Fuze (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain. 

When a live WWII bomb is located buried beneath the bustling streets of London, the military must step in to ensure the safety of the locals. As chaos and panic ensue a dark and mysterious plot unfolds behind the scenes. Fuze combines wartime drama with modern Hollywood flair in this blend of reality and spectacle. 

An A-list cast means that the film is powerful and effective, right? Well, that’s not always the case. In Fuze, the list of talented actors is impressive. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are just some of the names that headline this film—but that doesn’t mean that this film lives up to the potential put in place by these names. There are moments of childish fun with narrative twists and turns, but these things ultimately amount to not much of anything. Those words may feel a bit harsh, but the narrative felt weak, and I struggled to find merit in what Fuze brings to the table. 

Two seemingly unrelated plots run parallel to one another, and it’s not until far into the film that the two finally overlap. I spent the better part of an hour trying to figure out how the hell things were connected. Bank heists have been seen on screen for years, and countless times—but Fuze presents viewers with a far different version of the heist (at least in terms of the methods used to ensure the heist plays out effectively). This aspect of the narrative feels too far-fetched, and with it being so challenging to accept this as a potential reality, I found it equally challenging to buy into the film. The mystery that existed throughout the first acts of the film were flattened by unappealing reveals, and I suppose that’s the case with the rest of Fuze as well. 

When I think back to my viewing of Fuze I can't help but to think of a lot of yelling. It felt as if everyone repeatedly shouted at the top of their lungs—as if somehow yelling is the epitome of emotion and that this would allow viewers access to the characters and their stories. In short, I found this to be frustrating. The tone of the film is fractured and the ability to accurately gauge emotion becomes nearly impossible as a result of the constant yelling. The emotional scales are tipped early, and balance remains elusive throughout as a result. 

What intrigued me about Fuze was the immersive nature of the filming locations. Set primarily in London, Director David Mackenzie and Director of Photography Giles Nuttgens use the expansive, yet equally claustrophobic city streets to provide an often dizzying effect that transcends the entirety of the film. Viewers effectively have boots on the ground, navigating alleyways, underground corridors, and the slightly imposing construction site where the bomb is first located. The stunning visuals present in Fuze are unrelenting and frequently provide viewers a reason to remain present in the film, even when the going gets rough. 

I applaud Fuze for leaning so heavily into its ridiculousness, but as a result of it being unwilling to relent I often found it challenging to buy into what was being presented to me. Fuze has the potential to be a fun venture for viewers,  but much of it remains fractured and will certainly antagonize those who enter with certain expectations. 

Directed by David Mackenzie. 

Written by Ben Hopkins. 

Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Sam Worthington, Elham Ehsas, etc. 

5.5/10 = WORTH WATCHING, BUT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED