Netflix pretty regularly pops off around the holidays. It’s awards season, after all, so their latest and greatest are often staggered to release between November and Christmas. Most recently, we were treated to Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Unfortunately, in our review, Dread Central’s Josh Korngut wrote, “His latest work of promised macabre majesty was instead bulky, saccharine, melodramatic, and ironically, lifeless.” Still, there are plenty more bangers yet to come, including the latest in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series, my most anticipated of the year.
So, it comes as no surprise that Netflix’s latest hit comes courtesy of Oscar-winning filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker). A House of Dynamite, released on Netflix October 24, has already been a huge hit with critics and audiences, even inciting early Oscar talk for Bigelow’s tight tonal control over a remarkably tense yet self-contained story. So, no surprise it’s been consistently topping the charts. Hold onto your armrests and learn more about must-see thriller A House of Dynamite below:
Per Netflix: US officials scramble to respond to an inbound missile of unknown origin in this “ticking-clock thriller “more terrifying than most horror films” (BBC).
I’ve always considered Bigelow one of my favorite filmmakers. Sure, The Hurt Locker is dated, but the opening sequence remains one of the tensest ever committed to film. Oh, and Near Dark? Come on, that’s perfect. Hell, I even vibed with Detroit, even though I nearly suffocated to death from how unbearably tense the entire thing was. House of Dynamite is no different, and its nuclear fear feels all too real and urgent.
Audiences have certainly resonated with House of Dynamite, and it’s poised to be one of Netflix’s biggest hits in years. It’s so suspenseful, so propulsive, it’s basically the definition of what cinema can and should be. I felt refreshed, reinvigorated, and eager to work my way back through Bigelow’s backlog. It’s a Point Break weekend, is what I’m saying. Check out some choice reactions to Netflix’s House of Dynamite success below, from “Wow” to “The tension, the adrenaline, the morality. It all works frustratingly well.” You’ll be scared, but it’s worth it. Even Stephen King calls it “Terrifying.”
What do you think? Any plans to check out House of Dynamite on Netflix? What other Kathryn Bigelow films do audiences need to check out? Let me know your thoughts over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
Categorized: Streaming News
