Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James Star in Explosive Thriller Fuze

David Mackenzie, known for films like Hell or High Water and Young Adam, is back with a new thriller titled Fuze, which premieres on September 5 as a Gala Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James, and promises a focused dose of intense entertainment, emphasizing action and pace over complexity.

A Dynamic Plot Set Against a WWII Bomb Threat and a Bank Heist

Fuze opens with construction workers uncovering an unexploded World War II bomb at a work site in London, prompting a police and army bomb squad response led by Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s character. While the area is evacuated, a gang of robbers, headed by Theo James, exploits the chaos by drilling into a nearby bank’s vault underground. This premise acts as the catalyst for an escalating series of explosive twists and high-stakes suspense throughout the film.

Intense, Streamlined Filmmaking Inspired by Punk Rock Energy

Director David Mackenzie describes the movie’s approach as a pared-down and pure form of entertainment, stating,

“This is probably the furthest I’ve gone into saying, let’s be a little bit more pure with the entertainment.”

—David Mackenzie, Director

He likens the film’s energy to a punk rock heist movie, quipping,

“We kind of jokingly said it, it’s like a heist film made by the Ramones, you know, 91 minutes long.”

—David Mackenzie, Director

This concise, action-driven style contrasts with the trend of lengthy films and densely packed series, offering audiences a more direct and invigorating cinematic experience.

Original Concept Developed Over a Decade

The story originated from Mackenzie’s own idea developed about ten years ago, blending the tension of an unexploded bomb scenario with the excitement of a heist narrative. He explains,

“The script has been with me for a long time. It comes from an original idea of mine that I had about at least a decade ago, about trying to kind of mash up the sort of excitement and tension of an unexploded bomb movie with the excitement and tension of a heist movie.”

—David Mackenzie, Director

Mackenzie also notes the real-world inspiration behind the story, observing how frequently unexploded WWII bombs are found at construction sites and the subsequent evacuations and protocols, which he found engaging to incorporate into the film.

“It seems like every few months, somebody discovers an unexploded World War II bomb in a building site. And then there’s an evacuation, and there’s a kind of protocol in place, and that sort of felt like it was fun to lean into.”

—David Mackenzie, Director

Editing Choices Elevate the Film‘s Tension and Pacing

Although the screenplay by Ben Hopkins provided the foundation, it was the collaboration between Mackenzie and editor Matt Mayer that shaped the film’s brisk pace and sharp focus. Mayer, who also edited Mackenzie’s previous film Relay, invested significant time tightening the footage to its essential elements, ensuring the story flows quickly while still delivering key details.

Mackenzie admits he wished the final cut had been even shorter, stating,

“I was a bit upset I didn’t get down to 90 minutes.”

—David Mackenzie, Director

The editing approach leaves viewers engaged with subtle narrative clues, as Mackenzie describes,

“Every scene in this film is in some way complicated, there’s only two or three straight dialogue scenes, but even they’ve got stuff going on, so there’s no way to sort of rest, you know, in terms of that process, but that’s part of the fun of it.”

—David Mackenzie, Director

Fuze’s Place in Contemporary Thriller Cinema

By fusing the intensity of a bomb-disposal drama with the adrenaline of a heist movie, Fuze offers a fresh take on both genres, demonstrating a commitment to keeping audiences on the edge of their seats without unnecessary distraction. The performances of Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James further amplify the tension, grounding the high-stakes narrative with compelling character dynamics.

As it makes its world debut at TIFF, Fuze stands out among festival offerings for its energetic storytelling and streamlined execution, potentially setting a new pace for thriller films that prioritize momentum and clarity over sprawling complexity.