There have been plenty of war movies, but you can argue there really has never been one like “Warfare.”

Co-directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza have crafted an immersive deep-in-the-trenches recreation of a battle Mendoza was a part of during the Iraq War. It’s an experience that is both mundane and suspenseful, effectively capturing the chaos of a dog fight in real time.

“Warfare” takes place in 2006 with a Navy SEAL team on a seemingly routine mission occupying a local home. The occupation quickly turns into a fight for survival when the team is pinned inside, suffering mass casualties in the process.

Garland and Mendoza keep this rather simple, providing just the bare bones of narrative. We do get to know some of the team – Eric (Will Poulter) is the leader, Elliott (Cosmo Jarvis) a sniper and a film version of Mendoza (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) among the group. The filmmakers, who also co-wrote the script, choose to let you know very little about these men other than their bond on the battlefield and the stress, and danger, they endure on a daily basis.

Even without having much background on the characters, there is still a connection with the audience – white knuckle moments in the tightly packed 95 minute run time where we truly care about the plight of these men. The film feels less like a film and more like a camera crew given access in capturing these men in one of the darkest moments of their military careers.

“Warfare” has a lot in common with “Hurt Locker” and “Black Hawk Down” in finding a compelling way to tell this story and really bring a sense of authenticity that only adds to the tension.

It’s interesting that this is the follow-up to Garland’s “Civil War” which came out last year. That was a film where not really taking a side limited the impact. In “Warfare” opting to just let this unfold from the perspective of one side in the battle, and leaving the enemy as nameless practically faceless antagonists actually works way better than one might think.

This isn’t a film about political agendas or soap box moments. “Warfare” is about showing how war is truly hell and celebrating the men who are willing to put their lives in danger to protect their country.

If you go
“Warfare”
Starring: D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Will Poulter
Directed by: Alex Garland, Ray Mendoza
Rating: R for intense war violence and bloody/grisly images and language throughout
Playing at: Regal Greenwood Mall 10
Grade: B