KSL Movie Show review: You might want to leave ‘Warfare,’ but you shouldn’t
Apr 11, 2025, 7:00 AM
“Warfare” was mostly filmed within the confines of the house, very claustrophobic, with a small crew, a vivid memory and only two platoons in real time.
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SALT LAKE CITY — I believe it’s necessary to understand why and how a movie like this exists, so as to flesh out how the long lapses of tedium meld with the startling moments of sheer terror in a modern-day combat situation like these men experienced.
It doesn’t tell us why these Navy SEALs were hunkered down in this two-story Iraqi home overlooking a street in the city of Ramadi. It simply invites us to experience what they went through on this one particular day in as painstakingly detailed and as accurate a way as possible. That’s it. No politics. No rah-rah. Just the facts — warts and all.
You will hear the ongoing radio chatter (that makes no sense to us) that is as close to word for word as those who lived through it can remember. It helps that the film’s co-director, Ray Mendoza, was the JTAC radioman on this particular mission, along with Corpsman Elliot Miller, who was the tough guy lead sniper. Both men were on set to make sure authenticity was paramount in describing the details of this faithful day.
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Why? They simply want an audience to see and hear what they went through. It won’t be easy and it won’t be pleasant. The axiom —War is Hell— hasn’t had a more realistic representation of combat, since those first 25 minutes of “Saving Private Ryan” on D-Day — amazingly shot in ONE TAKE by the way.
While that epic movie featured a cast and crew of hundreds, “Warfare” was mostly filmed within the confines of the house, very claustrophobic, with a small crew, a vivid memory and only two platoons in real time. One was pinned down inside the house, the other trying to get to the house to help evacuate those trapped there.
So here’s what I’ve learned.
These Navy SEALs were on a mission through insurgent territory in November of 2006 during the final stages of the Battle of Ramadi, according to Wikipedia.
Mendoza is played by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai — not even his full name — and Corpsman Miller is played by Cosmo Jarvis.
The others in the platoon are given aliases, since the actual soldiers did not want their identities to go public, but you’ll recognize many of the actors including Will Poulter, Charles Melton, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, Finn Bennett and Michael Gandolfini, doing his late father James proud, to name a few.
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The streets around the house are bustling with merchants, shoppers, kids playing, just people going about their day with no knowledge of the hidden, silent platoon. The SEALs were there to observe and report any suspicious activity and so far, all is calm.
As the time goes by, you’ll be thinking, “I thought Salles said this was a war movie?” Hold your horses. It’s coming. And when it comes, you’ll be wishing to go back to the silent part.
Like I mentioned, it’s brutal. People get hurt and the screaming in pain is relentless, but there’s no sense complaining, because that’s just what happened, so suck it up, or I guess you could leave, but you shouldn’t. How’s that for backing into a review?
I’m glad I saw it, but I don’t think I’d want to sit through that experience again. War is indeed hell and we should do everything in our power to avoid it like the plague in the future. Just sayin’.
“Warfare” (A) Rated R for intense war violence and bloody/grisly images, and language throughout. Starring D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton and Michael Gandolfini. Co-written and co-directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (“Civil War” “Ex Machina”) – filmed in London. Running time: 95 minutes.
The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.
