War Genre

War films are often associated with loud explosions and gunshots, heroic men, and flashy action. Deep down, war films are stories that are made or inspired by true events just like any other film genre. War films help depict the gritty and dark nature of humanity, exposing some uncomfortable truths, while sometimes serving as propaganda. These films are often targeted toward the younger male adult demographic.

Content

War films are often comprised of key elements, that include, tension, action, and drama. Tension in a war film is that feeling you get when you know something is coming, whether it be a random explosion or a declaration of war.

Tension is used to keep the audience, particularly men, on the edge of their seats in anticipation of what will happen next.

Action is the driving force that keeps audiences coming back for more, everybody loves a good action sequence, particularly because it boosts your adrenaline as you watch the hero sneak past enemy lines. Action sequences usually follow tense sequences.

Drama is an extremely important factor in making a war film. It's not enough to just have loud noises and flashes effects, but also a well-written story that takes time to develop its main characters. Dramatic sequences where the main character loses his or her life can pull at the heartstrings of the audience. A film is an art form and art is supposed to evoke an emotional reaction from the audience, dramatic sequences incorporate this well as they help audiences bond over the characters displayed on the screen, having the audience leave the theater thinking about their new favorite character.

Dunkirk, 1917, and Saving Private Ryan, use these three elements effectively.

Production Techniques

Using long takes is an effective way to add a sense of realism to a war film. If a film uses too many cuts, the audience is less likely to connect since they are constantly reminded of the fact that they are watching a movie. The war film 1917 uses this technique very well, as it is one of the key points that people bring up when watching this film. 1917's storyline is set to the exact time of the runtime, so if 5 minutes pass in the movie, 5 minutes pass within the context of the story. 1917 uses many "hidden cuts" as it is not practical to shoot 2 hours of footage without any breaks. These hidden cuts are used to prevent the audience from noticing that the camera has cut a shot, and to keep the audience engaged in the film while adding a sense of realism.

Another important technique is sound design, whether it be artificial or foley. The sound design also adds realism if done properly. Sound can be used to represent moments of grief, fear, and triumph, among other things. When the main character fires the final shot killing the antagonist, you will often hear a triumphant score in the background. This is done to add layers to the emotion within a film. It is one thing to see something happen, but to feel it through sound is a whole other level of immersion.

How is Genre Marketed

The war genre is often targeting younger male adults since violence and action are heavily preferred in the media consumption of this group. When a war film is marketed, specifically through the trailer, there is a heavy focus on the action aspect, rather than the emotional aspect. Most war film trailers include heavy amounts of violence including, gunshots, swearing, and explosions.
Even though war films are targeting men, that does not mean that war films don't have their own female demographic that enjoys them, despite this, since men are the vast majority of the audience, the marketing team behind these films make sure to bring their main audience of men to the theater.

Sample 1

All Quiet On The Western Front (2022)

All Quiet On The Western Front is a 2022 war film that follows Paul Baumer and his classmates as they enlist to join the German army in World War I. This film tells its story through the lens of young German soldiers to highlight the tragedies and horrors war has to offer.
This film embodies this genre since it has a heavy focus on the dramatic element of war, and how it affects the minds of those in it, particularly once-happy young men. It does not shy away from heavy activities such as explosions, gunfire, and shootouts.