A series of bank robberies and car heists frightened communities in the Pacific Northwest. A lone FBI agent believes that the crimes were not the work of financially motivated criminals, but rather a group of dangerous domestic terrorists.
Chuck says:
In 2023, the Southern Poverty Law Center recognized over 1,400 active hate groups in the United States. Presents in every part of the country, these factions tend to attract low-income, non-college educated individuals who, in recent years, have fallen victim to economic forces out of their control. Their anger due to their plight is fanned by the racist propaganda espoused by these groups. What with the growth of the Rust Belt and skyrocketing inflation, it’s no wonder membership in these organizations has swelled, their ranks multiplying at an alarming rate.
Director Justin Kurzel has stated the events of January 6th was the impetus for his making “The Order,” a fact-based look at the F.B.I.s efforts to take down a hate group in the Pacific Northwest. Fascinating, yet sobering, the script by Zach Baylin, Gary Gerhardt and Kevin Flynn is uncommonly smart, delving into how desperate people are swayed to follow a hateful doctrine but also how those who hunt them are changed as well.
Taking place in the early 1980’s, agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) has been sent to Washington State in response to a rash of bank robberies that have taken place. Prone to drink and in poor health, he’s estranged from his family though he clings to the vain hope his wife and children will soon join him. He finds resistance from local law enforcement, but discovers an ally in Jaime Bowden (Tye Sheridan), a young officer with few ties to the community. He’s suspicious of many of the locals but hasn’t had any back up to act.
The film alternates between Husk’s efforts and scenes devoted to Bob Matthews (Nicholas Hoult), a disgruntled follower of a right-wing church. Frustrated with their lack of action to help him and others struggling to get by, he sets out to form his own organization, one that will take decisive action to address their grievances. He finds there are more than enough people who will follow him in supporting The Order.
The dichotomy between Husk and Matthews is plain. Though their ideologies are different, the determination each displays in achieving their goals is similar. The former has no problem bending the law. Having combated the KKK in the past, he’s well aware of the dire actions necessary to stop groups such as these. Meanwhile, Matthews, suffering from the beginnings of a messiah complex, claims to be a devout family man though his actions towards others hardly portray him as kind. That their devotion to their causes leads to the ruination of their respective families is not surprising.
Taking to robbing banks to finance The Order’s proposed revolution, this gives Kurzel the opportunity to stage two gripping set pieces. A scheme involving bomb threats occurring while a bank robbery is taking place provides a sense of mounting tension that’s compelling while a latter sequence devoted to an armored car heist is equally thrilling. While these moments are gripping, Kurzel never flinches from showing the physical and psychological toll they take on Husk and his co-workers.
Law immerses himself in his role, putting his movie star persona to the side to bring this grizzled, tortured man to life. Sheridan is equally fine, embracing his character’s sense of righteousness with the proper youthful zeal. Jurnee Smollett, though underused, also impresses as Agent Carney, a woman determined not only to bring in her prey but also prove her worthiness.
Hoult continues to impress, the diverse roles in the movies he’s appeared in this year a display of his versatility. Whether as the conflicted juror in Clint Eastwood’s “Juror # 2,” the haunted real estate agent in Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu,” or his work here, the young actor embraces the complexity of each part, approaching them with an earnestness that’s captivating. As Matthews, his quiet but powerful sense of charisma is at the fore, displaying a conviction and passion that’s indicative of someone with the ability to sway and lead those who are vulnerable and weak. You can’t take your eyes off him.
As compelling as “The Order” is, what you walk away with is a sense of alarm. That groups such as the titular organization continue to grow says a great deal about the state of our nation. Hate is the catalyst for many, while those who might oppose it have become viewed as the enemy. This surreal turn of events is frightening and all too real, “The Order” providing a fearsome reflection of what we’ve become.
3 1/2 Stars
