Warfare directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza have explained whether their upcoming movie is anti-war, unpacking the authenticity of its presentation. Garland’s new movie pulls inspiration from Mendoza’s real-world experiences as a Navy SEAL during the Iraq War in 2006. The story particularly adapts details from a mission gone wrong he was on, showcasing the events in real time throughout the movie. The veteran and co-director himself is played by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, his inclusion in the movie emphasizing the reality that inspired what the film depicts.

Speaking with Empire Magazine, Garland and Mendoza explained whether Warfare is an anti-war movie, with the Civil War director believing there’s no way of showing the violence of war without it being anti-war. The veteran himself emphasized the realism of the movie, saying “there’s…something wrong with you” if the movie’s presentation makes you want to go to war. But he acknowledged it’s more nuanced, since soldiers aren’t the ones deciding to go to war. Woon-A-Tai also chimed in, saying the movie didn’t make him want to be in war. Check out what Garland, Mendoza, and Woon-A-Tai had to say below:

Alex Garland: I would say it’s not possible to show war in any way that resembles what it really is, in terms of its brutality and violence and emptiness, without it being anti-war.

Ray Mendoza: Our aim was to be authentic, and to show the texture of war that I think people need to not forget about it. If you watch that and you’re like, “F***, yeah, war is awesome,” then there’s probably something wrong with you. This is what war looks like. I’m not saying, “Don’t go to war.” The people that are in charge make those decisions, and they shouldn’t take that decision lightly because there are people who will answer the call. This was just an event, one of many events that took place in the longest war in American history.

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai: When I watched it, it didn’t make me want to enlist.

What The Directors’ Statements Say About Warfare’s Presentation

The Movie Does Contain Anti-War Undertones

Some of the best war movies ever made don’t shy away from the violent brutality of conflict, showcasing the suffering that inevitably comes with fighting others to the death. These conditions are often highlighted as a negative, emphasizing the horrors that come with the job of having to kill in order to survive. Based on both Garland and Mendoza’s comments, Warfare aims to be no different, acknowledging the terrifying realities of war while presenting a realistic mission based on veteran testimony.

However, it seems the film isn’t trying to be anti-war on purpose, with Garland believing the film’s undertones are inevitable when showcasing the reality of the situation. This feels more purposeful compared to Civil War‘s controversy, with many saying the movie had indistinct political commentary despite trying to send a message. With Warfare, it seems the important factor is that everything is portrayed realistically, not directly stating it’s anti-war while still offering undertones of the idea based on both directors’ comments.

Our Take On How Anti-War Warfare Will Be

It Appears To Align With Other War Movies

Because of how Warfare portrays realistic events from a 2006 operation during the Iraq War, it makes sense that it won’t shy away from the grislier elements of the conflict. This doesn’t directly make the movie anti-war, but the realism on display means acknowledging the horrifying reality of how war impacts the people involved. It’s going to be a careful balance of respecting reality without downplaying the violence involved, which means some may walk away with a more anti-war perspective like Woon-A-Tai did.

Warfare arrives in theaters on April 11, 2025.

Source: Empire Magazine