‘Warfare’: First Reactions to Alex Garland’s A24 War Film

I’ve been hearing a lot about ‘Warfare’ lately, the new war flick from Alex Garland and A24. It’s hitting people hard, and the early reactions are pouring in from folks who’ve caught it already. This isn’t your typical war movie—it’s raw, intense, and doesn’t pull punches. With Garland teaming up with Ray Mendoza, a guy who knows combat firsthand, they’ve cooked up something that’s got everyone talking about its realism and emotional punch.

The film drops you right into the chaos of a mission gone sideways. Perri Nemiroff put it best: ‘Totally overwhelmed by #WARFARE. Undeniably one of the most immersive and visceral war movies I’ve ever seen — and also one that romanticizes war the least. Gripping from the moment it opens, Warfare puts the viewer right smack in the middle of a mission gone wrong. You’re quickly swallowed up in the chaos of combat, and it never lets up.’ She’s blown away by the details—the sound, the visuals, the acting—all coming together to make you feel like you’re there, shattered by what war really looks like.

Then there’s Hunter Bolding, who’s still reeling from it. He said, ‘I’m absolutely floored by #Warfare. Brutal, realistic, horrifying, and one of the most harrowing depictions of war on screen. It plays out like a horror film ratcheting up tension. There’s one scene that had me covering my ears. Amazing film. Best use of “Call On Me” ever. #A24.’ That bit about it feeling like a horror movie stuck with me—war isn’t glamorous here, it’s a nightmare you can’t escape.

It’s not just about the soldiers either. The Nerds of Color pointed out how it doesn’t shy away from the bigger picture: ‘#Warfare is raw, honest, & absolutely bone-chilling. The 1st act is uncomfortable at times. Don’t be dissuaded by the trailer, if you were. This does not glorify the war or gloss over the devastating impact it had on the Iraqi people. It’s truly devastating on every level.’ That’s a big deal—it’s not glossing over the cost to everyone caught in the crossfire.

The immersion is what keeps coming up. Matt Neglia from SXSW described it like this: ‘WARFARE thrusts viewers directly into the heart of combat, delivering a real-time intense experience that few films can match for sheer immersion. Agony, precision, disorientation, chaos, violence, and bravery unfold in relentless succession, as Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza craft a vision that prioritizes authenticity at every turn. Character development is almost nonexistent here, but this is ultimately an immersive, unflinching experience. The sound design is thunderous and harrowing, while the editing amplifies the tension to nearly unbearable levels. Felt like I couldn’t breathe until the credits rolled.’ You don’t get much downtime with this one—it’s all action, all stress.

The cast is packed with names like Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, and Will Poulter, but don’t expect a slow build to get to know them. Drew Taylor said, ‘#Warfare is almost unbearably tense — a you-are-there combat movie free of nearly all frills. Excellent performances from the young cast, with Garland and Mendoza working beautifully together. Also has one of the most incredible sound mixes ever — see it in the loudest theater.’ It’s less about the characters’ backstories and more about surviving the moment.

Speaking of performances, Duane Miller can’t get over Joseph Quinn. He wrote, ‘WARFARE, the most intense 90 minutes of a film that I’ve seen in a long time. Incredible directing, sound, and performances, particularly Joseph Quinn. Every performance I see from him, I’m continuously blown away. Really good movie.’ Quinn’s been popping up everywhere lately—‘Stranger Things,’ ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’—and he’s clearly bringing his A-game here.

Erik Davis summed up the frenzy well: ‘Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s #Warfare is definitely the most intense film I’ve watched this year. Incredibly immersive in its approach, we’re thrust into an impossible situation w/ soldiers trapped inside a home under attack.

There’s little breathing room and lots of action in this high-energy war film based on a real story. The cast is stacked with familiar names like Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor, Charles Melton, Noah Centineo, Will Poulter and Cosmo Jarvis, but the pace is so frantic and the energy so chaotic that the men truly disappear into their roles.

A star-studded cast, sure, but the stars here are the soldiers, all of whom are doing everything they can to save lives and get the hell out of there. I dug the film’s unique approach – I kinda sat there stunned and frozen for almost the entire runtime, it brings that kind of intensity. Watch it on a big screen with even bigger sound. This one’s a journey!’ Based on real events, it’s got that extra layer of weight.

The sound keeps getting shoutouts too. Tony Mosello was all about it: ‘WARFARE is visceral, exhilarating, and intense; it’s an all-out-assault on the senses! Unquestionably the most authentic and realistic combat film ever made, this DEMANDS to be experienced on the big screen! The sound design team better win all of the awards next year.’ I’m starting to think the theater experience is a must for this one.

Finally, Zach Pope captured how it lingers: ‘#Warfare is a shattering, relentless & utterly devastating look at Modern Warfare. My heart is racing, my body is shocked, & I’m still breathing heavy. This isn’t just another war movie… it’s an experience. Stripping any piece of spectacle & only delivering the rawness of war.’ It’s not about heroics—it’s about the brutal truth.

Garland’s no stranger to heavy stuff—‘Ex Machina’ and ‘Annihilation’ messed with our heads, and ‘Civil War’ stirred up debate last year. Pairing with Mendoza, who’s lived this kind of chaos, makes ‘Warfare’ feel like their attempt to show war as it is, not as Hollywood usually spins it. We’re all waiting to see it now—sounds like it’s going to leave us shaken.