WARFARE – written and directed by ALEX GARLAND and Iraq war veteran RAY MENDOZA is an exceptional film that ignores many of the norms of dramatic film narratives to deliver a unique experience. It’s as close as I want to get to being in a war.
A platoon of Navy SEALs embark on a dangerous mission in Ramadi, Iraq, with the chaos and brotherhood of war retold through their memories of the event.
The trailer seems to imply that this is a by-the-numbers war/action movie, but it’s absolutely not. It opens with a caption stating that it’s based on memories, and you’ll do well to remember that the nightmarish 90 minutes or so that follow are based on fact (as told by Mendoza). It’s relentlessly tense and expertly made. Garland, who we all know as a genre hero from films including 28 DAYS LATER, DREDD, EX MACHINA, and last year’s CIVIL WAR), and Mendoza make an excellent team. Apparently, Mendoza directed the actors, leaving Garland to handle the camerawork etc.
I’ve never served, but I have an extraordinary amount of respect for those who do. To my uneducated eye, watching WARFARE appears to accurately convey the horrors of battle. The anticipation, the planning, the fear, the reactions, the unknowing… it’s a tsunami of emotion unloaded in real time. My opening comment about jettisoning a typical narrative structure is perhaps indicative of the way all battles progress. Okay, so the film does have a story, with a clear beginning, middle, and end, but it’s driven more by the forced reactions of the characters rather than their decisions. There’s no quest, other than to survive, no obvious narrative choices on the part of the filmmakers to drive the plot forward. Though we’re with the soldiers 99% of the time, the split focus on them, the family who live in the house where the action takes place, and the locals who are attacking, really hammers home the point that in the heat of battle, the impact on all individual combatants and bystanders can be equally devastating and unpredictable, irrespective of motives or allegiances.
Technically, the film is superb. Particular mention must be made of the sound design, which is exceptional. For maximum effect, see this movie at the cinema or with your TV speakers cranked right up if you’re at home. The soundtrack of explosions, frantic conversations, gunfire, and fragments of radio conversations combine with distortion, feedback, and periods of muffled silence to increase the disorientation both of the characters in the middle of the chaos, and the viewer watching. The cast is excellent, and it says something that even the famous faces (WILL POULTER – also currently starring in DEATH OF A UNICORN which I recently enjoyed – and JOSEPH QUINN from A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE) quickly stop being recognisable film stars and become just two more blood- and dirt-stained fighters.
As I said at the outset, this really is a unique film. It’s an uncomfortable yet powerful watch, made all the more remarkable because it’s based on true experiences. Hang around for the end titles to get a glimpse of the real life locations and the actual people involved.
