THE ORDER

2024   Amazon MGM Studios

Rated:  R

Length:  1 hr  55min

Action ~ Drama ~ Suspense

Directed by:  Justin Kurzel

Starring:  Jude Law,  Nicholas Hoult, Tye SheridanJurnee SmollettAlison Oliver, and Marc Maron.

“Defeat…..NEVER……..Victory………FOREVER!”

Here is the synopsis from The Order Movie’s Official Website:

For over a year, a series of bold daylight bank robberies and armored car heists leaves law enforcement baffled and the public panicked throughout the Pacific Northwest. As the attacks become increasingly violent, FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) becomes convinced that the robberies are the work of domestic terrorists that plan to use the loot to finance an armed uprising against the U.S. government.

Based on a true story, The Order follows Husk and his team into the tangled world of white supremacists as they try to head off a violent uprising that could shatter the nation. As the militia builds a war chest of over $4 million, Husk pursues the malevolent racist Bob Mathews to a final bloody standoff that will go down in U.S. history.

Here’s what I think about that:

An absolutely horrifying look inside the workings and the mindset of a group of White Supremacists. It is also a deeper look into their beliefs and their Manifesto/Bible/Handbook The Turner Diaries. A 1978 novel by William Luther Pierce, the founder and chairman of National Alliance, a white nationalist group, published under the pseudonym Andrew Macdonald. And also their willingness to do whatever is necessary to achieve their aims, even murder.

In a nutshell The Turner Diaries advocates extreme violence by any means necessary to achieve the means to overthrow the US Government. Then inciting a race war and ethnically cleansing America of any non-white peoples. Then using America’s Nuclear weapons on New York and Israel, allowing Arab countries to destroy what is left of Israel and the Israeli people. Then nuking Russia so a Russia-America Nuclear war destroys Americas cities and world civilization. To then be replaced by The All White Order.

There is a reckoning they call “The Day of The Rope” where the non-whites and anyone who has helped or aided them are all hanged in a single day. I recall the images of The Jan. 6th riots at the Capitol and seeing a platform with three rope nooses ready for the Vice President, Pelosi, etc.

Jesus…..this is very scary shit. Is America the new Germany? Is someone recently voted into power the new Adolf Hitler? Seriously….this is horrifying stuff. Not for the faint at heart. Some of you should just turn off the TV and go back to working in your gardens.

Here’s what I thought about the movie:

I thought it was good. Lots of action, drama and suspense. Robberies, murder, car chases and more as the FBI and the local police chase down members of The Order. As members of The Order are stalking the police, the FBI and anyone who is getting in their way of attempting to make The Turner Diaries a reality. Jude Law did a great job as the brooding FBI agent hell bent on stopping the insanity. Nicholas Hoult was eerily sinister hiding behind the all American boy façade of Bob Mathews while plotting America’s destruction. Tye Sheridan as the local police officer caught in a moral dilemna between right and loyalty to his hometown people.

I really thought all the actors did a great job, I liked it. I thought it was really good. Scary and eye-opening knowing it was a true story and that was forty years ago. It makes you worried about the future and what is to happen to America. Thank God for the men and women out their fighting the battles in our homeland we don’t get to see if someone doesn’t make a film out of it.

So yes I liked it, I recommend it.

But know what it is, a horrifying true look at White Supremacy in America.

Strange Darling

2024   Magenta Light Studios

Rated:  R

Length:  1 hr  37min

Action ~ Horror ~ Suspense

Directed by:  JT Mollner

Starring:  Willa FitzgeraldKyle GallnerBarbara Hershey, and Ed Begley Jr..

“Love hurts, love scars…Love wounds and marks, any heart not tough enough or strong enough, to take a lot of pain…….takes a lot of pain.”

I watched this last night. I was looking for something to watch more than I was looking for a movie to review. Strange Darling caught my eye on Amazon Prime. Perfect I thought…I didn’t know anything about it and had never heard of it.

WHICH IS EXACTLY HOW YOU SHOULD WATCH IT. And that is why this review will feature very little of the plot, storyline or in-depth look at the movie or the characters. Here is all I can tell you:

It is a Slasher type Horror Action Suspense Film.

The Movie Stars The Lady and The Demon.

The movie is broken into six chapters and an epilogue, in this order:

Chapter 3: “Can You Help Me, Please?” 

Chapter 5: “Here, Kitty, Kitty…” 

Chapter 1: “Mister Snuffles” (Mister Snuffleupagus)

Chapter 4: “The Mountain People” 

Chapter 2: “The Electric Lady” 

Chapter 6: “Who’s Gary Gilmore?” 

Epilogue.

The Movie starts like this:

SHOT ENTIRELY ON 35MM FILM

(IN BLACK AND WHITE) A man and a woman in a truck on a rainy night in front of a motel………… she asks, “So I have to ask you a question, are you a serial killer?”

Between 2018 and 2020, the most prolific and unique American Serial Killer of the 21st Century went on a calculated, multi-state spree that began in Denver, Colorado, continued through Grand Lake, and expanded across Wyoming and Central Idaho before culminating in the dense forest of Hood River County, Oregon.  

Drawing from police interviews, detailed accounts of eyewitnesses, depositions, and observations of various law enforcement, this is a dramatization of the true story of the final known killings in that rampage….

Then there is a killer (Pun intended) car chase…and then a woman is running in the woods from a killer, blood dripping from her wounds……as an acoustic cover of Love Hurts by Nazareth plays in the background……..

Love hurts, love scarsLove wounds and marksAny heartNot tough or strong enoughTo take a lot of pain, take a lot of painLove is like a cloudHolds a lot of rainLove hurtsOoh, ooh, love hurts

Some fools think of happinessBlissfulness, togethernessSome fools fool themselves, I guessThey’re not foolin’ me
Ooh, ooh, love hurts

AND WE START THE MOVIE WITH:
Chapter 3: “Can You Help Me, Please?” 

I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this Horrifying piece of Cinematic Slasher Art.
Willa Fitzgerald reminds me of Mia Goth in Pearl.
Kyle Gallner is creepy scary as the nice guy?
JT Mollner I am unfamiliar with but will keep an eye out for.
Turn out the lights, crank up the soundtrack and enjoy the ride…
because that is what it is.
A Horrifying Action Filled Thrill Ride
 through a Serial Killer Amusement Park.
Highly Recommended!

Love Hurts Cover by Z-Berg featured in the movie: