‘The Order’ Review
Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Jude Law, Tye Sheridan, Marc Maron, George Tchortov, Daniel Yip, Daniel Doheny, Sebastian Pigott, Phillip Forest Lewitski | Written by Zach Baylin, Kevin Flynn, Gary Gerhardt | Directed by Justin Kurzel
Justin Kurzel’s new film The Order acts as a history lesson that remains as relevant as ever, at times too relevant, something that echoes today’s history before us. The film also acts as a sleek detective movie and a crisp action thriller, one the big screen has been missing.
The Order follows the true story of frightened communities throughout the Pacific Northwest America in 1983. Where a series of increasingly violent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations, and armoured car heists are tied to a group of dangerous white supremacists and domestic terrorists, inspired by a radical, charismatic leader (played by Nicholas Hoult). A leader that spreads his hateful, dangerous ideologies to his followers. Tasked with hunting down the terrorist group is Terry Husk (Jude Law), a throwback to gritty roles Law played in the early 2000s, like Road to Perdition, and Enemy at the Gate. Terry Husk is a fictional version of the true FBI agent, the fictionalisation of his character allows Law to play with the character and not be restricted by a real-life person. He plays a classic rough and tough American, someone who’s had a history with war (although never explained) and makes for a great 70s-style character. He teams up with rookie cop Jamie Bowen (Tye Sheridan), and the two make for a great classic duo. Big city cop and small-town rookie is often a cliché in detective films, but here the dynamic works great, with Sheridan’s character representing the other side of small American towns.
Along with Jude Law’s rough, grounded performance is Nicholas Hoult who plays the real-life terrorist Bob Matthews. Hoult has always been a brilliant actor and has had an impressive 12 months, with this performance in Juror #2 and Nosferatu, showcasing his range of talent. Here he has a scary charm to him, an innocence that fronts the dark truth of his nature. Somehow Hoult manages to keep an ever-present darkness in his eyes, that despite the charm, always makes you feel on edge.
The real power of the film lies within its reflection of the world today and makes all its conflict relevant. The fact this is a true story only adds to the fear and tension the film crafts so well. At times it feels like a sleek history lesson with some gritty action mixed in. A police chase on foot has real gravity to it, much like the famous street shootout in Michael Manns Heat, and although not as many bullets are fired in The Order, the weight feels similar, and every bullet thuds with a terrifying reality. The drama of the film all lies within the characters and the history. The story itself plays out rather familiar and does nothing new for the police procedural, but with the history, it makes every scene more engaging.
The Order may come across as a typical police procedural, but its slick cinematography, charismatic cast, and unsettling real-world implications make it more than a by-the-numbers thriller. In the end, it shows the scary side of America, proving that its hateful thoughts come from all over. Even the rivers and mountains that seem peaceful and beautiful are filled with those who hate.
**** 4/5
The Order is available on digital platforms now.
