Renowned film studio, A24, has stepped into big-budget movie territory as of this year with their latest film, “Civil War,” from acclaimed director and screenwriter, Alex Garland. 2024 has graced us with quite the amount of big blockbusters, and A24’s war thriller has sparked an interest among movie goers who want a depiction on what a second civil war in the United States could be. This film was released when the subject of war and chaos was the hottest headline in most news outlets, which may make some viewers feel uneasy with the parallels to recent circumstances.
However, It makes the smart decision to not promote or support any political sides, both fictional and non-fictional, and instead examines conflict and war through the lens of military-embedded photojournalists, who are simply trying to do their jobs and give accurate news. From the premise alone, it makes for a unique ride by utilizing the genre of road films to progress its plot, since we see different sections of this dystopian view of war-torn America, in shocking and unexpected ways.
The film is a 100-minute ride of pure-anxiety and tension as our protagonists document the numerous perspectives that the civilians and soldiers have on the film’s fictional war. Not
enough credit is given to the sound design, considering the gunshots and explosions heard within will make you jump and feel impactful when fired, especially during the film’s nerve-wracking finale. Though I will admit, the soundtrack was a little questionable at times given it didn’t always match the vibe that the film is trying to capture. The tone feels very realistic and not overdone in terms of its message on how society has become fundamentally desensitized to violence. There is no glorification that tries to justify the events that unfold for either side of the setting’s parties.
It has been quite some time since Kirsten Dunst has appeared in a big box-office film, but her return gives quite a stoic but compelling performance as a jaded but acclaimed war photographer, who is known for her striking imagery depicted in this film’s stance on American history. Cailee Spaeny continues her recent streak of success as an aspiring war photojournalist heavily inspired by Dunst’s character, who takes her along the ride as her protégé and has great dialogue exchanges with her.
Alex Garland has an extensive filmography with previous films such as “Annihilation” and “Ex Machina,” serving as critically acclaimed hits in his career. When it was announced that his name would be attached to the project, many cinephiles were excited to see what he would bring to the table. However, average moviegoers may find themselves to be a little dissatisfied with his direction for this film. While it is well-paced and certainly does not feel like a film under 100 minutes, the main issue this film suffers from is its lack of exploration. It has an interesting sense of world-building and potential to set up interesting discussions on crafting a modern narrative with depth without leaning into controversy. The film avoids exploring the fictional ideologies that could’ve been shown, which can be confusing to analyze or even hard to follow for some viewers and, in some cases, undersells its emotional core.
As it reaches the finale, a lot of the scenes depicted make for great discussions on how filmmakers should approach the genre of war, military and neo-political films, for the future ahead. It is not an easy film to sit through, given that the imagery can be unbearable for those who are sensitive to graphic violence, but it works for those who are looking to understand the way journalism can influence our stance on the environment around different regions. “Civil War” may have some structural flaws when discussing why conflict is occurring, but it remains a gripping exploration into warfare on the home front with its powerful performances and frighteningly down-to-earth tone.
