A House of Dynamite is both political fantasy and major disappointment | Mike McCahill

Kathryn Bigelow's new Netflix film, A House of Dynamite, has been met with disappointment. Bigelow initially gained recognition for her dynamic genre films like Point Break and Near Dark. Her 1995 film, Strange Days, explored themes of virtual reality and societal issues. Post-2001, her films like The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty tackled America's involvement in the Middle East. Dynamite, written by Noah Oppenheim, presents a "what if" scenario concerning a nuclear threat. The film begins strongly, depicting the tense 19 minutes leading up to a potential missile strike in Chicago. Bigelow and Oppenheim effectively build suspense in the initial segment. The film's premise is similar to that of Oppenheimer, but with a different focus. Despite its promising start, the film ultimately fails to live up to expectations.