In storytelling, the phrase “ticking time bomb” is understood as a metaphor for a problem with a rapidly approaching deadline that forces characters to scramble under pressure to avert disaster. But if you’ve ever heard a movie described that way and been disappointed it wasn’t about characters finding a literal time bomb and trying to defuse it before it stops ticking, David Mackenzie has made the movie for you.
“Fuze” finds the “Hell or High Water” and “Relay” director (and screenwriter Ben Hopkins) literalizing the metaphor to thrilling effect in what is almost certainly the most entertaining movie set at a muddy construction site that you’ll see all season. Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Will Tranter, a major in the British Army specializing in explosives, who is called in after an old World War II bomb is discovered underground at a London construction site. After evacuating the surrounding area amid an unexpected explosion, he has to examine the bomb’s explosive capabilities — and either defuse it or execute a controlled explosion before anyone gets hurt.
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Taylor-Johnson comes across as a quintessential Guy You Want in Charge in a Crisis, handsome and ripped and willing to instantly take charge of the situation. He clears the construction crew, commandeers the foreman’s office, barks orders at his entire bomb squad, and even orders pizzas and pre-pours celebratory shots for what he sees as their inevitable success. The only flaw in his approach is his reluctance to consider ideas from his subordinates — so when one of his corporals suggests that the bomb’s chemical properties indicate it’s far newer than they initially thought, Will dismisses the notion and continues as if he’s dealing with a war relic.
The first third of “Fuze” is downright gripping, with Mackenzie leaning on his technical filmmaking chops and Taylor-Johnson’s movie-star vibes to make a largely motionless construction site far more exciting than it should be. But as the bomb squad and the police (led by Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s chief superintendent Zuzana) look deeper into the situation, it becomes clear that the bomb was the least of their concerns: It was actually planted as a diversion to clear the block so that a crew of thieves could rob a bank vault. What began as a bomb-defusing job quickly turns into a police investigation, and what could be the heist of the century.
Mackenzie has long been known for his ability to combine Hollywood spectacle with social commentary, but “Fuze” might be his most blatantly escapist film to date. There’s no shame in that, as the world certainly needs more actually good bomb-turned-heist movies, and “Fuze” often feels like an idea that two 12-year-old boys would excitedly think of while daydreaming about their own filmmaking careers. But even with a ridiculously fun premise and more than a few twists, the film never fully regains its initial suspense after the bomb explodes relatively early in the film. We learn that Will is more troubled than his aura of confidence suggests, and Johnson’s performance lends some complexity to the character, but nothing that follows can compete with the excitement that the bomb provided.
The third act could be described as structurally curious, as Mackenzie and Hopkins introduce some late-in-the-game flashbacks that, while grippingly shot, derail the story and muddy the waters of who we’re supposed to be rooting for. The effect feels less like intentional nihilism than poor pacing, and it builds toward an abrupt ending (that’s also the beginning) that denies us any real catharsis without adding enough compelling information to justify the detour.
“Fuze” still contains the bones of a great movie, and it’s worth seeking out for Mackenzie fans or anyone seeking a twisty new thriller. But the film’s biggest takeaway might be that ticking time bomb storytelling works for a reason, and movies aren’t meant to continue on for another hour after the main plot device explodes unless you have something truly incredible to replace the tension.
“Fuze” might not be exceptional enough to break out your finest celebratory shot glasses, but you’re still unlikely to find another film that makes the field of urban construction look so exciting.
Grade: B-
“Fuze” premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It is currently seeking U.S. distribution.
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