A House of Dynamite reveals shocking vulnerabilities in America’s missile defense system as Bigelow’s thriller portrays a nuclear nightmare that could become reality.
A House of Dynamite presents Kathryn Bigelow’s newest nerve-wracking thriller, where American intercontinental ballistic missiles are chillingly aimed at U.S. territory. The filmmaker aims to spark crucial discussions about global security, nuclear proliferation, and the effectiveness of our strategic missile defense.
Kathryn Bigelow arrives at the 82nd Academy Awards., March 2010
Photo credit: Sgt. Michael Connors – 302nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The U.S. government has long maintained protocols for responding to ballistic missile threats and nuclear missile threats as part of its homeland defense strategy. One might assume that after decades of technological advancement, any incoming US ballistic missile would be swiftly and effectively neutralized by our missile defense system.
However, this may be far from reality. Kathryn Bigelow’s gripping new film, “A House of Dynamite,” which made its debut Tuesday at the Venice Film Festival, offers a meticulously researched glimpse into how our national security infrastructure would actually respond to such a crisis. The film’s disturbing conclusion reveals that our strategic missile defense capabilities are more constrained than commonly believed, and even a minor incident could trigger global catastrophe and nuclear escalation.
Actor and director Idris Elba at the Berlinale 2018
Photo credit: Harald Krichel, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Penned by Noah Oppenheim, “A House of Dynamite” opens with the detection of a US ICBM crossing the Pacific, posing an imminent nuclear attack threat. Inside the White House situation room, a senior official (Rebecca Ferguson) coordinates with cabinet members, U.S. Strategic Command, and the president (Idris Elba) to formulate a response. Time is critical: the missile carrying a nuclear warhead is calculated to strike Chicago in just 20 minutes, potentially killing millions and inevitably sparking a devastating chain of nuclear exchanges that could deplete the entire nuclear arsenal of the nation.
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Surely intercepting the missile is possible? While theoretically yes, the film suggests that the available methods of missile defense interceptors and missile defense technology are surprisingly limited and unreliable. As one government analyst states, “We are talking about hitting a bullet with a bullet,” highlighting the challenges faced by ground-based interceptors and other components of the homeland missile defense system.
Confronted with these dire probabilities, a senior security official (Tracy Letts) expresses disbelief: “That’s what $50 billion buys us in ballistic missile defense?”
Audiences may share this outrage and anxiety about the effectiveness of our strategic deterrence strategy. (Throughout the film’s 112-minute duration, I found myself constantly fidgeting with nervous energy.) During the press conference, Bigelow explained that this visceral reaction was precisely her intention in creating “A House of Dynamite.”
“We need to be much more informed about our nuclear posture and strategic nuclear forces,” she emphasized. “That would be my greatest hope, that we actually initiate a conversation about nuclear security, nuclear arms control, and nonproliferation in a more perfect world if we want to survive — and I hope we do.”
Anthony Ramos and Friends performance at the Triad Theater on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York
Robert Manganaro, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Though Bigelow commenced filming “A House of Dynamite” before President Trump’s re-election, the movie avoids direct references to the current administration’s missile defence review or policy. The cast includes Gabriel Basso, known for portraying young JD Vance in the 2020 adaptation of “Hillbilly Elegy.” Nevertheless, journalists in Venice identified numerous relevant parallels: in an era of widespread budget reductions for government agencies, the prospect of these institutions effectively countering a nuclear missile threat or maintaining strategic nuclear deterrence becomes even more alarming.
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When questioned about his perspective in light of Trump’s leadership and its impact on nuclear deterrence strategy and nuclear force survivability, Oppenheim maintained a diplomatic stance. “The film transcends specific political climates,” he explained during the press briefing. “Its core message addresses humanity’s creation of weapons capable of global annihilation, including hypersonic weapons and advanced nuclear warheads, and the ongoing challenges of nuclear weapons programs worldwide.”
Despite a six-year hiatus following her 2017 release “Detroit,” which faced commercial challenges, “A House of Dynamite” appears destined to reestablish Bigelow in award season discussions. The pioneering filmmaker, who broke barriers as the inaugural female recipient of the Academy Award for Best Director with “The Hurt Locker,” has garnered considerable acclaim at the festival. While Netflix’s award-contending films sometimes struggle to resonate with broader audiences due to their sophisticated nature, this particular production shows promise of becoming a viral phenomenon when it debuts on the platform on October 24.
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However, viewers should look beyond Netflix’s conventional genre classifications. Though the streaming service might label it as a fact-based thriller, in a year dominated by horror releases, “A House of Dynamite” could prove to be the most genuinely frightening viewing experience of 2023, offering a chilling portrayal of potential nuclear warfare and the fragility of our strategic missile defence and strategic nuclear forces.
Source:
Kyle Buchanan (September 2, 2025). At Venice, ‘A House of Dynamite’ Is Scarier Than Most Horror Films. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/02/movies/kathryn-bigelow-a-house-of-dynamite-venice-film-festival.html
Header Photo: Kathryn Bigelow arrives at the 82nd Academy Awards., March 2010
Photo credit: Sgt. Michael Connors – 302nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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