Alex Garland has had a very interesting career. From Ex Machina to Annihilation, to Men, Garland has tackled so much in such a short time, and his latest, and perhaps final, directorial effort is a worthy addition. Civil War, Garland’s latest film is a breakneck-paced 100-minute thriller that leaves you shaken up by what you’ve witnessed. His horrifying depiction of a not-too-distant future America is nothing short of chilling and is a cautionary tale of what could happen. Alex Garland has crafted a must-see movie that is not only quintessential viewing in 2024, when America is at a turning point politically, but it’s also a fantastic moviegoing experience that needs to be seen in IMAX.

Garland’s writing and directing, while not his VERY best, is still leaps and bounds better than most other mainstream films. He carefully crafted the story of a post-apocalyptic world and gives us a group of characters that are worth rooting for. While the film is deeply rooted in politics, Garland writes the story to appear neutral on the surface, but it’s still clear the story leans one way more than the other. He does this by telling the story through the perspective of journalists, who are meant to be unbiased in their work. Doing this makes Civil War stand out from so many other dystopian future movies and it’s a welcome change.

Garland assembled an all-star cast here and doesn’t disappoint. Kirsten Dunst is phenomenal in this, showing us how a journalist hardened by war can open themselves up again to the right people. She is the perfect actress to lead this movie and I can’t see anyone else doing it. Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny and Stephen McKinley Henderson are also great supporting players, with Moura being the standout of the main group for me. However, it’s Jesse Plemons who arguably gives the film’s best performance as a cold-blooded white supremacist murderer whose depiction seems to be channeling the ruthless Todd Alquist character from Breaking Bad. This scene, funnily enough, is probably the best example of a world divided in the film, despite the story being told through an unbiased lens. It’s chilling and terrifying.

Civil War is A24’s most expensive film and it shows. Every set is huge, filled with so much detail and presented in the most cinematic scope possible. Everything from the first riot to a riveting final battle in Washington shows that no expense was spared and every penny was well spent. Garland and his crew seem to use a lot of practical effects with this budget as opposed to extensive CGI and green screens, which makes the film look and feel more grounded in our world, further adding to the chilling realism looming over the film. Each stunt, explosion and set piece feels real and horrifying. Excellent stuff from Garland and A24.

The social commentary and discussions this film will spark are likely going to be the biggest headlines Civil War makes. The perspective Garland takes is very much a dramatized version of a certain orange buffoon and his MAGA followers. Many people will feel as if it’s negatively targeted towards them but unfortunately, with America very much at a boiling point, the prospect of an actual civil war occurring is on my bingo card. I think Garland is trying to show, in a very exaggerated way, what it will look like should we get to this point in life. It’s very much a plea for peace and common sense in a 90-minute movie. No matter what side you are on politically, the message should ring loud and clear.

If Civil War is truly Alex Garland’s final film as a director, then he went out on a high. It’s a return to form for him as a director that needs to be seen. It’s a chilling, pulse-pounding story that you’ll never look away from. The message embedded amongst all the chaos and road trip montages is one that’s never been more important and should be a wake-up call to what our world might look like soon.