Ramadi, Iraq. 2006. A platoon of Navy Seals sets up an observation post in a house in order to provide cover for an operation carried out by the US Marines. But when their position is compromised they find themselves surrounded and up against an increasing number of insurgents. With several teammates badly wounded, the Seals have no choice but to evacuate quickly, under heavy fire. This is their story, as told by them.
It all begins with a song - "Call on Me" by Eric Prydz. We are introduced to the men we will be following as they psych themselves up for their mission, and it's almost impossible to miss just how young they are, as they dance and sing along to Prydz's popular song. From there it's straight on to the mission, with the team infiltrating the neighbourhood in which they'll be operating. There's no politics to be found here. No examination of all the wrongs or the morality of this illegal war. This is about war itself, and showing as accurately as possible, just how brutal and overwhelming it can be. Among other things, war is an assault on the senses, and that is exactly what Ray Mendoza and fellow director, Alex Garland have tried to create in order to tell this story.
It's not long before it becomes clear that someone knows exactly where they are. But as the tension rises the Seals remain almost eerily calm, as they continue to track the individuals they believe are about to attack. They aren't androids, however, which is shown through some spectacular performances, and you start to see the effects of this immense pressure. Especially when things do eventually go loud, very suddenly. And in those moments the actors not only look like they know what they're doing, they move like a real team too. The use of tactics, weapon handling, and even the jargon, it all looks and sounds very authentic. But there's nothing cool or glamorous about it. In fact it appears the general approach to telling this story is to do pretty much the opposite of your average Hollywood movie. Everything Mendoza and Garland have done is merely designed to immerse us in these events.
The final hour plays out in real time as things quickly go from bad to worse. On any normal day an hour isn't that long a period of time, but here it can feel like an eternity - making the movie feel a whole lot longer than 90 minutes. Trapped in this small house, it's almost as if the walls are closing in on them - it certainly sounds like they are. Even sat in the cinema Warfare can make you feel claustrophobic, like you're trapped in that house with them, and you feel yourself almost willing the Seals and their supporting Marines to get out. One of the ways in which Mendoza and Garland have achieved this is by making good use of sound to add to the overwhelming nature of the situation. There's no music or soundtrack to speak of, simply the sound of everything that's being thrown at them. And then there's the sounds of the screams. The most harrowing scenes involve watching the Seals and Marines provide first aid to their badly wounded buddies, and just like with the rest of the movie, brutal honesty is what they're going for, and it is both humanising and haunting.
While it is true that Warfare is a mind-blowing piece of filmmaking, the thing that makes it so hard-hitting lies more in the inspiration behind it. Director Ray Mendoza was one of the Seals that was there that fateful day in 2006 - played here by D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai - and he wanted to show his buddy, Elliott what actually happened. A Navy Seal himself, Elliott was also there, only he was severely wounded, leaving him with no memory of what took place. Cosmo Jarvis plays him in the movie, delivering what can only be described as a standout performance. For Elliott, and all those that were there, seeing the film or watching it get made must have been a surreal experience. However, their involvement, and the dedication to truth - nothing appeared in the movie that wasn't verified by at least two team members - make it an eye-opening experience for anyone who hasn't seen war.
Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland's Warfare is a mind-blowing depiction of war and its brutality, as well as an incredible tribute to a wounded veteran and friend.
10/10
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