The Shocking True Crimes That Inspired Jude Law’s Thriller ‘The Order’ on Hulu

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Discussions concerning far-right organizations stirring unrest have consistently been present in public conversations. In our current era marked by political and social complexity, both covert and overt groups appear to be a recurrent phenomenon. Over four decades back, an organization called The Order was involved in murder, robbery, and acts of domestic terrorism, all motivated by white supremacist beliefs.

As a movie critic, I recently had the chilling experience of watching “The Order” (2024), a cinematic depiction that delves into the alarming realm of America’s far-right extremist groups. This gripping tale is interwoven with historical events such as the Waco and Ruby Ridge sieges, ultimately leading to the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The real-life account behind “The Order,” now streaming on Hulu, proves to be a more gripping narrative than the film itself.

What Is ‘The Order’ About?

Investigative agent Terry Husk, portrayed by Jude Law, pursues a notorious white supremacist group responsible for bombing a synagogue and robbing a bank. In his quest, he stumbles upon an unexpected partner in Jamie Bowen (Tye Sheridan), a young police officer. Their joint investigation leads them to Bob Matthews (Nicholas Hoult), the head of this sinister organization, who orchestrated a series of heinous acts, from murder to bombings. Although The Order occasionally bends the truth for dramatic effect, its extensive coverage of the events is commendable.

The True Story Behind ‘The Order’

As a movie buff diving into the intricate world of cinema that reflects reality, I cannot stress enough the significance of examining an event from 1959 – the inception of the American Nazi Party led by George Lincoln Rockwell. This party marked the beginning of numerous far-right white supremacist groups that would emerge and shape the latter half of the 20th century. Two influential figures who left indelible marks on the rise of the extreme right, and are inseparably connected to Bob Matthews and the formation of The Order, were Richard Butler and William Pierce.

William Pierce, head of the extreme right organization called The National Alliance, penned a work often seen as a guide for domestic terrorism titled “The Turner Diaries” in 1978. This book depicts an insurrection led by armed individuals against the government and gained notoriety in 1995 following the Oklahoma City Bombing. As reported by the Southern Poverty Law Center, this piece of literature…

1995 saw a peak in the fame of The Turner Diaries, following reports that pages from the book were discovered in a plastic bag inside McVeigh’s car, shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing which claimed 168 lives. McVeigh, who often peddled his preferred novel at gun shows nationwide, later admitted that he wasn’t aligned with the book’s racist views, but was motivated by its pro-gun rights ideology.

The vivid portrayals of murder and the FBI headquarters bombing, found in the books, not only influenced McVeigh and Bob Matthews, but also led The Order to adopt their name from a terrorist cell depicted in The Turner Diaries. To clarify their connection to the book, an article by The Southern Poverty Law Center explains that Matthews, a follower of the author Pierce, established a real-life group called The Order, modeled after his fictional one, which carried out a series of armored car robberies and planned severe racist violence. They ultimately assassinated Jewish radio talk show host Alan Berg in 1984.

How Accurate Is ‘The Order’s Version of Events?

In the story “The Order“, Alan Berg’s tragic murder plays a significant role. Known for provoking white supremacists on his radio show, he served as inspiration for the character Barry Champlain in Oliver Stone’s film “Talk Radio“. Contrasting with this, while William Pierce is not featured in “The Order“, Richard Butler, who had close ties to Bob Matthews (founder of the Aryan Nations) at one point, is. The novel accurately portrays the reasons for their separation. While Butler advocated white supremacy and far-right ideologies, Matthews believed that action was more crucial, leading to the domestic terrorism carried out by The Order.

In the movie, the rule of terror by The Order eventually came to an end, which is quite similar to what actually happened in reality. One of the members, Tom Martinez (known as Tony Torres in the film and played by Matias Lucas), was caught for passing fake money and chose to collaborate with the FBI. In 1984, Matthews met his end in a gunfight with the FBI, and many other members of The Order were arrested and convicted. Though some artistic liberties were taken in the film The Order for storytelling purposes, it still depicts the seedy underbelly of society that remains potentially dangerous.

Where Can I Watch ‘The Order’?

The Series, titled ‘The Order,’ is inspired by a real-life account of one of the deadliest homegrown terrorist groups ever known. Feel free to watch it streaming online on Hulu.

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2025-05-01 05:04