintaining a tense balance like a long, high-flying trapeze act without ever losing reality for the sake of spectacle. Shots that might make you gasp, such as a jet flying low over a residential street, never break the tension of the life-threatening scenario for even a moment; neither do the numerous extended takes draw attention to themselves. The meticulous recreation of the urban neighborhood by production designer Mark Digby on a former WWII airfield outside London is flawless, whether in the gradual buildup or the chaotic aftermath.

Garland is delivering outstanding performance in what might be his best film since his debut, “Ex Machina.” However, the director’s ability to excel with a compact storyline wouldn’t be possible without the genuine authenticity and tactical insight that Mendoza contributes to the script. Moreover, it’s likely that Mendoza also influenced the dedication of the actors.

The cast, who all went through a grueling three-week Navy SEAL boot camp, work cohesively without any standout performances or underperformers. Each member is dedicated to serving the team rather than themselves.

Day One, Quinn, Captain Erik from On Swift Horses, and Jake from May December exhibit intense, emotional moments of pain and struggle. Elliott screams in agony as he’s dragged across the floor due to severe wounds, while Sam draws us into a harrowing battle scene with both stoicism and vulnerability. Captain Erik shows signs of fear and confusion during a critical operation, and Jake demonstrates quick-thinking leadership throughout the second operation. All actors deliver compelling performances in their respective roles.

As a passionate admirer, I can’t help but marvel at Woon-A-Tai’s powerful role as co-director Mendoza in “Reservation Dogs.” Always on the edge, balancing the demands from base commands with the urgency for the men to adapt and survive. There’s a deep emotional resonance and subtle humor from Connor, portraying Tommy, the green gunner whose infectious enthusiasm as a newcomer fades swiftly when things get tough, leading him to administer morphine to himself instead of Elliott during a tense moment of pain relief.

Despite the bravery displayed by the soldiers, warfare should not be equated with a film glorifying heroism; it’s more accurately described as a depiction of the horrors of war that leaves you unsettled. The filmmakers cleverly let the grim atmosphere linger, refusing to provide a resolution such as rescue or tension relief. Instead, the movie ends with Iraqi residents tentatively emerging from their homes into the wreckage, while jihadists regroup ominously on an empty street.

Mendoza and Garland have created an extraordinary, attention-grabbing portrayal of combat on screen that generates a gripping, hard-to-ignore reality-based drama.

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2025-03-28 16:25