Heat in the Pacific Northwest with a Side of Extremist Nihilism.

Justin Kurzel’s The Order feels like Heat met True Detective, grabbed a Sigur Rós score, and then decided to hang out in a moody 1980s Pacific Northwest where white supremacists are blowing up banks instead of roasting marshmallows. It’s dark, tense, and uncomfortably prescient. Oh, and in case you were wondering: yes, Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult nail their roles so well that you might start questioning if the Brits should handle all American crime thrillers.

Law plays Terry Husk, a weary FBI agent with a tragic backstory and a moral com that barely works after decades in the field. Hoult, on the other hand, brings an unsettling charisma as the fanatical leader of a white supremacist group, proving once again that his “Nicholas Hoult Renaissance” is in full swing. Watching these two clash is a masterclass in tension, with Kurzel keeping the suspense so tight you could cut it with Law’s jawline.

The action is grounded and intense—think Michael Mann-style shootouts without the Hollywood gloss. The cinematography captures the eerie beauty of rural America, while the haunting score makes every scene feel like the calm before a very chaotic storm. Sure, the ending feels a bit rushed (Kurzel, we needed five more minutes), and the film skims over some of the deeper roots of radicalism. But the tight pacing and gripping narrative more than make up for it.

Let’s not overlook the film’s political commentary, which reminds us that the kind of extremism it portrays isn’t just historical—it’s still very much alive. That’s the real chill here.

The Order is a lean, mean, pulse-pounding machine. A little flawed? Sure. But who cares when it’s this thrilling? Watch it for the performances, the suspense, and to remind yourself that Jude Law really is that good.

P.S: Included in 'Favorites of 2024'