The Order

Ever since the popularity of religious cults in our country, there have been follow up films about the rise and ultimate fall of them--whether they be based in fact or fiction. One such case was that of the 1983 situation of a sect that were criminals, but not necessarily religiously as much as they were bent on over-throwing the federal government of the United States simply called "The Order".

In 1983, a series of increasingly violent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations and armored car heists frightened communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. As baffled law enforcement agents including officer Jamie Bowen (Tye Sheridan), and FBI agent Joanne Carney (Jurnee Smollett) scrambled for answers, a lone FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law), stationed in the sleepy, picturesque town of Coer d'Alene, Idaho, came to believe the crimes were not the work of traditional, financially motivated criminals but a group of dangerous domestic terrorists, inspired by a radical, charismatic leader, Bob Mathews (Nicholas Hoult), along with followers, Bruce Pierce (Sebastian Pigott), Gary Yarbrough (George Tchorton), David Lane (Phillip Forest Lewitski) and others, plotting a devastating war against the federal government of the United States. 

Others to round out the cast are Mark Maron as Alan Berg, Sean Tyler Foley as Tony Bentley, Bradley Stryker as Sam Stinson, Philip Granger as Sheriff Loftlin, Daniel Doheny as Walter West, Alison Oliver as Debbie Mathews and Morgan Holmstrom as Kimmy Bowen. 

This was helmed using an interesting treatment of 'cat and mouse' by Justin Kurzel ("The Snowtown Murders" '11, "Macbeth" '15, "Assassin's Creed" '16, "True History of the Kelly Gang" '19, "Nitram" '21, "Ellis Park" '24) plus music videos and a short. This filmmaker has a true ability to encourage his actors to dig deep in order to bring that particular character to the surface so we become convinced that they are the person they are portraying, especially that of Hoult. This film simply showcased the talent of this actor as a convincing whacked out terrorist leader. Kurzel's sequencing, pacing and staging were consummate. It was equally well penned by Zach Baylin ("King Richard" '21, "Creed III" '23, "Gran Turismo" '23, "Bob Marley: One Love" '24, "The Crow" '24) plus a short, based on the book, "Silent Brothers" by Gary Gerhardt and Kevin Flynn. The way this writer wrote the script in a way where the action slowly creeped up into the climax it then met was an effective way to build the suspense in the story where the story culminated in a fight between Mathews and Agent Husk. This really kept the audience on their respective seats certainly from the middle of the story until the end. The performances by Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult were amazing, especially that of Hoult, although he has the tendency to be a chameleon when it comes to choosing the roles he accepts. 

If you like stories based on fact or screenplays that have that cat-and-mouse feel to them, this film is directed toward you. It's gritty, intense, suspenseful all rolled up in a story based in fact. The writing, directing and acting is consummate as it is riveting. 

Out of 4 Stars: 4                                        Rated: R                                          116mins.

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