WARFARE : Tuesday 29th April 2025.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'WARFARE' this week, and this war action film is Written and Directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland and is based on Mendoza's experiences during the Iraq War as a former US Navy SEAL. Alex Garland's prior feature film making credits take in his debut with 'Ex Machina' in 2014, then 'Annihilation' in 2018, 'Men' in 2022 and 'Civil War' most recently last year. The film saw its World Premiere showcasing in mid-March, was released in the USA in early April, here and in the UK from mid-April, has garnered generally favourable critical press and has so far grossed US$26M from a production budget of US$20M. In order to maintain historical accuracy, the film's material is exclusively taken from the testimonies of the platoon members, and is depicted in real time.

Here then, a platoon of Navy SEAL's embark on a dangerous surveillance mission in Ramadi, Iraq on 19th November. 2006. Under cover of the dead of night the platoon (call sign Alpha One) takes control of a house, and wakens a husband and wife and their two young children. They quickly learn from the family that the upper level is a separate apartment, that is blocked off by a brick wall which they breach to access it. 

JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) communications officer Ray Mendoza (D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) coordinates air support to monitor their position while sniper and medic Elliott Miller (Cosmo Jarvis) monitors the various locals comings and goings at a market across the street, through the telescopic sight on his sniper rifle. They are performing overwatch duties in support of a US Marines operation.

Translators Farid (Nathan Altai) and Noor (Donya Hussen) learn from the family that there is another family living upstairs. They instruct them all to remain silent and in place. Ray and Elliott observe increased activity across the street. ANGLICO (Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company) LT McDonald (Michael Gandolfini) radios for air assets while the translators advise that the enemy has broadcast a call to arms. Leading Officer in Charge Erik (Will Poulter) instructs the translators to guard the upstairs part of the building. A grenade is thrown into the sniper's room injuring Elliott's hand. A CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation) is called to evacuate him. In preparation, the team gathers their weapons and blow Claymore mines off the top floor balcony to create a distraction. As the Bradley (Fighting Vehicle) arrives to collect Elliott, and undercover of a smoke screen, an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) explodes close by killing a translator and further wounding Elliott and Leading Petty Officer Sam (Joseph Quinn). The Bradley departs the scene of the carnage.

Having gradually come round dazed and confused by what has just moments ago transpired, the Alpha One unit retreats and regroups in the house while tending to Sam's shredded legs. Erik calls team Alpha Two to collapse into their position, but they are held up by firefights further down the street. Air support returns but due to opposing fire McDonald can only coordinate a show of force (intended to warn or to intimidate an opponent by showcasing a capability or will to act if one is provoked) by a low level jet fighter. Ray determines Sam requires a tourniquet but is unable to apply it due to his quivering hands, and so instead packs the wound with gauze and places his knee on Sam's wound, increasing Sam's agony. Ray dissociates, and so Erik takes over and applies the tourniquet. Elliott regains consciousness and screams in pain as McDonald tends to his injuries. Elliott, through his pain directs McDonald to the morphine in his bag which McDonald then administers to him and Sam, giving them some relief only.

Alpha Two make it into Alpha One's building. Their request for medical evacuation is denied for fear of another IED attack. Alpha Two leader Jake (Charles Melton) orders his communications officer, John (Finn Bennett), to impersonate the army commanding officer to approve their evacuation. Jake retrieves gear from the street before Elliott and Sam are hurriedly loaded into the two Bradleys. The team returns to the house. Believing insurgents may have infiltrated the second floor from the roof, Jake orders two other Bradleys to take out the top deck of their building. Under cover of another show of force, the Alpha One and Alpha Two men are extracted by the Bradleys and leave the neighbourhood under heavy small arms fire. The families in the house slowly emerge from their rooms and survey what remains of their home, realising the soldiers have left. The surviving insurgents cautiously gather in the street when the dust has settled and study the bloodied dismembered remains of what is left of the Iraqi translator. 

Based on a true story of the fairly recent past and told with all the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event, the team of Alpha One together with joint Directors Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland have crafted an immersive, visceral and realistic retelling of the physical and emotional toll of modern warfare. The performances from the principle cast are all top notch and each one played with conviction and determination to do justice to the men who served on that fateful mission, the sound design is near perfect, and the real time film making serves to add urgency and tension to an already fraught situation. This no-holds barred, intense and authentic cinematic experience is best seen on the big screen and easily stands up there with Scott's 'Black Hawk Down', Spielberg's 'Saving Private Ryan' and Berger's 'All Quiet on the Western Front' as a must see film of the futility of war. My only gripe of this film is that there is zero backstory to Alpha One's platoon members, but I'm guessing that this was intentional on the part of the Co-Director's, who didn't want to get bogged down by leaning in to the history of the individuals, rather concentrating on the here and now and let the intense action, the emotion and the physicality of the rapidly unfolding situation do the talking. 

'Warfare' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-