🔥 The Good: First off, the visuals in 4K are STUNNING. Explosions in D.C.? Check. The White House under siege? Absolutely cinematic. Kirsten Dunst delivers a powerhouse performance as war photographer Lee—her weary determination feels painfully real. The film’s unflinching violence and documentary-style pacing (think shaky cam + eerie silences) *do* make war feel visceral and ugly, which seems to be Garland’s goal.

💔 The Bad: That said… the plot? Thin as paper. Why are Texas and California teaming up? Why is the president so cartoonishly evil? The movie shrugs and says, “Don’t ask.” The sound mixing is also bizarre—one minute you’re deafened by gunfire, the next you’re straining to hear dialogue over a random pop song. And that ending? Let’s just say logic takes a vacation.

🎯 Who’s It For? If you want a moody, visually arresting war flick with zero political depth (and don’t mind gaping plot holes), this might work. But if you crave coherent storytelling or nuanced commentary on modern America… maybe skip it.

🍿 Final Verdict: Gorgeous to look at, frustrating to think about. 3/5 stars—mostly for Dunst’s performance and those jaw-dropping action scenes.