“It only takes one incident to invoke this generational terror.” - Robin DiAngelo
We’re all taught at a young age the purpose of learning history. To ignore history is to repeat it. I don’t know about you but as a millennial I’ve lived through enough unprecedented moments to know I don’t want to keep this pattern going. Considering the next four years at least I fear I don’t have a choice. But it’s those very history lessons that prepare us for such absurdities like the next decade at least is all but guaranteed to force on us. So while it is a thrilling crime drama, The Order has a constant underlying sadness and frustration that permeates throughout its runtime when you realize the true story it’s based on happened in 1983 and in the year of 2024 it seems as though nothing has changed, certainly not for the better anyway.
To ignore history is to repeat it. What this doesn’t clarify is that not only will history repeat itself, it will get far worse at lengths no one could possibly understand outright.
In 1983 it was an outlier group of white supremacists with ideologies ripped from a book of fiction known as The Turner Diaries that speaks of a fictional, violent revolution in the United States which leads to the overthrow of the federal government, eventual nuclear war and ultimately a race war which leads to the systematic extermination of non-whites and Jews. The so-called protagonist of the novel is opposed to such groups as Jews, non-white people, “liberal actors,” and politicians all in need of being murdered en masse.
This group in 1983, known as The Order, used this book, as have many other alt-right groups such as those that stormed the capitol in a fit of treasonous temper tantrums, to dictate how they would operate the first stages and beyond of a real life overthrow of the government and an extermination of anyone who opposed them and their goals. It is white fragility at its most extreme and unhinged. Imagine such hatred being focused and aimed and what you get is The Order, hateful bigotry that is well funded, well organized and grows in number daily.
The year is 1983 and a string of robberies is plaguing the Pacific Northwest. FBI agent Terry Husk theorizes that it isn’t the work of financially motivated criminals but rather an extremist group of domestic terrorists known locally as The Order. The reasoning behind their crimes leave behind on the table only the worst possibilities. They are financially secure with recruitment numbers only growing. They are smart, hateful and willing to kill and or die for their beliefs. Both of which they are actively pursuing.
Crime drama is my favorite genre and this is right up my alley. As so often tends to be the case, the setting is Anywhere, USA during the late 70s to 80s. It showcases the massive mustaches, six shot revolvers, the boat sized sedans and walkie talkies as big as my massive head. But for all the dated fashion comes with it a kind of unmistakable grittiness that only comes from that era of crime drama. Of course there’s excellent crime dramas set during other decades but the 70s and 80s are my personal favorite. We Own the Night is a prime example. It allows for basic tech like radios but prevents the use of cellphones creating a kind of isolated doom we just don’t naturally experience in an emergency anymore.
This particular era acts as a callback to old school crime thrillers that set the benchmark for genuine crime procedurals. The French Connection with its raw, thrilling car chases, Taxi Driver with its focus on the dire need of a purge of filth clogging the streets of a seedy New York. American Gangster represents that even in organized crime, progress is inevitable. The aforementioned We Own the Night provides an undeniably morose but absolutely compelling story of family legacy, crime syndicates with no remorse and lots of firepower. These stories are often set in cities like New York, Chicago or New Jersey highlighting the cold cynicism of cities built on the concept of indifference and self preservation.
The Order follows suit in many ways, sometimes at the risk of preventing it from becoming a true standout but everything it does do it does so with the utmost conviction and attention to detail. It also rarely hides from the ugliest moments of the true life crime it’s based its story on. Jude Law’s Terry Husk is a stereotypical grizzled cop jaded by the world but never enough to turn his back on it. He’s a hero with an edge and a chip on his shoulder. His makeshift partner is green and Tye Sheridan embodies him fully, and tragically. The best moments happen between Law’s Husk and Nicholas Hoult’s unhinged, angry, motivated and mobilized Bob Mathews, emphatic head of The Order.
They clash in a cloud of self-inflicted madness, each knowing to their very cores that their respective causes are the best thing for a world going awry. One cause just happens to be in the interest of a world that accepts all colors and creeds under the banner of law and order. The other is motivated by a deep rooted, misplaced hatred and discrimination determined to murder in the name of false supremacy.
It isn’t the most unique in style and execution but its true story is remarkable and equally tragic, and every bit infuriating. To witness the senselessness of such crimes, from armed robbery to antisemitic murder, is disheartening to say the least. Its themes, character choices and motivations are disturbingly timely, mirroring a country we are about to enter where the only real certainty is that things are about to get far worse before anything or anyone can hope to improve and to rebuild a better world out of the ashes of hatred, antisemitism, violence, insurrection and treason.
To ignore history is to repeat it. Don’t ever forget this. Because it seems so many have as of late.
Rated R For: some strong violence and language throughout
Runtime: 114 minutes
After Credits Scene: No
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Starring: Jude Law, Tye Sheridan, Nicholas Hoult, Marc Maron
Directed By: Justin Kurzel
Out of 10
Story: 9/ Acting: 9/ Directing: 8/ Visuals: 8
OVERALL: 8.5/10
Buy to Own: Yes.
Check out the trailer below:
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