Authentic War Drama 'Warfare' Earns Rave Reviews
Co-written and co-directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland, “Warfare” stuns audiences and critics with its real-time portrayal of a Navy SEAL mission gone wrong – based entirely on lived memory.
A24’s “Warfare” exploded onto screens this past weekend, grossing more than $8 million at the box office and garnering widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences. The war drama, co-written and co-directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza alongside Alex Garland (“Civil War,” “28 Days Later”), is already Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 94 percent score from critics and a 92 percent audience score.
The film embeds viewers with a platoon of American Navy SEALs on a 2006 surveillance mission in Ramadi, Iraq, that spirals into chaos. Told in real time and based entirely on Mendoza’s firsthand experience, “Warfare” offers a stark, unflinching look at the realities of modern combat and the brotherhood forged in its fire. The story unfolds without dramatization or glorification – just the raw memory of those who lived through it.
“One of the best films of the year.” Collider
Featuring a star-studded young cast that includes D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett, Taylor John Smith, Michael Gandolfini, Noah Centineo, Adain Bradley and Charles Melton, the film immerses viewers in a single harrowing day under siege. Every beat of action is drawn from Mendoza’s own recollections, as one of the SEALs pinned inside a house during the mission.
Critics have lauded the R-rated film for its authenticity, emotional intensity and innovation in war storytelling. TheWrap called it “one of the most viscerally powerful stories about combat ever filmed,” while Slash Film dubbed it an “unforgettable cinematic experience.”
“Warfare” is playing in theaters now and will be available for licensing from Swank soon.