Warfare (2025) Review | MovieTalk+

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Warfare is a movie I absolutely loved — and one I’m almost certain I’ll never watch again.

Not because it isn’t good.
It’s great.
But because it feels too real.

This is a war film that feels deliberately stripped of Hollywood in the best possible way. There’s no gloss, no manufactured adrenaline, no swelling score telling you how or when to feel something. In fact, outside of the opening and closing credits, there’s no music at all. That choice does a lot of heavy lifting. It grounds the film, keeps it raw, and makes everything feel uncomfortably authentic.

That authenticity hits immediately. The opening scene — barely a minute long — is one of my favorite moments of the film. It’s simple, quiet, and built entirely on character and camaraderie. Yet it tells you everything you need to know about these men and their bond. It’s a perfect example of how restraint, when used correctly, can carry enormous emotional weight.

The acting across the board is fantastic. Every performance feels lived-in and human, never performative. That said, my attention kept drifting back to Will Poulter and Joseph Quinn, both of whom deliver performances that feel painfully real. There’s no movie-star armor here — just exhaustion, fear, loyalty, and the slow emotional toll of being in a situation you can’t escape.

While Warfare is undeniably a war film, it plays more like an anti-war film in its execution. Based on a real recon mission during the Iraq War, the movie feels deeply concerned with honoring the people involved — not by glorifying violence, but by presenting it honestly. There are no triumphant moments. No cinematic hero beats. Just confusion, chaos, and consequence. There are no winners here, and the film never pretends otherwise.

I don’t always connect with Alex Garland’s work, but this time, he absolutely nailed it. Warfare is restrained, respectful, and powerful — a film far more interested in truth than spectacle or triumph.

I loved it.
I admire it deeply.
And I’m not sure I ever want to experience it again.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Warfare is a brilliant, harrowing war film that earns its impact through honesty and restraint. It’s not an easy watch, and it’s not meant to be — but it’s one of the most authentic depictions of modern warfare I’ve seen on screen.