November 19th 2006, Ramadi Iraq. A platoon of Navy Seals seize an apartment building in order to conduct surveillance. But when their presence is detected they find themselves fighting for their lives as they attempt to evacuate the area. 

Warfare is an astonishing film due to the manner in which it immerses you into a realistic and traumatic experience. Co-written and directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza you get cinematic brilliance and authenticity. The story is based on a mission that ex-Navy Seal Ray Mendoza took part in (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai plays him) and is based solely on the memories of Ray and his fellow team members. Whilst Alex Garland is the writer/director genius behind the likes of Ex Machina, Annihilation and Civil War and the writer of a number of Danny Boyle movies including 28 Days Later, Sunshine, The Beach and the forthcoming 28 Years Later. The combination of the lived in experiences of Mendoza and cinematic storytelling expertise of Garland delivers superb results. 

The film opens with the platoon watching the music video for Eric Prydz “Call On Me”. Whilst they bond over gyrating women this is the only time that we will get to see the squad in a moment of downtime for the duration of the ninety-five minute film that is told in real time. It is also the only time we will hear any music in the film as the film-makers elect to have no score or incidental music in order to focus in purely on the sounds of warfare. This is another master stroke for the film’s level of immersion as you find yourself surrounded by comms chatter, gunfire and explosions. The impact of explosions and simply pressure on the soldiers is portrayed expertly by focusing in on how their aural senses are being assaulted. And a fighter jet completing a show of force is something that you will not forget easily. 

The story itself takes its time to show the quieter moments leading up to the intensity of its later stages as well. This allows us to develop some understanding of the soldiers. But perhaps more impressive is the variation of reactions under pressure. This is not all about bravado, in fact the point at which you do see one soldier delivering his “nothing phases me” behaviour it is at odds with everything we have seen to this point. Varying levels of professionalism and fear take over and the men react in manners that we understand or would recognise in ourselves. Here when a soldier is injured in a life changing way their personal reaction is as horrific as the effects work that is on display. Something that would make me want to be as far from warfare as I can ever be. 

There are some recognisable faces in amongst the soldiers here. Will Poulter (We’re The Millers), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things and A Quiet Place: Day One) and Cosmo Jarvis (Shogun and Calm With Horses) all play crucial roles. But most importantly for a film of this ensemble nature their star status does not sit above the other cast members as the entire group blend into the homogenous nature of a platoon. 

A superb film then and one worth staying in your chair as it ends when it shows you some images and footage of the actual soldiers involved, the making of the film and some footage now of some of the survivors.