Alex Garland, the writer and director of Civil War, alongside Ray Mendoza, a seasoned military advisor on the film, has crafted an unflinching, real-time drama that recreates a brutal clash between Navy SEALs and al-Qaeda militants.

Garland’s consummate direction and Mendoza’s firsthand knowledge of war come together in a film that offers an uncompromising, immersive experience, throwing viewers directly into the chaos of combat without the usual exposition or backstory. The faces of Joseph Quinn, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai convey the authentic emotion of being under fire—fear, determination, and a palpable sense of vulnerability. In stark contrast to the typical Hollywood war hero tropes, these actors portray courage as an exhausting, terror-filled endurance test. This visceral film pulls us deep into that world, being loud and intense, a relentless barrage of explosions and gunfire, accompanied by cries of pain from the injured men that never stop.

Warfare is a remarkable technical feat, but it also offers something far deeper: a sharp focus on the personal toll of violence, bypassing political commentary to explore the true cost of war. It redefines the war film genre, delivering a fresh, immediate, and powerful experience.