Kathryn Bigelow presents the film “A House of Dynamite,” a Netflix thriller that plunges viewers into the frantic response of the United States to an impending nuclear attack.
The story presents how exposed America is, with high-ranking officials racing against time when an unknown enemy launches a nuclear missile at the city of Chicago. The president must make an urgent, high-level decision, as there are only minutes for action, and that is the fact-the unsettling reality-that such critical scenarios are rarely rehearsed.
Authenticity led the filmmaking process. Although permission to film in real government facilities was not possible, elaborate sets copied key facilities such as the White House Situation Room and Strategic Command. Aerial camera teams and long takes lend an air of realism, as access afforded Bigelow due to her military connections gave the filmmakers unparalleled consulting insight into the sets.
Bigelow catches the live conversation; audiences get their “Zoom call”-esque viewpoint as dispersed leaders deliberate about the fate of the world. The story unfolds from several perspectives: military bases, the presidential motorcade, and secure conference lines, which heighten the sense of chaos, urgency, and uncertainty.
The ending of this film maintains ambiguity in the president’s final decision, considering the real-world anxiety and ambiguity imbued in nuclear crises. Bigelow invites viewers to contemplate global nuclear threats; she signals, more importantly, dialogue rather than resolution.
“A House of Dynamite” stands as a first-rate thriller, feeding debates on national security and nuclear disarmament, yet riveting audiences with unflinching realism and taut storytelling.
