Many war films I have seen mainly revolve around a political platform, or at the very least…are associated with a diplomatic involvement on a bureaucratic level of morality. Whatever the case is, they’ve become teaching tools based on America’s engagement with international leaders for the ultimate power and control. The beauty of a movie such as American Warfighter is that director, writer and star Jerry Angelo, has managed to pull out all that government garbage from the storyline, and focus on the brotherhood between soldiers in combat. So, bring the tissues and take a seat…this will be a tear-jerker.

Rusty “Wolfman” Wittenburg is a fearless sniper with the US NAVY who has experienced firsthand fighting against ISIS in Fallujah, but worse yet…the losses that come with being on the front lines.

Rusty is a compassionate yet damaged family man whose commitment to his squad has seeped into his home life. The internal struggle radiates immediately through intense nightmares brought on by his PTSD.

With the help of his devoted wife Vanessa (a sympathetic performance from Carolina Castro) and his inquisitive daughter, Olivia (the adorable Victoria Clare), Rusty attempts to decipher the meaning from reliving the trauma of losing his comrades through failed rescue attempts and additional “faults” which he blames himself for every night. As he filters through these episodes by discussing with his trusted troop members, he identifies the need for professional help to erase the survivors’ guilt and confusion that muddles his mind daily.

Unfortunately, there is a significant game-changing scene that alters their world completely – the call back for deployment. While all the military families are celebrating together at an afternoon house party, the fun atmosphere literally turns dark and dismal when each gunman’s cell lights up with the alert. Time for a new mission. Time for more of the unknown.

The moody bleakness is overwhelming as the wives and children cry with the fear of never seeing their beloved husbands/fathers again. It is so emotional, compounded with the sorrowful piano score that caresses the sadness. This is the pivotal point of American Warfighter which tests everyone’s mental endurance and stability. How much more can they bear?

As Rusty and the others adapt their mindset into their new desert assignment, it’s clear how the camaraderie and courage to sacrifice themselves for others takes over the forward thinking based on what waits for them back home. While they all try to disguise their vulnerability with macho-ness, that all washes ashore during infiltration and the heroes begin to fall, one by one. It’s painful and shocking to witness the abruptness of horrific deaths, especially after significant character development has been achieved. But that is what extracts the beauty which you wouldn’t expect in a typical war movie – the unrelenting love during the most brutal scenes of battle. It’s horrific, frightening and compelling, but above all – it’s a necessary story to share.