“Warfare,” directed by Alex Garland and former Navy SEAL Ray Mendoza, was released in theaters on April 11. This gritty war film offers a real-time depiction of a 2006 Navy SEAL mission in Ramadi, Iraq.
Based on Mendoza’s own experiences, the movie immerses viewers in the chaos and confusion of war. While most war films jump into the action, this one begins with a surprising scene where soldiers watch an aerobics video with the song “Call on Me” by Eric Prydz. The scene is intentionally lighthearted in order to highlight the soldiers’ camaraderie and brief moments of normalcy before the tension of combat builds later on. The main plot involves a SEAL team that takes over a civilian apartment in Iraq to set up an overwatch position, but the routine mission quickly turns chaotic after an IED blast hits.
Most of the movie takes place inside one building and the camera work is handheld and shaky, making it appear more like a documentary than an action film. Unlike the flashy, over-dramatized movies that dominate the war genre, “Warfare” strips everything down to focus on the psychological reality of being in a war zone. The camera work involves close-up framing and long takes to show how claustrophobic and tense a real mission feels.
In terms of sound design, the lack of a musical score throughout the film forces the audience to focus on the natural sounds of an active combat zone, such as boots scuffing on tile, radios crackling, breathing inside helmets and drones buzzing in the distance. As a result, when a loud sound finally occurs, such as an IED blast, it deliberately mirrors the disorientation and fear of real warfare.
In addition, there is hardly any character exposition besides the opening scene, and the audience does not learn much about the soldiers’ lives outside the mission. However, the lack of character development actually works in favor of plot progression since it keeps the focus on how the soldiers respond under extreme pressure, while still giving viewers a reason to root for them throughout.
Overall, “Warfare” provides a refreshing new approach to the war genre by stripping away the action-packed Hollywood polish and delivering a more tense, grounded production. It forces the audience to sit with the uncertainty and fear of real combat, making it an unforgettable watch that sticks with viewers long after the credits roll.
