Let’s be serious. Reality is scarier than fiction.

Set in 2019, The Unrestricted War follows Jim (Dylan Bruce), a top-tier Canadian virologist working in China who believes his medical research will change the world for the better. However, when he and his wife are suddenly arrested by the military, Jim is demanded to do the unthinkable: steal a dangerous sample of his work from his own lab in Winnipeg. And, if he does not comply, his family will face the consequences. If that’s not enough, things begin to spiral out of control when the population of Wuhan begin to fall ill to a new viral infection that proves fatal.

Written and directed by Yan Ma, The Unrestricted War is a wild thriller that can be uncomfortable to watch. While the film feels cohesive, Ma’s War is divided into two primary stories. On the one hand, the film’s family drama drives the story into full-blown conspiracy thriller. On the other, Ma brings the viewer into the chaos of Wuhan’s medical facilities as the yet-unknown COVID-19 begins to truly take hold. It’s these moments in hospital that carry the most impact as many of them feel like footage that burned across the airwaves only a few short years ago. As a result, it’s worth noting that, for those that lost family members or suffered through the darkest days of the pandemic, scenes such as these could be difficult to watch.

And they’re supposed to be.

With each new patient and body bag, Ma wants us to experience the terror that took place during those difficult days. And its these scenes that feel the most authentic. The most real. They’re recent history and they’re meant to be felt.

Though, that’s not to say that the film isn’t fun. Ma’s War also plays out like a pandemic-themed version of Clear and Present Danger. This is the sort of film that leans fully into its twists and turns as characters’ allegiances are constantly called into question. As the film progresses, the lights begin to dim and the shadows begin to grow. Admittedly, Ma borrows from some of cinema’s great espionage thrillers to make this War pop but he does so with enthusiasm and effectiveness.

But, the War doesn’t always run smoothly. (To be fair, what war does?) There are spaces when the dialogue is clunky and the film’s fictional thriller can a bit of a bumpy road, especially during a subplot in Winnipeg that isn’t entirely believable.

Except that it happened.

Although the film never shies away from its fictional voice, it also blurs the lines of reality. Here, some of the film’s wildest storylines are based on Mah’s carefully developed research. Despite the absurdity of the circumstances, moments surrounding the suppression of evidence and yes, that trip to Winnipeg are actually based on real events. Knowing this helps give the film greater credibility, even if some scenes and performances are deliberately embellished for entertainment purposes.

It’s striking that Ma felt the need to tell the story in the way that he does. The Unrestricted War pulls no punches in the accusations that it throws against the Chinese government yet the film never waivers. For the viewer, this too can make for uncomfortable viewing, especially as the world refused to lay blame regarding the cause of the pandemic.

For this reason, The Unrestricted War will prove to be controversial for many. But Ma’s film is fueled by its determination. For him, the War requires ‘bringing truth to the people’ and Ma’s film pushes ahead with fire and focus. One can’t deny that the film is an entertaining ride that believes it has answers to some of the biggest questions of the early days of the pandemic. And deciphering truth from fiction may leave the viewer asking for more.

The Unrestricted War is available in theatres on Friday, May 16th, 2025.