Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza's 'Warfare' Receives Acclaim for Its Intense, Memory-Based Depiction of Combat

The upcoming A24 film, inspired by Mendoza’s Iraq War experiences, delivers a visceral, immersive portrayal of a 2006 mission gone wrong.

Directed by Alex Garland and Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza, 'Warfare' is based on Mendoza’s memories of a harrowing 2006 mission in Iraq.
The film is described as a real-time, one-location thriller that captures the chaos and brutality of modern combat with raw authenticity.
Critics praise the movie for its immersive sound design, relentless tension, and unflinching depiction of war’s horrors, likening it to a visceral experience rather than a traditional war film.
Garland and Mendoza adopted a 'forensic approach' to storytelling, relying on interviews and fragmented memories to reconstruct the events as faithfully as possible.
Set for an April 11, 2025 release, the film features a star-studded ensemble cast and is positioned as one of the year’s most intense cinematic experiences.