New War Film 'Warfare' Brings Brutal Realism to the Iraq War

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - For those who enjoy war-themed films, Warfare is now showing in cinemas this week. The film is directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, a former Navy SEAL.

Garland and Mendoza co-wrote and directed the film based on their own military experiences. It portrays the tension and emotional struggles soldiers face in the battlefield, especially during life-or-death moments in Iraq.

As reported by Roger Ebert, Warfare tells the story of a Navy SEAL team trapped in a house in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006 during the American occupation. The team endured heavy losses and eventually escaped in a devastated state. Although the incident was not part of a major battle, it was a real event.

Ray Mendoza, who co-directed and co-wrote the film, personally experienced this event. He had previously worked with Garland as a military advisor on the speculative fiction film Civil War, directed by Garland, who is also known for Ex Machina and Annihilation.

Mendoza shared his story with Garland, which inspired them to develop the film together. This marks Mendoza’s directorial debut alongside Garland.

Their collaboration resulted in a tense and visually striking film, marked by brutal realism and precise storytelling. The audience is drawn into the chaos, bloodshed, and confusion of the Iraq War as it was experienced nearly 20 years ago.

With intense visuals, sound design, and physical detail, Warfare stands out from typical war films. It does not glorify violence or heroism. Instead, it places the viewer in the middle of the battlefield, focusing on the immediacy of war.

The film stars several rising Hollywood actors and internet favorites, including Charles Melton, Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, Noah Centineo, and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai from Reservation Dogs, who plays Mendoza.

Despite the star-studded cast, the film does not center on celebrity appeal or heroic individualism. The characters are portrayed as part of a system built on teamwork rather than personal glory.

Garland and Mendoza, who first worked together during the production of Civil War (2024), developed the screenplay’s core structure and interviewed original unit members to ensure accuracy.

“It’s an exercise in trying to recreate a real sequence of events as accurately as possible,” Garland told CNN on Sunday, May 11, 2025.

He noted that variations in memory were inevitable. "Very often there were partial memories … then it became a sort of forensic reconstruction: If this thing is true and this thing is true, then that must also be true."

Garland added, "We needed a very simple rule that the film would just include what happened."

The result is a film with a narrow point of view, minimal explanation, and heavy use of military terminology. At times this creates confusion or even dark humor, such as when a soldier seriously asks, "Is he spying or investigating?"

Mendoza sees Warfare as a response to what he and many veterans feel are inaccurate portrayals of war. "Traditionally, the people who are making movies about war haven’t experienced," he said.

He added that most previous Iraq War films failed to leave a lasting impact on him or others who served. "They may shoot something that’s really cool … but for the most part, (veterans are) like, ‘yeah, they got that wrong,’ or ‘that’s not how we talk,’ or ‘that’s not how the culture is,’ or ‘we’re being misrepresented in how we handle stress," he said.

More than a typical action film, Warfare offers a deep emotional look at the psychological burden of combat, the ever-present fear, and the bonds formed between soldiers under pressure.

Rather than following the formula of heroic speeches and dramatic flair, this film takes a realistic approach. It centers on the lived experiences of soldiers without sensationalism.

With its actors undergoing intensive military training to deliver authentic performances, Warfare presents a raw and moving depiction of modern conflict. It invites audiences to confront the harsh realities of the front lines and the lasting psychological effects of war.

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