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Warfare: Alex Garland and A24’s gripping new war film lands on Amazon Prime
A year after the seismic Civil War, British director Alex Garland and A24 studios unveil the first images of Warfare, an immersive war film co-directed with veteran Ray Mendoza. This thriller promises a brutal, realistic dive into the heart of the Iraq War.
By La rédaction.
Warfare: a total immersion in the Iraq War by Alex Garland and A24
After Civil War (2024), the cinematic gut punch driven by Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, and Jesse Plemons, British filmmaker Alex Garland is back with Warfare. That radical project is co-written and co-directed with Ray Mendoza, a veteran of the Iraq War. Produced by A24, the film offers a suffocating dive into a contemporary conflict. It does offer a visceral take on war narrative.
Rooted in the raw memories of those who lived through the conflict, Warfare unfolds as a high-tension in camera piece. It follows a Navy SEAL unit, which infiltrated an Iraqi house to monitor the movements of American forces within rebel territory. A bold concept that pushes the boundaries of how modern war is portrayed. The dhole ide is reminiscent of Alex Garland’s most visceral work 28 Days Later and Annihilation.
To ensure complete authenticity, the director co-wrote the feature with Ray Mendoza. The latter’s on-the-ground experience brings Warfare a rare emotional depth and realism. “Honestly, it was probably the most poignant and special experience we had,” actor Will Poulter shared.
A powerhouse cast to serve a brutal vision of war
The film boasts an impressive cast, including D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs), Will Poulter (Midsommar), Cosmo Jarvis (Persuasion), Kit Connor (Heartstopper), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), and Charles Melton (May December).
Warfare is not for the faint-hearted. Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza aimed to capture not only the brutality of war, but also its human toll in a situation where every decision could be fatal. As a result, an ultra-violent feature that favours realism over plot, truth over Hollywood gunfires.
Warfare by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza is available now on Prime Video.
