‘House Full of Dynamite’ review: Netflix releases its most intense political thriller with a very risky ending

Director Kathryn Bigelow (On hostile ground) returns after eight years of retirement with the premiere House full of dynamitefrom Netflix. Thus, the Oscar-winning director joins the long list of great directors who have collaborated with the streaming platform: Marty Scorsese, Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuaron, Alex Garland, the Safdie brothers, David Fincher, Spike Lee, the Coen brothers, Aaron Sorkin… This time she does it by returning to her favorite genre – thriller. Although, instead of paying so much attention to the military part, Bigelow now points much more towards political drama.

Story House full of dynamite Focuses on a team of government officials who must face an unprecedented crisis. And one unidentified nuclear missile was launched against the United States. The threat is imminent, and the city of Chicago, as well as the future of world peace, is at risk. A race against time ensues to determine who is responsible and how to act to avoid a nuclear disaster.

Very entertaining “Americana”.

Because it couldn’t be otherwise, a unique vision House full of dynamite This is the United States government. An approach that we have already seen thousands and thousands of times and which turns off many viewers, especially non-American audiences. Because, of course, they are good, keepers of world peace; while their enemies are the ones who can break it and destroy the planet. In short, classic Americana. But please don’t let this way of telling history, no matter how conservative, be an excuse for not seeing it. Because it’s very exciting.

The film starts straight from the point. In a few minutes there will already be a nuclear missile above our heads, and we won’t even know the names and faces of all the characters. The start is a little chaotic, but Bigelow over time, he manages to create a story in a very natural and organic way. While it may seem easy to get lost in the protocols and acronyms of the various teams that must counter the threat, in the end the director balances this out brilliantly. And he decides to boil it down to the fact that people are trying to prevent the apocalypse together.

It doesn’t matter where they work or what position they hold. House full of dynamite This is very solid because within four beats we already understand what their different points of view are. And along with them, internal conflicts that can arise. In addition, the well-coordinated and precise performances of the entire cast, combined with excellent production, help immerse yourself in this wonderful thriller. Even if we are not experts in matters of national defense, nothing more is needed to fully enter the film and feel like another participant in that video meeting on which the fate of the whole world depends.

Voltage through the roof

Great success Kathryn Bigelow With House full of dynamite This involves setting a very high tempo. So much so that, in order not to wear out ahead of time, it forces history to repeat itself several times from the point of view of different participants. Having the already recognizable structure of Rashomon, the film tells the same thing over and over again. But with each repetition, details and nuances are added. And with them, the tension goes through the roof.

When we first see the story, everything seems tense but distant. There are protocols to follow, everything can be calculated and acted upon accordingly. But as things progress, we become more and more involved. Thus, having reached the end of the first version without nails, we return to the beginning with the second installation. And this time, what seemed cold and emotionless now becomes bright. The diabolical momentum of the narrative that the director conveys ensures that by the time the final act arrives, we will be on the edge of our seats, our pulses as fast as those of the main characters.

Risky ending

In any case, what will be talked about a lot is its ending. Throughout the film House full of dynamite maintains constant intrigue: what decision will the President of the United States make. Each main character will try to convince you to do one action or another. But in the end it all falls on him. And now we have come to the end.

The final film, which we are not going to spoil, but which will give the audience very mixed feelings. Kathryn Bigelow The game is played with a risky ending that not everyone will like. In the opinion of the person writing this, it is completely unsatisfactory, although this is a subjective opinion and will be different for each person who watches the film. In any case there is no doubt that the end House full of dynamite This will cause a lot of discussion.

May be House full of dynamite not the best movie Kathryn Bigelowbut it is a very solid and energetic proposal. A fast-paced and well-armed thriller, marked by three-step editing that becomes the best choice for depicting the escalation of tension. It’s worth watching it on the big screen to further enjoy the immersive feeling it creates. But once it hits streaming, it will also be one of Netflix’s biggest releases of 2025.

House full of dynamite It’s currently playing in select theaters worldwide and premieres on Netflix on October 24th.