Zero is enthralling when it’s not too familiar, and is enjoyable for anyone seeking an intense story that rejects subtlety to make its points abundantly clear.
Director: Jean Luc Herbulot
Genre: Action, Political Thriller
Run Time: 88′
Rated: R
U.S. Release: April 11, 2025 in select theaters and on digital & VOD
U.K. Release: July 25, 2025 in cinemas / August 11, 2025 on digital platforms
“This is not a country, it’s a disease.”
Cinema is a powerful artform that has been harnessed for the purposes of political commentary, philosophical inquiry, religious indoctrination, and more. Alternatively, people often use cinema as a means of escape from anxiety-inducing news headlines, or from their everyday work and family stresses. Director Jean Luc Herbulot’s latest thriller, Zero, fits the first category.
The story of two American men who wake up in Dakar, Senegal with time bombs strapped to their chests is anything but serene. It hinges on political commentary and social unrest. Despite being somewhat derivative, it is a well written and gripping movie.
The American protagonists are only known as #1 (Hus Miller) and #2 (Cameron McHarg). They’re guided by an incognito man (Willem Dafoe, of Nosferatu) whose voice haunts their phones and dictates five tasks they must complete before their bombs’ timers reach zero. Each task is carefully orchestrated to force the Americans into violent and traumatic situations, all of which result in protesting and chaos throughout the city. Dafoe’s faceless puppet master evokes Jigsaw in the Saw franchise, yet he is more purposeful than the iconic horror antagonist.
Zero captures the sprawling climate of Dakar with several establishing shots, drone footage, and frantic POV sequences of the Americans running through the capital’s cluttered alleyways. From the first scene, Herbulot’s focus on portraying Senegal and its people’s lifestyles is clear; it becomes more direct in the third act with Daniel’s (Gary Dourdan, of Alien Resurrection) overtly political yet emotional monologue. Embedded within this fast-paced thriller is an exploration of how American politics impact the livelihood of people around the world.
The story, seen through #1’s eyes, unfolds in an increasingly complex and inter-connected plot. Everyone he encounters has some part to play in the machinations of the incognito puppet master, and their reasons for carrying out this plan are deeply personal. As #1 and #2 meet new players in this frantic game, they learn just how much impact their tasks have on Senegal and the rest of the world. The main characters’ backstories are developed adequately throughout Zero’s brisk runtime; they serve as the anchor to #1 and #2’s motivations and uncompromising brutality in completing their tasks.
Tropes abound, however. (The rest of this paragraph contains spoilers!) Providing good personal histories does not excuse the movie from typical thriller plot points. The most frustrating of these is a second act side plot in which the main characters seek help from an expert on bomb technology; newsreels, flashbacks, and the question of which wire to cut stall Zero from its otherwise frenzied pace. Though this sequence sets up for a vital moment in the third act, it leans too heavily into thriller clichés to remain engaging.
Political commentary is the primary focus of Zero, though Herbulot weaves in religious and philosophical musings as well. Because of its unique location and characters, the common indictments of American politics and white culture don’t feel trite. Nothing new or innovative is conveyed through Zero’s blatant political messaging; it instead functions as a new iteration of cinema as commentary on current events. It echoes Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb and The Courier, but with a more sinister personal threat. It’s enthralling when it’s not too familiar, and overall is an enjoyable watch for anyone seeking an intense story that rejects subtlety to make its points abundantly clear.
Zero: Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
Two American men wake up in Dakar, Senegal with time bombs strapped to their chests. They must follow the directions of a mysterious voice on the phone before the bomb’s 10-hour timer runs out. Each task becomes more dangerous and results in political unrest across Dakar.
Pros:
- A fast-paced and engaging story
- Direct and uncompromising in its political messaging
Cons:
- Features too many thriller tropes
- The second act distracts from the film’s premise
Zero in UK cinemas on July 25, 2025 and on digital platforms on August 11. In the U.S., the film is now available to watch on digital and VOD.
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