Netflix's new thriller 'House Of Dynamite' may not be a horror movie, but its premise is terrifyingly plausible. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the film depicts a single missile launched at the United States, leaving the government just 18 minutes to determine the origin and response. The scenario plays out three times from different government levels, highlighting the inability of US defence systems to stop the missile and the complexity of decision-making.
The title refers to a line from the US President: 'we built a house filled with dynamite', reflecting the global nuclear situation. Bigelow noted that nine countries possess nuclear weapons, totalling over 12,000, with only three in NATO, making the calculus 'fragile and unsettled'. The 18-minute window is realistic; according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a missile from Russia to the US takes about 25 minutes, less if launched from a submarine.
Early warning systems are imperfect, as shown in the film, where officials assess the threat's credibility. Missile defence systems are also flawed; the film's 'hitting a bullet with a bullet' analogy is accurate. Screenwriter Noah Oppenheim based the defence system's effectiveness on tests of the US ground-based intercept system, acknowledging it is a 'hard physics problem' that may never be solved perfectly.
In a real crisis, the US President would make the final decision, given options by the Pentagon without needing to consult advisors. Historical close calls include the 1960 NORAD alert caused by moonrise over Norway, mistaken for a Soviet attack, and the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis false alarm at Moorestown, New Jersey.
