'Civil War' Review: Could This Really Happen?

Through a fictional civil war, Alex Garland shows what America really is.

The American Dream is a concept that has latched on the United States of America since the 1930s. However, the idea of America being this ideal land for people to start a fresh life has been subliminally layered in its history since Columbus encroached on that land in the late 1400s. This idea that we live on land that is a glorified proclamation of what life should be like everywhere is something that will never go away, and maybe that is where all the country's problems stem from.

Alex Garland's Civil War showcases what a civil war in modern America would look like. Following four journalists on their way to interview the president in D.C., fighting, division, and death loom through their 800-mile journey as America stands unrest. While it might seem like a silly concept derived from the Has Fallen series starring Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman, Civil War is actually an ambitious depiction of what America could look like someday. There is forceful imagery of shootings, bombings, and violence flaring throughout this film in a blurring journey that tests your emotions. It is bone-chilling through and through.

Now, you cannot have an impact without creating some context in the situation, a design Garland overlooks in this A24 production. In the film's setting, America splits into four groups: the Loyalist states, the Western Forces, the Florida Alliance, and the New People's Army. Yet only the Loyalists and Western Forces are heavily showcased, and the script hardly scratches the surface regarding why America is in a civil war. Although maybe that is the point. So many Americans turn away from significant world events, dismissing the challenges of other countries because they are living comfortably. It is a blessing to live in America; that is very true. Yet, you would be wrong saying that most Americans genuinely care about what is happening outside of The American Dream bubble. Most Americans take what is on the news and run with that, hence why Civil War follows four journalists, not civilians. So, what would happen if America went to war? Would other countries help? Garland does not show that because when has America truly helped other countries in need? Palestine, Congo, and other countries are suffering at this moment, and America just sits here worrying about TikTok (Links for information about the mentioned countries and how to help are embedded).

Civil War is a tough film to discuss because it is so abundant in what it tries to say that it sometimes feels more than a movie. I have not even mentioned the brilliant performances of the cast. Kirsten Dunst is always a star, and it is lovely to see Priscilla actress Cailee Spaeny continue to make waves in the cinema landscape. Plus, the unrestrained visuals and compellingly harsh sound design immerse any audience into this chilling story.

Alex Garland, a man born and raised in England, making a film about an American civil war surprisingly leaves such a thought-provoking impact. Underneath some of its predictability and world-building flaws, Civil War sets off alarms to think about what America stands for right now. Without screaming, "Wake up America!!!," as some other political films do, Garland ensures his message gets across by balancing the classic war genre fundamentals with real-life issues plaguing the world's humans. Watch Civil War because you will think about how you live in this world.