TL;DR – An emotionally charged film that uses every bullet strike to bring you into this world, whether you are ready for it or not.  

Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit scene.

Disclosure – I paid for the Amazon Prime service that was used to view this film.

Warfare Review Introduction –

After Alex Garland came out swinging with Civil War in 2024, I was interested to see what he would follow it up with next. Unfortunately, I just was not able to get to a screening when it had its theatrical release, but before I put my best films of 2025 list together, I knew I had to make sure I crossed this one off the pile of shame.  

So, to set the scene, on November 19^th, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq, a Navy SEAL platoon took up sniper watch to support operations in the area. Two platoons take up position in an Iraqi family’s house to provide overwatch. Watching. Waiting. People peeking and probing their defences. All preparing themselves for that first shot or explosion.  

Opening

I am not sure I have ever seen a film so successfully situate itself in a time and place, much like watching a bunch of soldiers watch groove out to Eric Prydz’s Call On Me before hard cutting to the silence of an operation. It is like the film grabbed you with two hands, picked you up, and slapped you across the face to see if you are paying attention. It was one of the most time-efficient ways I have seen for a film to introduce its entire cast in a matter of moments. Also, to remind us just how old they all were.

Hurry Up and Wait

One thing this film perfectly captures is one of the realities of conflict, which is that there is a lot of waiting before the frenetic action. This creates such a feeling of tension right from the start, as they could be surrounded by hostiles, or just civilians going about their lives. Their house could be getting stacked out, or people could be wondering what is going on in the house down the street. Threats could be everywhere, or nowhere. It also helps that there is no non-diegetic music. There is nothing to buffer you from the realities of what they are going through. It also gives the film space to let you know who everyone is through actions rather than just exposition.  

Production

The absolute strength of the film comes from its commitment to the production. Because there are no shortcuts that you can usually use to hide a take that didn’t quite work, it makes every part of the production so much more important. This commitment is most evident in the sound design. I was watching this film with headphones, which might have been different to the cinema experience. But hearing the bullets echo around you was a profoundly uncomfortable experience because every bullet sound was crafted for impact. This extends to every sound you do or do not hear throughout the film.

Cast

This is, without a doubt, one of the best cast films that I have watched all year. Wake Up Dead Man levels good casting. There are no weak links in the cast as everyone brings a performance that feels believable in the scenario they show here. Which I understand is inspired by real-life events that writer/director Ray Mendoza experienced in Iraq. I think having that personal connection helped make this more than just a caricature. What it means is that you build a connection with these characters in real time, which makes what happens later in the film so impactful.    

Recommendation

In the end, do we recommend Warfare? It’s a difficult watch at times, and it deliberately avoids interrogating the broader political context of Ramadi, a choice some viewers may find limiting, though I didn’t in this context. However, if you want one of the best modern war films this year, I recommend giving it a watch.

Have you watched Warfare? Let us know what you thought in the comments below. If you liked Warfare, we would recommend 1917 or Danger Close to you because they also captures the complex emotions of combat.    

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Bluesky at @Tldrmovrev, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

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Credits – All images were created by the cast, crew, and production companies of Warfare
Directed by – Ray Mendoza & Alex Garland
Written by – Ray Mendoza & Alex Garland
Cinematography by – David J. Thompson
Edited by – Fin Oates
Production/Distribution Companies – DNA Films & A24
Starring – D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Taylor John Smith, Michael Gandolfini, Adain Bradley, Noah Centineo, Evan Holtzman, Henry Zaga, Joseph Quinn & Charles Melton
With – Nathan Altai, Heider Ali, Alex Brockdorff, Aaron Deakins & Donya Hussen
Rating – Australia: MA15+; Canada: 14A; Germany: 16; New Zealand: R; United Kingdom: 15; United States: R