‘The Order’ is a Provocative Thriller that Fires on all Cylinders

The Order

★ ★ ★ ★

‘‘The Order’ is based on a true story and the 1989 book, The Silent Brotherhood by Kevin Flynnand and Gary Gerhard. It is set in early 1980s western Idaho and eastern Washington where a domestic terrorist group known as “The Order” is slowly amassing a fortune to build an army by committing a series of robberies.

The film begins with a Jewish disc jockey from Colorado, Alan Berg (Marc Maron) verbally duking it out with antisemitic callers. He was well known for challenging antisemitism and eventually the Order viewed him as a threat, which led to his execution in 1984 – effectively portrayed in this film.

FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) works out of a small Idaho field office and has noticed a pattern in recent bank robberies, armored car heists and counterfeit bills. He engages local law enforcement. Sheriff Loftlin (Philip Granger) seems more concerned with keeping the peace in his small town than mixing it up with this terrorist group.

Jude Law as FBI Agent Terry Husk
© 2024 Vertical

Undeterred, Husk continues his investigation with the help of sheriff deputy Jamie Bowen (Tye Sheridan). Together, the two begin gathering evidence, investigating the robberies and counterfeit operation. The closer they get to the Order and group leader, Robert Jay Matthews (Nicholas Hoult), the more tense the story becomes.

This film is gritty, intense and immediately immerses us into the story and keeps our attention as its events unfold. The acting is superb with breakout performances by Sheridan and Hoult.

Cinematographer Adam Arkapaw exquisitely captures the beautiful landscape of the Pacific Northwest while setting the dreary dark tone this story requires. It’s a delicate balance pulled off incredibly well.

The bank and armored car heists are thrilling and pull you right in. The way these sequences are shot gives them an authentic, realistic feel that is on par with the intense dramatic tone this movie delivers.

What is also noteworthy is how the script authentically fleshes out each character. Whether we agree with their actions or not, we understand their motivations and why they do what they do. This depiction makes them feel very real and enhances the depth of the film.

I don’t know how authentic the film is to the actual true story, or the book that inspired it, but the filmmaking is top notch – firing on every cylinder.

Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama