Fuze Review: A Head-Spinning London Heist Thriller with Explosive Action
Diamonds might not be forever in this high-octane London heist thriller that centers around a massive, ticking bomb on a building site. The film is an equal parts violent and silly affair, delivering what can only be described as borderline ridiculous shenanigans with undeniable chutzpah.
A Plot Packed with Athletic Contortions
Screenwriter Ben Hopkins and director David Mackenzie have crafted a narrative that brazens out its innate silliness through heavily researched police and army lingo, alongside athletic plot contortions. This is a violent tale of double-cross and triple-cross that significantly ups its narrative game in the final act for a massive reveal: a head-spinning story involving diamonds—some fake, yet also some real.
The film deploys the classic thriller moment popularized by TV's The Night Manager: the three-second bank transfer of millions of illicit dollars, which characters tensely monitor on smartphones in real time. It's a moment that begs the question: will the money go through OK? Viewers are advised to ensure solid wifi or 5G for the full effect.
Star-Studded Performances in a Tense Setting
Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Major Will Tranter, a bomb disposal officer called in when what appears to be a gigantic unexploded Second World War device is discovered at a London building site, emitting a worrying ticking noise. The police are under the direction of the Met's chief superintendent, a role played deadpan by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, which lacks the juiciness of the male leads' parts.
She shuts off electricity in the entire area for fear of the bomb igniting power cables, then evacuates and cordons off the zone—unaware that a crew of bank robbers, led by Theo James and Sam Worthington, is inside. This allows them to work without fear of discovery as they tunnel through a wall into a safe-deposit vault from a neighbouring basement.
A Modern Twist on Classic Heist Tropes
These robbers resemble a much younger, sexier version of the geriatric geezer-thieves who famously drilled into a strongroom in London's Hatton Garden in 2015. Meanwhile, Tranter's corporal, who does everything but bark "Sah!", suspects the bomb looks too modern to be from the war. This raises a tantalizing question: have these robbers set up the biggest diversionary tactic in criminal history?
The film rattles along watchably enough, taking in more locations than just boring old London, though viewers may find their credulity stretched almost to breaking point. Fuze is set for release on 3 April in the UK, 16 April in Australia, and 24 April in the US, promising a global audience a dose of explosive entertainment.
