Warfare (2024) – A Raw and Real Look at Combat, Streaming Now on Prime Video
The film Warfare now streaming on Prime Video takes director Alex Garland into a new direction. Known for sci-fi hits like Ex Machina and Annihilation, Garland moves away from science fiction and dives into the harsh realities of war. This movie is a powerful Iraq War film inspired by true events.
While working on his earlier 2024 film Civil War, Garland brought in Ray Mendoza, a former Navy SEAL and Iraq War veteran, as a military advisor. Mendoza had worked on major Hollywood war films before, like Lone Survivor and Jurassic World. The two bonded over real-life stories, and Warfare was born. Co-written and co-directed by Garland and Mendoza, the movie is based on a brutal 2006 mission during the Battle of Ramadi, one Mendoza personally experienced.
A Gritty Look at Real Combat
Warfare opens with the SEAL team Alpha One hyped up, watching a loud music video. They’re joking and bonding, ready to go. Then comes a stark shift, quiet streets in Ramadi before dawn. The team moves in silence, using hand signals and light humor to stay focused. They enter a building, wake up a family, and guide them to safety. It’s clear something serious is about to go down.
The mission isn’t fully explained, filled with military jargon, but viewers can feel the tension. The soldiers monitor a nearby building, which could house enemy fighters. Among the team are Erik (Will Poulter), Ray (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai), and Tommy (Kit Connor), the newest member. Two trained Iraqi translators also join them. Upstairs, snipers Elliott (Cosmo Jarvis) and Frank (Taylor John Smith) watch a nearby café through their scopes.
They track several suspicious men. Moments of silence drag on as danger builds. Then it hits. A grenade explodes. Chaos follows. The SEALs scramble to escape. Smoke, confusion, gunfire, and explosions surround them. One translator is torn apart. Others are severely injured. The mission turns into a desperate fight for survival.
Realism Over Hollywood Glamour
This military action movie isn’t full of heroic speeches or flashy edits. Warfare feels real. It captures the confusion, fear, and adrenaline of combat. Garland and Mendoza focus on small details, the sound of boots, the silence before violence, the pain after an explosion. The film is quiet one minute, explosive the next.
Fans of Saving Private Ryan or The Hurt Locker will notice the same raw intensity. But Warfare brings its own style. It’s more stripped down. More focused. It doesn’t answer big political questions about the Iraq War. It shows the war as it felt to the men on the ground, confusing, brutal, and relentless.
Standout Performances and Rising Stars
Though the film includes known actors like Will Poulter and Charles Melton, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai gives a breakout performance. Known from Reservation Dogs, he brings depth to his role as the team’s communications expert. Each actor helps build the feeling that these are real soldiers in real danger.
Not Just Another War Movie
Some viewers may say Warfare doesn’t explain enough. It doesn’t have a clear message or political stance. But that’s the point. It’s not about debating the war. It’s about surviving it. The film shows war from the inside, with brutal honesty. It doesn’t glamorize combat. It shows how it crushes people.
The end credits include a tribute to the real men Mendoza served with. This adds even more emotional weight to the story. The direction by Garland and Mendoza blends technical skill with raw emotion. There are no clichés. No clear heroes. Just soldiers trying to make it out alive.
Warfare is one of the most intense and realistic war films of recent years. It doesn’t follow the usual Hollywood formula. Instead, it immerses viewers in the chaos and fear of real combat. If you’re looking for a powerful, gritty Iraq War movie, Warfare (2024) is a must-watch.