Out of all the characters in Warfare, only two have the same names as real-life soldiers who served in the United States Army. Warfare follows a platoon of Navy SEALs whose mission goes wrong during the Iraq War. Specifically, the realistic war film is set during the Second Battle of Ramadi, which was a significant battle in the war. In the film, the Navy SEALs are doing surveillance in Ramadi when their position is discovered, causing them to be attacked by Iraqi soldiers. As a result of this attack, multiple characters in Warfare get gravely injured.
While trying to save Sam and Elliot’s lives, who are portrayed by Joseph Quinn and Cosmo Jarvis in the film, the Navy SEALs are also trying to safely escape from the house that they are hiding in. The movie provides a realistic depiction of war, which has led to many positive reviews for Warfare. Currently, the A24 film has an impressive score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes (via Rotten Tomatoes). However, even though it is based on memory, Ray Mendoza and Elliot Miller are the only two characters in Warfare who share names with the real-life soldiers.
Warfare Was Co-Directed & Co-Written By Ray Mendoza
Warfare Is Based Entirely On Mendoza’s Memory
Not only is Warfare based on a true story and a real-life Navy SEALs mission, it was actually co-written and co-directed by a soldier who actually fought in the Iraq War. Ray Mendoza, who is one of the main characters in the movie, co-wrote and co-directed Warfare with Alex Garland, who has previously helmed critically acclaimed films such as Civil War, Annihilation, and Ex Machina. In an interview with Screen Rant, Mendoza revealed that he actually went to film school after his time in the army, which led to him writing and directing Warfare.
In the interview, Mendoza admitted that he initially wanted to make Warfare right when he graduated from film school, but decided to wait. This was probably a good decision, since he was eventually able to team up with Garland. Since Mendoza wrote and directed the movie, which is based entirely on his memory, it makes sense that the character based on him shares his name. However, Elliot is the only other character in Warfare that has the same name as a real-life soldier.
Warfare Is In Tribute To Elliott Miller
Elliot Gets Seriously Injured In Warfare
Warfare is dedicated to Elliot Miller, another soldier who fought in the Iraq War. Because Mendoza decided to dedicate the film to him, it makes sense that Elliot is also named after the real-life soldier in the movie. In the film, Elliot is one of the soldiers who gets seriously injured after the Iraqi soldiers set off an explosion outside the house. His injuries have a serious impact on Ray in Warfare, since out of all the members of the platoon, it is clear that they are the closest friends.
Even though Elliot suffers through some serious injuries in Warfare, the platoon ultimately ends up escaping from the house and he ends up surviving. At the end of Warfare, footage of the real Elliot visiting the set of the movie is actually included. While he is in a wheelchair in this footage, Elliot appears to be quite happy visiting the set of the film, and even likely consulted on it. This footage reveals that other soldiers also visited the set, despite not being mentioned by name in Warfare.
The Rest Of Warfare’s Soldiers Have Different Names In Real Life
While Based On Real People, Most Of Warfare’s Soldiers Have Different Names
Since it is based on his memory, Mendoza likely remembers all the names of his fellow Navy SEALs who served with him on this mission. Despite this, he still made the decision not to include any of their real names in Warfare. There’s no clear reason why this is the case, but he likely did so to protect the privacy of the real-life people. Some of the soldiers who served with Mendoza and Miller have spoken very positively about the film in Screen Rant’s Q&A and other interviews, such as Joe Hildebrand, who Joseph Quinn’s Warfare character is based on.
It’s also possible that Mendoza has lost touch with some of the Navy SEALs who are featured in the film.
Hildebrand expressed that it was amazing to see a movie accurately depict the events of the war and that specific mission. However, obviously, not all the soldiers who served with Mendoza and Miller were involved in the making of Warfare. It’s also possible that Mendoza has lost touch with some of the Navy SEALs who are featured in the film. Therefore, it makes sense that Ray and Elliot are the only two characters in Warfare who share names with the real-life soldiers.
