Lock in for the most intense and personal war film you’ll ever experience. 

Half told from the memories of veteran Ray Mendoza and the other through the lens of Alex Garland (Civil War), Warefare invades your personal space. The sets and props couldn’t have been more perfect, told with its close up framing and breathtaking sound design. The last time I felt this close to history was with The Zone of Interest. 

You may not get much story arc or time with each individual person, but you understand their relationships and drive almost immediately. The camaraderie is off the charts with these real life characters and you root for their survival, but not specifically in the “hell yeah America” way. You can tell the actors went through extensive training to be as accurate as possible. 

While learning so much about the ins and outs of war, you have a constant dread creeping in on you, knowing all hell is going to break loose. Garland and Mendoza don’t shy away from showing you the horrors of war, but they also aren’t babying the story side of things by explaining too much. There is some masterful camera work and some not so masterful, but I think that was almost purposeful to keep it from being too Hollywoodized. 

This movie overwhelms all five of your senses, making your throat dry, ears ring, and your whole body claustrophobic.

9/10