‘Warfare’ Delivers a Raw, Real-Time Depiction of Combat

Co-directed by Alex Garland and Navy SEAL veteran Ray Mendoza, the film recreates a disastrous 2006 mission to honor an injured comrade and immerse audiences in the realities of modern warfare.

The film is based on a real 2006 Navy SEAL mission in Ramadi, Iraq, where a surveillance operation turned into a harrowing firefight with insurgents.
Co-director Ray Mendoza, a veteran of the mission, made the film to help injured SEAL Elliott Miller, who lost his memory of the event, process the experience.
Shot in real time using memories of those involved, the movie emphasizes authenticity, with actors undergoing extensive Navy SEAL training to portray the intensity of combat.
Warfare avoids broader political commentary, focusing solely on the immediate, visceral experience of battle and the brotherhood among soldiers.
The film has sparked emotional responses from veterans and families, with some calling it a tool for healing and understanding the human cost of war.