The Daily Star Ireland
If you’re looking for a gripping thriller to end 2024 or begin 2025, The Order offers a tense and unsettling experience. This film, based on the non-fiction book The Silent Brotherhood by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt, delves into a haunting 1980s case that will leave you wanting to explore more about it.
Directed by Australian filmmaker Justin Kurzel, known for bringing real-life events to the big screen in films like Snowtown, True History of the Kelly Gang, and Nitram, The Order is a tightly scripted thriller. Kurzel expertly contrasts flawed characters with stunning natural landscapes, resulting in a film that stands alongside classics like The French Connection, Serpico, and The Parallax View.
The film stars Jude Law in a powerful performance as Terry Husk, an FBI agent who has relocated to an outpost in Idaho, hoping to escape the toll that his previous undercover work has taken on his personal life. However, his peace is short-lived. Husk soon becomes obsessed with investigating a local white supremacist group he believes is behind a series of crimes, including counterfeiting, bank robberies, and bombings. The group’s leader, Bob Matthews, played by Nicholas Hoult in one of his best roles, is recruiting for violent action across the United States after breaking away from another neo-Nazi faction.
Law, during the film’s premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, described the project as a timely exploration of contemporary issues through the lens of past events. This sentiment rings true, as the film resonates with present-day concerns, despite being set in the past.
Despite its relevance and powerful storytelling, The Order faced significant challenges in its production, with director Kurzel and screenwriter Zach Baylin (known for King Richard and Creed III) struggling to secure financing and meet tight schedules. Yet, once all the pieces fell into place, the film emerged as an impressive achievement.
In an era where numerous noteworthy films often go unnoticed due to oversaturation in the market, The Order deserves more recognition. Not only does it deserve to be seen, but it also serves as a crucial warning about the dangers of ignoring such films.
