Movies

Will Poulter’s Best Film You’ve Never Seen!

BBG News

As a movie enthusiast, you might not recognize his name right away, but once you see his distinctive face or expressive eyebrows, there’s no mistaking him. He starred as Lee in the 2007 film “Son of Rambow,” Kenny in the 2013 comedy “We’re The Millers,” and more recently, Adam Warlock in the 2023 blockbuster “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” His performances in these well-known films are simply exceptional.

However, it’s his lesser-known roles that truly deserve accolades. One such role is in the film “Warfare,” which was released in 2025 and didn’t get as much attention as some other movies. Yet, this performance is one you should definitely check out if given the chance.

The movie “Warfare” offers a raw, captivating portrayal of the Iraq War, earning it a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – second only to “Wild Bill” with its perfect 100%. Both films received critical acclaim but failed to draw in large audiences. Among these two critically-appraised movies, “Warfare” stands out as possibly Poulter’s finest performance yet and deserves more recognition.

‘Warfare’ Was Co-Written and Co-Directed by US Navy Veteran Ray Mendoza and Is Based on His Experiences

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, the story unfolds when the Navy SEAL unit, Alpha One, finds itself in the heat of combat during the Battle of Ramadi in 2006. The character Ray Mendoza, skillfully portrayed by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, serves as a Joint Terminal Attack Coordinator, coordinating air support from above. As comrades like Eric Miller (Cosmo Jarvis), Tommy (Kit Connor), and Erik (Will Poulter) strive to establish their position on the ground, tragedy strikes – Miller is wounded, and grenades, along with an IED, explode nearby.

In a house, members of Alpha One find temporary shelter, but their situation is precarious, making it difficult for them to receive necessary assistance. Reinforcements, Alpha Two, show up, and Jake assumes command from the exhausted Erik. Miller, badly hurt, along with Sam (Joseph Quinn), are moved away by a tank, leaving the rest of Alpha One and Alpha Two to fend off insurgents until additional help arrives to extract them safely.

It’s challenging to fully convey the intensity of Warfare, but experiencing it in real-time, witnessing explosions, observing people perish instantaneously is incredibly captivating. The raw emotions experienced by Alpha One and Alpha Two are as authentic and palpable as possible on a movie screen.

Mendoza, together with co-writer Alex Garland, developed the characters in “Warfare” by drawing on Mendoza’s personal experiences and basing each character on someone he had fought alongside. The accounts of the platoon members serve as the foundation for the movie, and it is dedicated to Miller, who suffered the loss of a leg and verbal abilities due to his injuries during combat.

Critics Praised ‘Warfare’ For Its Unconventional and Realistic Presentation of Combat

War films often depicted in movies deviate significantly from reality. They fail to portray the lack of downtime, instead presenting war as it truly is – tense, lethal, and disorderly. The cast, including Will Poulter, consists mainly of veterans who experienced combat in Iraq during 2006. Co-writer Andrew Garland shared this detail with The New York Times back in April 2025.

As a film aficionado, when I watched this production helmed by a seasoned director, something truly unique emerged on the silver screen – an experience that wasn’t quite like anything I had witnessed before. It’s a deeply personal and subjective journey, one that may blur the lines between reality and imagination. While it might not be entirely factual, what I can assure you is that every frame exudes honesty.

This distinctive perspective on war resonated strongly with critics like Wendy Ide from The Guardian, who found it daring in the film “Warfare”. Wendy Ide recognized the challenges Hollywood faces when portraying the Iraq War, but she believes that’s precisely why “Warfare” is a significant cinematic piece.

Instead of focusing on the political chess match that leads to war, this movie explores the gritty, day-to-day experiences soldiers face in battlefields.

Will Poulter Was Initially Disappointed When He Heard About ‘Warfare’

In an interview with Cinemablend in April 2025, Will Poulter admitted,

Upon learning I’d meet with Alex [Garland], my enthusiasm soared. However, upon discovering it was a war film, I felt a moment of disappointment since I wasn’t particularly keen on the genre. But when I learned the purpose, which was to add something authentic and unconventional to the war film canon – an unscored, non-fictionalized portrayal of real events – my interest immediately peaked. Indeed, knowing Alex Garland is known for his intellectual approach, I should have anticipated that he would handle it differently.

In the end, Poulter and his colleagues discovered that working on Warfare was “empowering” because, “Usually in film-making, you’re focusing on what’s most entertaining. Here, however, our approach was distinctly different. We were ensuring we remained true to the memories of the men who lived through this… it gave us a sense of power in our pursuit. That is, the pursuit of telling the truth.

It’s possible that the unique aspects of Warfare are why it didn’t become a blockbuster hit at the box office. Despite this, it managed to earn $33 million worldwide, but considering its production budget of $20 million, it wasn’t a massive success. As a film that is undeniably intense (a term Poulter deliberately avoided when discussing it), Warfare might have been too brutally honest for some audiences, making it a must-watch in Poulter’s collection of films.

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2025-07-04 04:02

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