I felt tense from the first scene until the very end!
A House of Dynamite is Kathryn Bigelow’s latest tense and ambitious thriller. The story follows a possible nuclear strike, told three times from different points of view. First through the eyes of military officers trying to understand the threat, then from the soldiers on the missile base, and finally from the President and his advisors. Each version changes what we think we know and raises the tension higher. It’s a simple story told in a complex and emotional way.
The music, composed by Volker Bertelmann, gives the film its pulse. Bertelmann, who won the Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front and was nominated for Lion and Conclave, creates an excellent score and a heartbeat rhythm that never stops. The music is not background noise, it leads the story. It makes every silence louder and every moment heavier. The sound becomes part of the emotion, pulling you deeper into the fear and confusion of the situation.
Rebecca Ferguson gives one of her strongest performances yet as the President’s security advisor. She plays her role with calm intensity, showing strength on the outside and fear underneath. Ferguson has a sharp, quiet presence that fits perfectly with Bigelow’s direction. You can see the weight of her decisions on her face, even when she says nothing.
Bigelow focuses on details. Every movement feels important, every cut designed to increase the pressure. The film captures what fear looks like when people are trying to stay professional.
The structure of telling the same story from three different angles works beautifully at first. It keeps the story moving and gives new meaning to each event. The first version is logical, the second is emotional, the third is moral. Together they form a complete picture of power and responsibility. The repetition adds weight instead of boredom. It feels like watching truth shift under stress.
The ending, though, is where the film loses strength. After so much buildup, it ends quietly and without resolution. It leaves questions open, which might be intentional, but it feels like the story simply stops.
Still, A House of Dynamite is a remarkable film. Kathryn Bigelow proves again she is one of the best at creating tension and realism. Rebecca Ferguson gives a powerful performance, and Volker Bertelmann’s music turns every frame into a living pulse. Even with its weak ending, it’s a gripping, unforgettable experience.