Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite is a fearless, gripping thriller that reflects the instability of today’s political climate.
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Genre: Thriller, War
Run Time: 112′
Rated: R
Venice World Premiere: September 2, 2025
Release Date: October 24, 2025
Where to Watch: Stream it globally on Netflix
On July 1st, 1968, the United Nations ruled in favor of a select number of international powers having access to a nuclear arsenal. Almost 60 years later, the looming threat of nuclear warfare remains the leading concern among military experts and political campaigns across the world. But what are we doing to prevent this geopolitical powderkeg from destroying us all? Kathryn Bigelow’s admirably tense, high-stakes thriller A House of Dynamite may not have the answers, but it certainly knows how to ask the questions.
The action picks up right away in A House of Dynamite; when an unidentified missile is detected passing over the United States, three separate branches of government race against the clock to protect their country and decide upon the suitable next steps. The film explores each of these perspectives separately, detailing the twenty minutes of chaos from each department before jumping back in time and undertaking it all again through a different lens.
This unique structure is both A House of Dynamite’s most admirable feature and its biggest weakness. The first chapter of the film is brilliant, showcasing Bigelow’s proven ability to spark tension from the simplest of concepts and keep it steadily building throughout the runtime. While Barry Ackroyd’s tight cinematography hugs the characters and they dart through the White House as alarms flare in the background, audiences will find themselves hooked from the very first minute. But when the screen fades to black and the second chapter goes right back to square one, A House of Dynamite makes the mistake of finally letting the audience breathe out.
As soon as the film offers this moment of levity and brings new characters into the fray, much of the initial tension dissolves – and Bigelow struggles to recreate it since the audience already knows how the next twenty minutes are going to unfold. But it’s also clear that the specifics of this story aren’t Bigelow’s priority; she’s not trying to make the audience wonder what’s coming, but rather make them question why it’s happening. This triptych storytelling really helps A House of Dynamite explore this question in real depth, from conflicting perspectives – but it also demands a lot of patience from the viewer.
But when A House of Dynamite is at its best, the film absolutely soars. Bigelow’s screenplay offers an effective balance of technical, plot-heavy dialogue and simpler, more character-driven storytelling that not only makes it easy for the audience to understand what’s happening, but gives them a clear reason to care about it. Every single member of the ensemble cast is on the top of their game, offering raw, vulnerable performances that let the viewer into a story that otherwise could have been emotionally impenetrable.
The technical aspects of A House of Dynamite are equally strong. The handheld camerawork places the viewer directly into the chaos of the story, creating a very immersive atmosphere that’s mirrored by the crackling sound design and high-speed editing. This is the kind of film that begs to be seen in theatres, not just because of the impressive visuals, but because when experienced without any distractions, A House of Dynamite is truly impossible to look away from.
It’s hard to pick a true standout of A House of Dynamite’s ensemble, but Rebecca Ferguson and Jared Harris’ rich, empathetic performances really leave an impression. They perfectly capture the emotions of somebody reckoning with the end of life as they know it, and while both characters deal with this impending chaos in very different ways, the actors’ approaches are equally sensational.
In the press conference following A House of Dynamite’s first screening, Kathryn Bigelow expressed that her film is “an invitation to decide what to do with all these weapons” – and she certainly succeeds on that count. The film may be flawed in its structure, and the ending may not have the political bite that many will be expecting, but it carefully navigates this impossible question in a way that should spark some meaningful discussion about the ongoing instability of the world we live in.
A House of Dynamite: Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
When a single, unattributed missile is launched at the United States, a race begins to determine who is responsible and how to respond.
Pros:
- Excellent performances from the entire ensemble, who are each given ample time to shine.
- Expert use of tension to gradually ramp up the stakes of the film and keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
- Overt, in-depth political commentary that aims to spark crucial discussions about nuclear development and atomic warfare.
Cons:
- An awkward three-act structure that stunts the otherwise powerful momentum.
- A repetitive story that dilutes the force of the political commentary.
A House of Dynamite had its World Premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 2, 2025 and will be available to stream globally on Netflix on October 24.
