Kathryn Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite” World Premiere Shakes Venice

VENICE, Italy (AP) - Kathryn Bigelow unveiled her long-awaited thriller A House of Dynamite to an enthusiastic crowd at the 82nd Venice Film Festival on Tuesday, underscoring the persistent shadow of nuclear peril in today’s world.

The film, which marks Bigelow’s first feature in eight years, immerses audiences in the White House Situation Room and military command centers as officials race against a 20-minute countdown to impact from an unidentified ballistic missile bound for a major U.S. city. At a packed press conference before the screening, Bigelow emphasized the film’s urgent message: “We are really living in a house of dynamite. My interest was to really get that information out there.”

Shot with documentary-style precision, A House of Dynamite follows a fractured timeline, revisiting the same 20-minute window from multiple vantage points: the president (Idris Elba) and his cabinet, strategic military bases bracing for the worst, and frontline crisis managers fighting to avert catastrophe. Screenwriter Noah Oppenheim, drawing on decades of journalistic contacts, crafted an authentic portrayal of the split-second decisions and human stakes behind high-level deliberations.

Critics greeted the premiere with glowing praise. Early reviews lauded the film’s relentless tension and emotional resonance, noting Bigelow’s skill at marrying political realism with visceral suspense. Audience reaction translated into a soaring 11-minute standing ovation, punctuated by chants of “bravo,” as the credits rolled in Venice’s Sala Grande.

Following its Venice debut, A House of Dynamite is slated for select theatrical engagements before launching on Netflix globally on October 10, with streaming availability beginning October 24. Bigelow hopes the film will spark renewed public conversation about nuclear readiness and the fragility of global security.