A new war film hailed as potentially one of the “best war films in British cinematic history” will hit screens this week. Warfare, written and directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland, is based on the former’s experience serving in the Iraq War and follows a group of US Navy SEALs in real-time as they embark on a dangerous assignment through enemy territory.

The film is largely based on the soldier Mendoza (D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai) and his best friend Elliot Miller (Cosmo Jarvis), who were sent on a deadly mission to the city of Ramadi where Miller was seriously injured while engaging in combat. The movie is dedicated to Miller.

Its all-star cast includes Will Poulter, Charles Melton, Joseph Quinn, Kit Connor and Michael Gangolfini.

The film is already receiving glowing reviews ahead of its much-anticipated release.

Joel Searls of Miltary.com said: “Warfare is one of the best war movies of the post-9/11 era. In all likelihood, it will end up ranking as one of the best action war movies in cinematic history.”

Done Kaye of Moviefone commented: “Warfare manages to bring forth the real cost of war for every human being involved with an incredible level of detail, horror, and authenticity. It’s brutal – as it should be.”

BBC’s Caryn James awarded it five stars in her review, dubbing it: “A brilliantly executed war movie.”

Alex Godfrey from Empire rated it five stars, praising the film’s “no showy visual flourishes – just lean, mean storytelling”.

Rotten Tomatoes also gave Warfare an impressive 94% review.

The sought-after young male cast was sent to boot camp to train as their characters would.

Quinn told GQ: “It was pretty funny. It was a little boarding school for boys, for bad boys, out in the middle of nowhere.

“We did lots of weapons training, physical drills, and leadership tasks and tried to foster this culture of camaraderie. When I say try – we didn't have to try very hard.

“Ray [Mendoza) said: ‘It's up to you guys to create the culture here.’ So we took the guys out and we had some laughs – but in the actual participating of the boot camp, it was long days.”

The film’s official UK release date is April 18.