Warfare (2025): The Most Intense War Film Since Saving Private Ryan

"You Gotta Get Ready, Man. This Is Gonna Hurt." - Ray

Directors: Alex Garland & Ray Mendoza

 Studio: A24 / Amazon MGM Studios

 Review by Robbie Fleming

 (Edited using AI)

One year after his hit Civil War, Alex Garland returns with Warfare. But this time, he’s not alone. Co-directing alongside him is Ray Mendoza, a real-life Navy SEAL whose experiences during the Iraq War serve as the foundation for the story.

Set on November 19, 2006, Warfare depicts a harrowing encounter Mendoza and his platoon endured. The film draws solely from the first-hand memories of the platoon members and unfolds in real time to preserve historical accuracy.

D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai stars as Mendoza, in an ensemble cast that includes Will Poulter (Death of a Unicorn), Cosmo Jarvis (Shogun), Kit Connor (Heartstopper), Finn Bennett, Joseph Quinn (Fantastic Four: First Steps), Charles Melton, Noah Centineo, and Michael Gandolfini (Daredevil: Born Again).

As someone who loved Civil War, I was excited for Warfare—and it didn’t disappoint. From start to finish, the story had me on edge. We’re right there with the platoon during the stakeout, feeling every ounce of tension they feel. These types of films can either be gripping or dull, but this one was completely immersive. I always wanted to know what was coming next.

Mendoza and Garland brought this story to life brilliantly. The cinematography gives the film a slick yet gritty visual style, while the real-time structure is handled smoothly through sharp editing that heightens the suspense.

Interestingly, the film features no musical score—yet that choice works in its favour, amplifying the raw, unfiltered atmosphere. The sound design deserves huge credit too; it contributed to what I can honestly say is the most tense cinematic experience I’ve had in years (and I mostly review horror films!).

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Although the story is based on Mendoza’s experience, the film doesn’t center solely on him. Instead, it focuses on the unit as a whole, giving each character depth and attention. That ensemble approach makes it easy to care about the entire team.

Will Poulter stood out as one of the strongest performances in the film. Between this and Death of a Unicorn, he’s solidifying himself as a fantastic character actor. D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai delivers a grounded, powerful turn as Mendoza, and Kit Connor impressed me with his range—quite a departure from his Heartstopper role. Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn, Michael Gandolfini, and Charles Melton all brought compelling energy to their supporting roles as well.

Before wrapping up, I want to shout out two moments that really elevated the experience. First, the unexpected use of Eric Prydz’s “Call on Me” at the beginning—it sets the tone in a way that’s surprisingly effective and not overly on-the-nose. It has provides a great throughline for the film where the platoon are calling for support and eventually they get the help they need.

The film also takes an apolitical stance as it's primarily to show how in times of conflict morality doesn't factor into the actions or decisions the military personnel take. It's kill or be killed and as an asset of the United States government they are only there to carry out the objectives and make it back to base alive.

Finally, the behind-the-scenes footage shown at the end adds a layer of authenticity that ties everything together beautifully.

All in all, Warfare has officially overtaken Black Bag as my favourite film of the year (so far). Garland and Mendoza delivered a gripping, authentic, and emotionally resonant war film that hits on every level—from performances to direction to technical execution.

Rating: 10/10 — 5 out of 5 stars

Thanks for reading—go check out Warfare and remember to form your own opinion.