BRUTAL. HONEST. UNSHAKABLY REAL.

Some movies are here to entertain. Others aim to challenge. But every so often, a film comes along that does something deeper—it punches straight through the screen and stays with you long after the credits roll. Warfare is that kind of film.

Written and directed by Alex Garland, Warfare is a visceral, unflinching depiction of modern war. It’s raw. It’s immersive. And it’s easily one of the most affecting films I’ve seen this year.

The pacing is relentless in the best way. Garland strips away the gloss and theatrics that usually surround military films, choosing instead to present events in a near real-time style that feels brutally authentic. When the IED goes off—without warning—the chaos hits like a brick wall. There’s no dramatic buildup. No swelling music. Just sudden disorientation, confusion, and fear. It doesn’t feel like watching a movie. It feels like you’re in it.

But what moved me most wasn’t the intensity. It was the humanity.

As the SEAL team navigates the fallout, the film focuses on the small, nearly invisible acts of heroism—the quiet leadership, the decisions made in seconds, the unwavering instinct to protect each other. These aren’t larger-than-life moments, but that’s what makes them so powerful. They feel real. And they reflect the very best of what it means to serve with courage, integrity, and honor.

Warfare doesn’t glorify combat. It doesn’t sanitize it either. Instead, it finds its impact in the tension between those two truths. It honors the service of real people in impossible situations without making them superhuman. That restraint is what gives the film its emotional weight.

There’s no political message here. No clear “good guy” or “bad guy.” Just a brutally honest story about what it costs to be a soldier in the 21st century—and the extraordinary strength it takes to carry that burden.

Final Verdict:
Warfare is intense, sobering, and deeply human. It’s a modern war film that doesn’t feel like anything else out there—and it deserves to be seen, discussed, and remembered.

Have you seen Warfare yet?
I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment below or connect with me on Instagram or Threads.

Be kind to yourself and to others.
— Jake