The Order, led by standout performances from Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult, is a chilling crime thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
The Order follows FBI Agent Terry Husk (Jude Law, Peter Pan & Wendy). After moving to a small town in Idaho, Husk soon investigates multiple bank robberies across the Pacific Northwest. This results in Husk and his team (Tye Sheridan, The Tender Bar; Jurnee Smollett, The Burial) discovering that a group of white supremacists, led by Bob Matthews (Nicholas Hoult, Juror #2) are responsible. Thus, leading into an inevitable collision course between both men.
The Order Has Tension
With The Order, director Justin Kurzel and company take Kevin Flynn’s The Silent Brotherhood and craft it into a chilling and relevant thriller. Additionally, it’s one that explores how indoctrination can seep into an individual’s mind. Particularly, how right-wing ideology impacts the mind. Screenwriters Zach Baylin and Gary Gerhardt’s script echoes and reflects between the main leads. This parallels the character’s journey and arcs throughout the film. Baylin and Gerhardt’s script also layers out the characters into three-dimensional people.
Adding to this is a sense of isolation. Cinematographer Adam Arkapaw provides this. Arkapaw displays multiple wide shots of the vastness of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest. Along with this, the action set pieces are broad but have a handheld quality. Hence, it makes us feel we are in the moment with the character. It also allows us to fully set the stage for where things are. And how they are connected. Plus, we get shots of the beautiful landscape.
Simplicity in the 80s
Moreover, production designer Karen Murphy manages to recreate the look and feel of the 1980s. Specifically, it focuses on the Pacific Northwest region at the time. Furthermore, costume designer Rachel Dainer-Best simplified the costumes by not going big and bold with it. Rather, Dainer-Best keeps them simple and functional. The lack of extravagance also displays the state of both characters’ mindsets. Good and bad.
Likewise, composer Jed Kurzel’s score is also simple. However, when it comes to the score, Kurzel isn’t afraid to use it in surprising ways. For example, Kurzel uses it to ratchet up the tension. Through working with sound designer Andy Neil, they create an eerie noise. That noise permeates throughout the whole film. Finally, editor Nick Fenton edits the film with a quick sense of pace. Finessing the running time at about an hour and fifty-four minutes, Fenton balances suspense and tension with action. Additionally, Fenton also balances this with the character moments. Bringing a sense of palpability to the performances.
Performances in The Order
Regarding the performances, Jude Law leads the cast as FBI Agent Terry Husk. As Husk, Law plays a withered and weary character. He only returns to the world when Matthews and his crew start coming around. Thus, it creates a parallel with not only Matthews but also Tye Sheridan’s Jaime Bowen. Sheridan delivers a strong performance as the character makes a mentor/mentee-like relationship with Law’s Husk.
Also, the same is true for Jurnee Smollett’s Joanna Carney. However, the difference is that with Smollett’s Carney, there’s more of a sibling dynamic than a mentor/mentee. However, Smollett displays a commanding presence. But the standout is easily Nicholas Hoult as Bob Matthews. As Matthews, he plays the role terrifyingly well, bringing out that ideology in a realistic way. It’s as if it was someone you know. Still, Hoult balances being evil with also being warm and somehow relatable.
Final Thoughts
With The Order, Kurzel and the crew craft a chilling and relevant tale about indoctrination—one layered in three-dimensional character work. Plus, it leans into the crime genre trappings. Law leads the cast with strong performances. But it’s Hoult who delivers the standout performance as white supremacist Bob Matthews. Overall, The Order is a tense, chilling crime thriller filled with strong performances from Law and Hoult.
