“Warfare” Delivers An Intense, Powerful Atmosphere
- Matt Palmer
- Apr 19, 2025
- 3 min read
Based on Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza’s experiences as a US Navy SEAL, this film is a re-enactment of an encounter he and his platoon experienced on November 19, 2006 in the wake of the Battle of Ramadi. Now, we get to see this harrowing experience on the big screen.
“Warfare” embeds audiences with a platoon of American Navy SEALS on a surveillance mission gone wrong in insurgent territory.
A visceral, boots-on-the-ground story of modern warfare and brotherhood, told like never before: in real time and based on the memory of the people who lived it.
“Warfare” is a superb film written and directed by both US Navy SEAL member Ray Mendoza himself and “Civil War” director Alex Garland. This empowering film also evokes the primal terror of combat with unnerving power.
This is one of those true story/war films that will completely blow you away. “Warfare” does an outstanding job giving film viewers a look at the raw intensity of combat. All of the combat sequences that are scattered throughout this feature will really leave you at the very edge of your seat.
As soon as their mission goes terribly wrong, the gun battles get incredibly intense and, at times, truly raw and brutal. The film’s sound design (which has also been heavily praised) really stands out and helps give the gun battles more intensity. The combat sequences are extremely realistic and its portrayal really helps this film really stand out.
The performances from the actors who played the Navy SEAL members are excellent and their performances also adds to the intensity of the raw and intense action. The film’s cinematography also brilliantly captures the brutality of the action as well.
“Warfare” is a film that will definitely surprise you. The battle scenes are very chaotic and is one of the most intense films depicting war that I have recently seen. Also, during the credits we get to see some pictures of the Navy SEAL members involved with the battle. Most of their pictures are blurred out due to security and/or privacy reasons.
Many of the individuals depicted in those pictures of the SEALs have either requested anonymity or couldn’t be located. The filmmakers close to blur their faces to respect their privacy and potentially maintain their operational security.
Cast: D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai (Ray Mendoza); Cosmo Jarvis (Elliot Miller); Will Poulter (Erik); Kit Connor (Tommy); Finn Bennett (John); Joseph Quinn (Sam); Charlies Melton (Jake); Taylor John Smith (Frank); Noah Centino (Brian/Zawi); Michael Gandolfini (Captain McDonald) among many others.
Writer/director: The film is co-written and directed by both Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (who also directed last year’s “Civil War”).
Trivia: The film was shot chronologically over a course of five weeks. “Warfare” serves as a love letter from director Ray Mendoza to Elliot Miller who after the traumatic events of the Ramadi Operation doesn’t remember what happened.
MPA: Rated R for intense war violence and bloody/grisly images, and language throughout (running time 95 minutes)
Warfare was filmed chronologically over 5 weeks.
Post filming of Warfare, all of the cast including Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Cosmo Jarvis and Kit Connor got a matching tattoo. The tattoo says "call on me" in reference to a scene in the film and the brotherhood they created while filming.
The film is based on the memories of each SEAL team members present during the mission. Each scene in the film was corroborated by at least 2 or more of the SEAL team members interviewed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland.
Warfare is a love letter from director Ray Mendoza to Elliott Miller who after the traumatic events of the Ramadi Operation doesn't remember what happened to him.
As to why the SEAL's are portrayed in US Army digital camouflage uniforms, its not out of the ordinary for SEALs to wear specific camo patterns to blend in with partner forces and draw less attention to themselves. Which for the battle of Ramadi, SEAL team 3, Task Unit Bruiser, (who were also involved in the same battle and were in rotation with SEAL team 5) they donned the uniforms to mesh well with US Army soldiers, and were dubbed respectively as Army SEALs due to the horror and heroics they've both experienced.
Names of the real SEAL team members' were changed in the film to protect their identities as some are still serving in the military or preferred to remain anonymous. The only names that weren't changed in the film are: Ray Mendoza and Elliott Miller.
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