War Through Their Eyes: 'Warfare' and the Bonds of Brotherhood
By Natalie McCarty
Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza's Warfare stands as one of the most powerful and authentic war films ever made. Visually striking, emotionally jarring, and unflinchingly raw, it throws you off your axis and places you closer to the realities of war than perhaps any film has before. Not just another war film, it’s a story of brotherhood, friendship, and sacrifice, told with a depth of authenticity that’s rarely seen on screen.
Although Warfare is slated for release on April 11, 2025, I had the privilege of attending an advanced screening at the AMC The Grove on Thursday night, hosted in collaboration with A24 and Letterboxd, followed by a Q&A with Garland, Mendoza, and actor D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai.
Image Courtesy of A24
Reuniting again after Civil War for this creative partnership is Alex Garland, known for his visionary works like Ex Machina and Annihilation, and Ray Mendoza, a former Navy SEAL with 16 years of service with SEAL Team 5. Garland’s ability to craft complex psychological narratives meets Mendoza’s lived experience, creating a film that feels brutally honest yet deeply human.
Mendoza’s firsthand knowledge of the battlefield, and specifically of this exact event, gives the film a level of precision and authenticity that few war films achieve. He served not only as co-director but also as the film’s military advisor, ensuring that even the smallest details reflected the reality of combat. Garland’s directorial touch of balancing stark realism with emotional depth elevates the film beyond typical war narratives.
“This film is revisiting the moment in which it changed the lens through which I view life,” Mendoza said at a screening. If it’s traumatic for the viewer, it’s unimaginable what it was like to make it. Yet Mendoza spoke to the catharsis of telling the story — not just for himself, but for his friend Elliott, whose sacrifice is at the heart of the film.
When it comes down to it, Warfare really is a story of brotherhood, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bonds forged in the chaos of combat. It's based on Mendoza’s own experience during a 2006 mission in Iraq, where his SEAL platoon became entangled in a fierce day-long battle for survival. The film honors Elliott Miller, portrayed with haunting vulnerability by Cosmo Jarvis. A truly fantastic performance, albeit haunting.
Ray Mendoza is played by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, who delivers a breathtakingly nuanced performance. At the screening, Woon-A-Tai said that “stoic” was the goal, which was absolutely achieved with remarkable depth. It’s the quiet moments–the aching in his eyes, the subtle dissociation–that make the performance transcendent.
The supporting cast is equally strong, featuring:
Will Poulter as Erik, the platoon’s commanding officer, who juggles the full embodiment strength within his total brute force and vulnerability.
Joseph Quinn as Sam, the leading Petty Officer, who balances tactical precision with emotional turmoil even in the face of utter trauma. And, boy, can he scream.
Kit Connor as Tommy, a gunner whose youth contrasts with the brutal reality of war.
Charles Melton as Jake, the Assistant Officer in Charge, whose loyalty and strength anchor the team. His character is also a true testament of heroism.
Image Courtesy of A24
Each actor underwent rigorous military training to authentically represent the physical and psychological challenges of combat. The result is a level of believability that feels lived in.
Rarely do we get films that are this intimate and yet so grand in scale. Garland and Mendoza’s decision to tell the story in real-time creates an overwhelming sense of immediacy. There’s no relief from the tension. No time jumps or cinematic tricks.
You feel the weight of every decision, every shot fired, every loss.
What makes Warfare different is the intimacy of the chaos. War is often portrayed as large-scale, but Warfare drills down to the personal in the camaraderie, the fear, the quiet moments of connection amidst the madness. This is war not as spectacle, but as memory. It’s fragmented, it’s visceral, and it’s deeply human.
As Mendoza put it, “You fight to make something authentic. To make something authentic… not only does it take significant oversight — it’s like an act of God, it’s a miracle.”
Additionally, Warfare transcends political divides. It isn’t about glorifying war; it’s about understanding the personal cost of it. Mendoza and Garland’s goal was to strip away the Hollywood sheen and present war as it is: brutal.
It sparks conversations about the liberties we hold and the sacrifices made to protect them. Bushwhackers, a specialized SEAL unit featured prominently in the film, are rarely depicted in media. This film sheds light on their dangerous and often unrecognized missions, highlighting the emotional and physical toll of their service.
Image Courtesy of A24
Overall, Warfare is a staggering achievement – a film that reshapes the war genre by refusing to sensationalize it. Not about victory or defeat, it’s about survival, memory, and sacrifice. Through Mendoza’s lived experience and Garland’s directorial brilliance, the film offers an unvarnished look at the human cost of war, not just for those who fight, but for those who survive.
Intimate, powerful, and profoundly moving, it’s a true testament to the bonds of brotherhood and the lasting, and often unseen, scars of battle.
