Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult Went to a Dark Place to Explore American Racism in Neo-Nazi Crime Thriller ‘The Order’

Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult Went to a Dark Place to Explore American Racism in Neo-Nazi Crime Thriller ‘The Order’

As a film enthusiast who has witnessed the power of cinema to ignite conversations and bring about change, I must say that “The Order” stands out as a compelling and timely piece of work. The way Justin Kurzel and his exceptional cast delve into the dark recesses of American racism in the 1980s is nothing short of captivating.


In a bold exploration, the ensemble of The Order delved deep into the grim realities of American racism to portray an authentic tale. Justin Kurzel, known for Macbeth and Assassin’s Creed, directs this gripping film. The star-studded cast includes Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Jurnee Smollett, and Zach Baylin, who graced the red carpet at the 2024 Venice Film Festival for the movie’s worldwide debut in competition.

The film is influenced by the 1989 non-fiction book “The Silent Brotherhood” written by Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt. It tells the story of an FBI probe into a string of bank robberies and car thefts in the Pacific Northwest. The main FBI officer, Terry Husk (Law), suspects that these crimes are orchestrated by a dangerous domestic terrorist group. Over time, his investigation uncovers links to a white supremacist organization, headed by the captivating leader Bob Mathews (Hoult).

Even though it was produced in the 1980s, Law emphasized the relevance of the movie for today’s context, as far-right extremist movements are increasingly active across the globe.

“Unfortunately,” Law remarked, “it seems to be quite self-explanatory how important this is. It appeared as though it was a project that had to be completed right away. It’s intriguing to discover something from the past that holds some current significance.”

Hoult also stated, “Perhaps, the movie might provide additional insight into why such incidents take place and who is responsible for initiating them. If it manages to reach audiences, it could potentially contribute to stopping such events from recurring in the future.”

Hoult mentioned that he needed to explore a great deal of disturbing, grim material during his preparation for the part, which was not pleasant, a sentiment shared by other actors as well.

Smollett pointed out that she spoke with numerous Black and Latinx ex-FBI agents, and it quickly became apparent to her how these cases held deep personal significance for them. Even when they were off duty, their work still followed them home. This idea is echoed by Husk’s character, Joanne Carney, in that their work defines them and serves as the essence of their lives. They have given up a life to attain it.

Law found great enjoyment in the authenticity of Kurzel’s filmmaking style, particularly appreciating the thick mustache he grew for his character.

According to Law, the topic of facial hair was frequently brought up in conversations. In fact, each agent I spoke with sported a mustache, making it a common trait among them. To some extent, it turned into a humorous observation that every single agent had an impressive collection of mustaches.

The Order is scheduled to debut in the U.S. in December through Vertical, while Amazon Prime Video will release it in various international regions.

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2024-08-31 16:54