'Warfare' Delivers Unflinching Realism in Portrayal of Iraq War Chaos A24’s latest combat drama, co-directed by Alex Garland and veteran Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza, immerses audiences in the visceral brutality of a 2006 mission gone wrong, earning acclaim for its technical mastery and raw emotional power.

The Mission Unfolds In Warfare, filmmakers Alex Garland (Civil War) and Ray Mendoza—a former Navy SEAL who survived the 2006 Battle of Ramadi—recreate a harrowing real-life U.S. military operation with unrelenting intensity. The film follows a SEAL platoon, played by rising stars including Will Poulter (Dopesick), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs), as they fight to evacuate two gravely wounded teammates during a prolonged ambush in Iraq. Structured in real-time and drawn exclusively from firsthand accounts of Mendoza’s platoon, the 95-minute drama strips away traditional war-movie heroics to focus on the deafening chaos of survival.

A Sensory Onslaught Critics and audiences alike have highlighted the film’s groundbreaking technical achievements. Glenn Freemantle’s sound design—a relentless barrage of gunfire, explosions, and agonized screams—has drawn comparisons to the Normandy landing sequence in Saving Private Ryan, but sustained for nearly the entire runtime. IMAX screenings amplify this effect, with the bass of detonations rattling seats and the whiz of bullets creating a 360-degree auditory assault. Cinematographer David J. Thompson’s handheld camerawork and Fin Oates’ frenetic editing further plunge viewers into the disorienting fog of war, as soldiers scramble through dust-choked streets and crumbling buildings.

Authenticity Anchored in Trauma Mendoza’s personal connection to the story lends the film its emotional core. The movie is dedicated to Elliott Miller, a SEAL who suffered catastrophic injuries during the real 2006 mission, portrayed by Cosmo Jarvis (Persuasion). Mendoza conducted extensive interviews with his former teammates to reconstruct the event, aiming to help Miller—who lost his leg and ability to speak—reclaim fragmented memories. This commitment to accuracy extends to military tactics, from the platoon’s coded communication to their methodical room-clearing maneuvers, which veterans have praised as unprecedented in their realism.

Critical Divide: Sensory Mastery vs. Narrative Ambition While Warfare has been hailed as “the most realistic portrayal of war in a film I’ve ever seen” (FromTheFourthRow), some critics argue its focus on immersion comes at the cost of narrative depth. The New York Times notes the absence of “admirably staged bloodshed or witty repartee,” instead offering a suffocating, moment-by-moment account of combat. NPR’s review acknowledges this tension, praising the film’s refusal to glorify violence while questioning whether its narrow focus sidelines broader political context. Yet defenders counter that the film’s anti-war message emerges precisely through its rejection of traditional storytelling tropes, instead forcing audiences to confront war’s dehumanizing grind.

Impact Beyond the Screen The film’s release arrives amid ongoing global conflicts, from Gaza to Ukraine, lending its portrayal of civilian terror and military futility heightened resonance. Early screenings have already sparked visceral reactions: one veteran’s wife reportedly broke down in tears, finally understanding her husband’s PTSD after seeing the film. For Mendoza, such moments validate the project’s purpose. “It’s not about politics,” he insists. “It’s about showing what these men endured—and what war does to everyone it touches”.

A New Benchmark for War Cinema With its $20 million budget and A24’s signature risk-taking ethos, Warfare has emerged as a defining entry in modern combat films. While its box office take remains modest ($8.3 million as of mid-April), critics predict awards-season attention for its sound design and documentary-like immediacy. More crucially, the film sets a new standard for military authenticity, proving the power of collaboration between artists and those who’ve lived the stories they tell. As Garland and Mendoza’s camera lingers on a jet screaming over Ramadi—a moment of awe stripped of Hollywood grandeur—Warfare cements itself not just as a movie, but as an indelible experience of war’s cost.

Release Details Now playing in U.S. theaters, Warfare expands to the UK on April 18. IMAX and Dolby Cinema screenings are strongly recommended for full sensory impact.