Pentagon criticizes A House of Dynamite' for underestimating US power'

"It enjoyed a limited release and a brief run in theaters before arriving on Netflix last Friday. And it was on the occasion of its streaming release that the city where the main bulk of the film directed by Kathryn Bigelow takes place one more concerned with the news cycle than with the achievements of cinematic art began to comment on it with apprehension."

"The film presents a scenario that leaves viewers with a chill after contemplating what could happen in the country with the world's largest arsenal of nuclear weapons if one of its many enemies were to slip up, or have a bad day with its trigger finger. This chill is explained by a plot that seems credible down to the last detail to viewers familiar with Washington protocols."

"Not so for the Pentagon, which is upset about the part that focuses on the U.S. land-based missile defense program in Alaska and California, with a budget that the film estimates at around $50 billion. An internal Missile Defense Agency (MDA) document, obtained by Bloomberg and dated October 16, argues that the catastrophic scenario depicted in A House of Dynamite is inaccurate."

"The memo classified as for internal MDA use only and not for public release was circulated, it explains, to ensure agency leaders are aware of the situation and are not surprised by the topic, which may come up in discussions or meetings. What worries the document's authors is the film's portrayal of the missile interception program, which ultimately proves ineffective in its mission to stop an existential threat headed straight for Chicago."

A House of Dynamite imagines an imminent nuclear attack on the United States and portrays a land-based missile defense program failing to stop a strike headed for Chicago. The film had limited theatrical release before arriving on Netflix, sparking apprehension in Washington. The plot emphasizes credible Washington protocols and leaves viewers chilled. The Missile Defense Agency circulated an internal memo dated October 16 asserting that the film's catastrophic scenario is inaccurate and concerned leaders might be surprised by discussions. The Pentagon objects that the dramatized interceptors underestimate U.S. defensive capabilities and portray the missile defense as ineffective.

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