Warfare

Warfare is an exercise in realism. It foregoes storytelling fundamentals like character development to exclusively prioritize the plot. This unconventional approach is visceral while inviting themes of death and the futility of war. However, it often avoids commenting on the geopolitical events it depicts. While it sympathizes with the troops and the trauma they go through, it only glancingly contemplates the local lives destroyed. Still, its tactical accuracy plus tense stakes are decidedly unromantic. Also, the acting injects raw intensity and a humanizing range of distress. Consequently, Warfare's restrained intimacy is admirable, even if it could've strived for more.

Warfare creates a matter-of-fact atmosphere before growing more emotional. The imagery starts with handhelds and natural lighting, then applies shallow focus. Condensing real-time, its editing utilizes pace shifts to maintain constant suspense. The sound heightens perspective, staying literal until it erupts into action and subjective distortions. Contributing heavily to immediacy, its music is almost nonexistent. An accurate sense of place is conveyed via the production design. Its cast has abundant up-and-comer talent. The effects convey graphic violence through blood, pyrotechnics, prosthetics, and CGI. Thus, Warfare is, at least, a gripping display of immersive filmmaking.

Writing: 7/10

Direction: 9/10

Cinematography: 8/10

Acting: 9/10

Editing: 9/10

Sound: 10/10

Score/Soundtrack: 9/10

Production Design: 9/10

Casting: 9/10

Effects: 9/10

Overall Score: 8.8/10

Instagram Page

YouTube Channel