The Order
Nicholas Hoult in The Order
Sometimes, a film doesn’t just tell a story — it holds up a mirror to the world, reflecting horrors that feel eerily familiar. The Order, starring Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult, isn’t just a pulse-pounding crime thriller. It’s a haunting exploration of extremism, wrapped in a package of bank heists, FBI chases, and ideological warfare.
Set in the Pacific Northwest, The Order follows veteran FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) as he hunts down a group of criminals pulling off a string of high-profile robberies. But this isn’t your typical heist crew. Husk quickly realises that these aren’t thieves out for quick cash — they’re domestic terrorists driven by white supremacist ideology. Inspired by the real-life far-right group that emerged in the 1980s, this story is as much a psychological horror as it’s a crime thriller.
A Western-Style Descent into Chaos
The Order opens with a series of brazen bank robberies and armoured car heists that echo the stagecoach holdups of classic Westerns. But this isn’t the Wild West — it’s the Pacific Northwest, and the criminals aren’t just after money. Jude Law plays Terry Husk, a veteran FBI agent who becomes obsessed with the theory that these crimes are the work of a dangerous domestic terror group. Law’s portrayal of an overstressed, obsessive investigator is magnetic, grounding the film in a gritty realism that fans of Sicario will appreciate.
Nicholas Hoult, meanwhile, is a revelation as the charismatic yet terrifying leader of the group. His character, a white supremacist hellbent on revolution, is a chilling exploration of how charm and ideology can be weaponised. The film’s Western-esque tone, complete with high-stakes shootouts and a WACO-inspired finale, keeps the tension high, but it’s the underlying themes that leave a lasting impact.
Prophetic in the Worst Way
Few films manage to feel this disturbingly relevant. The Order isn’t just another true-crime adaptation; it’s a chilling reminder of how fiction can fuel real-world horrors. The group in the film takes its ideology from The Turner Diaries, a racist novel that has long been a blueprint for white nationalist violence.
In Australia, where reports of antisemitic attacks have surged in recent years, The Order hits particularly hard. The film doesn’t just expose the rise of extremism — it forces audiences to confront how these ideas take root and spread. It’s impossible to watch this movie without thinking about the state of the world right now.
A Divisive Yet Necessary Conversation
The Order is not without its flaws. Some viewers may find its unflinching portrayal of racism and extremism difficult to watch, while others may argue that it risks glorifying the very ideologies it seeks to condemn. The film’s exploration of American left-wing versus right-wing politics could also make it a divisive watch, particularly in today’s polarised climate.
Yet, these challenges are also what make The Order so necessary. It forces audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about the world we live in, and the ease with which hatred can spread.
In a world where fiction often feels like a premonition, The Order delivers a chilling reminder that the most dangerous weapons aren’t guns or bombs — they’re ideas.
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