As I watched the tension ratchet up in David Mackenzie's Fuze at TIFF this year, I couldn't help but grip my armrest tighter. Right from the jump, this flick throws you into the deep end—a construction crew in central London unearths what looks like a bloody great WWII bomb, and suddenly the whole area's locked down tighter than Fort Knox. Major Will Tranter (Aaron Taylor-Johnson, oozing charisma like it's going out of style) swaggers onto the scene to oversee the defusal, cracking jokes and pouring shots for his team before they've even cracked open the beast. Talk about confidence! But little do they know, this ain't just about old explosives—it's the ultimate smokescreen. 
While Tranter's crew is sweating over wires and timers, just a stone's throw away, a slick crew led by the razor-sharp Karalis (Theo James, having a helluva good time playing against type) is executing a precision bank heist. James leans into that cutting South African accent like a verbal scalpel, commanding his crew with icy precision. The connection? It’s the film’s central puzzle box. Mackenzie, no stranger to gritty tension after Hell or High Water, masterfully weaves these threads, making you question who’s really pulling the strings. Is the bomb genuine Blitz-era chaos, or a meticulously planned diversion? And what’s in that specific safe deposit box Karalis is hell-bent on grabbing?
The cast is pure 🔥 fire:
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson: Brings cheeky, rule-breaking charm to Tranter. That pre-defusal whiskey shot? Iconic.
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Theo James: Steals scenes as the calculating, charismatic villain you love to hate.
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Gugu Mbatha-Raw: Grounds the chaos as the formidable police commander Zuzana.
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Sam Worthington: Plays Karalis's right-hand man, but is he truly loyal? 🤔
| Element | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Pacing | Propulsive, rarely lets you catch breath |
| Plot Complexity | Convoluted but engaging |
| Star Power | Elevates the material significantly |
| Surprise Factor | Subverts expectations in the final act |
Sure, Fuze sometimes feels like it’s trying a bit too hard to be clever, and yeah, the plot gets twistier than a London back alley. Once the heist kicks into high gear, the initial bomb-disposal tension takes a slight backseat. But here’s the kicker—Mackenzie refuses to play it safe. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, Ben Hopkins’ script throws a curveball. The lines between hero and villain get deliciously blurred. Tranter’s maverick style clashes beautifully with authority, while Karalis’s motives remain shrouded in mystery, keeping you guessing until the very end.
And that ending? It doesn’t cop out with some neat, Hollywood bow. It lands on a note that’s weirdly, satisfyingly abnormal. It’s got guts. Does it reinvent the thriller wheel? Nah. But sometimes, you don’t need reinvention—you just need a slick, well-made, white-knuckle ride with a cast this hot bringing their A-game. It gives the whole film the serious oomph it needs to overcome its occasional predictability and convolutions. 
Watching it premiere at TIFF 2025, the energy was electric. Fuze is the kind of thriller that reminds you why we go to the movies: for the rush, the stars, and that feeling of waiting for the spark to hit the powder keg. It might not be perfect, but damn, it’s a solid 7/10 blast of entertainment. Mark your calendars for September 5th—this is one fuse worth watching burn.