“A House of Dynamite” by Kathryn Bigelow on Netflix: what if a nuclear attack fell on the United States?
It was at the Venice Film Festival on September 2. Those who were present that morning at the press screening of “A House of Dynamite” by Kathryn Bigelow will long remember this exit from the room, with silent, stunned journalists seeking air once the doors of the large Darsena room opened. All aware of having experienced an astonishing sensation of confinement and suffocation upon viewing this feature film, launched this Friday on Netflix.
Because, with rare exceptions, the 1h52 of the film takes place entirely in enclosed spaces, with an extraordinarily high level of tension. “A House of Dynamite” imagines the worst: the sudden attack of a nuclear missile of unknown origin heading towards the United States. All American radars and warning systems will then turn bright red, and leaders, soldiers and specialists in state emergency cells will only have a few hours to react.
Different places and points of view
Firstly, the goal is to find out if this attack is a decoy or real, then to try to identify the country from which it originated. Then, as the minutes pass, they will have to locate the precise location in North American territory where the missile is supposed to fall – it is a large city which we leave you the surprise -, then do everything to explode it in flight, before finally considering the final decision, the worst, which belongs in fine to the president: whether or not to launch a counterattack, which would result in a global nuclear conflict.
If the filmmaker has ensured that the tension is so extreme from start to finish, it is through a remarkable idea of staging and editing: the fateful minutes are successively told from different places and points of view: among others, the crisis unit triggered in the event of such an emergency, a military command post in the Middle East, the office of the President of the United States… Audio elements or elements taking place off-camera are revealed in front of the camera later.
Each position is “embodied” by a different character and actor. In this game, three actors particularly stand out: Jared Harris, who plays the general in chief of the armed forces, Idris Elba in the skin of the American president… And, above all, Rebecca Ferguson, breathtakingly responsible for the crisis unit: it is above all through her, in the front row to follow on the radars the threatening object which is approaching, and who is responsible for informing the president of the course of events, that the tension and the emotional charge passes.
The mastery of Kathryn Bigelow
Especially since each of these decision-makers or high-ranking officers, if they are bound by secrecy, must at the same time urgently manage the consequences of the crisis on their personal relationships. Most — including the American president — have family or loved ones who live in or near the city threatened by the missile: that adds to the stress.
For film buffs, a pleasure combines with the extreme quality of the film: that of finding Kathryn Bigelow at her best. The Oscar-winning director, who had amazed us so much in the past with her flagship works such as “Point Break”, “Minesweepers” or “Zero Dark Thirty”, had disappointed with her previous film, “Detroit”.
Here she is back at a very high level: she demonstrates undeniable mastery in all registers, directing, editing, direction of actors, and even beyond by giving the viewer food for thought on the consequences of the nuclear armada developed by many countries in the world.
There remains a pitfall, directly linked to the director’s biases. Those who are lucky enough to have seen “A House of Dynamite” on the big screen – in Venice or elsewhere – particularly appreciated the fact that confinement in a cinema directly contributes to the suffocating sensations, similar to those experienced by the characters, experienced continuously during the almost two hours of the film.
Not sure that at home, on your couch, with the possibility of taking some downtime, the experience will be the same. So, some advice to fully enjoy it: before starting the film, close doors and windows, create a cocoon around your screen and, above all, never press “pause”…
« A House of Dynamite », American thriller by Kathryn Bigelow, with Rebecca Ferguson, Idris Elba, Jared Harris, Greta Lee… 1 h 52. Available October 24 on Netflix.
Hi! I’m Renato Lopes, an electric vehicle enthusiast and the creator of this blog dedicated to the future of clean, smart, and sustainable mobility. My mission is to share accurate information, honest reviews, and practical tips about electric cars—from new EV releases and battery innovations to charging solutions and green driving habits. Whether you’re an EV owner, a curious reader, or someone planning to make the switch, this space was made for you.
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