'Warfare' Review: A Raw and Gritty War Film We Have Never Seen Before

Courtesy of A24

Warfare is the latest film to hit the big screen. It follows a group of United States soldiers on a mission in the middle of the Iraq War in 2006. Warfare is not your typical war film. It is a very raw and gritty film that pulls no punches. It shows you the horror of war without covering it up. Warfare throws you into the mission without any warning or preparation as a viewer. You are just in there with these men trying to survive like they are trying to do. This approach makes you feel like you're actually there and not watching a movie.

Warfare does something that most war films don't do. The film has no plot and no end goal to get to. It just shows you the events as recounted by director and Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza. It shows you the mission as it happened with no cuts to future or past events. It's a very realistic war film in a sense there is no heroic music playing throughout the film. In fact, there is no score in the film. The only music you hear in the film is the song "Call On Me" in the opening scene and "Dancing and Blood" in the end credits.

The tension in Warfare is palpable. From the opening scene, you are in the war with these men. The silence adds to the tension. There are moments where you hear a sniper's breath and you're just waiting for things to hit the fan. It creates an anxious feeling and helps you understand what those men must have felt in that moment. The sound design in Warfare is absolutely incredible. From moments of loud explosions and gunfire to silence and stillness, Warfare takes you into the sounds of war like no other war film has ever done.

The opening scene is the only light hearted moment in the film but it sets you up for the relationship and brotherhood these guys all have. It forces you to care about the men you're watching and shows you how tight their brotherhood was. That is one of the best parts of the film. Seeing the brotherhood and camaraderie these men had warms someone even with a cold heart. The other best part of this film is when the film is over but not in a bad way. Just like the men on that mission, you feel a sense of relief when the end credits roll. Warfare sets the precedent for the war genre and its message is this: be more realistic and stop over dramatizing war. It also makes you feel even more appreciative of the men and woman who are willing to do this and sacrifice everything for this country.

What did you think of Warfare? Leave your opinion in the comments below.