The subject of the film, a proper noun phrase, is the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent manhunt. It is an action-thriller docudrama that chronicles the terrorist attack and the city-wide search for the perpetrators. The narrative follows a composite character, Boston Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders, to provide a ground-level perspective on the events as they unfold, from the initial explosion at the finish line to the final capture of the suspect.
Directed by Peter Berg, the film utilizes a detailed, procedural style that blends dramatized scenes with actual news footage and surveillance video from the event. The plot traces the four-day investigation led by FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers, showcasing the methodical process of identifying the Tsarnaev brothers from CCTV recordings. Key sequences include the murder of MIT Officer Sean Collier, the carjacking of Dun Meng, whose escape provides crucial intelligence, the violent shootout between police and the suspects in Watertown, and the final search and capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
Ultimately, the film functions as a tribute to the victims, first responders, and citizens of Boston. It explores themes of community resilience, civic duty, and inter-agency cooperation in the face of tragedy. By focusing on the perspectives of multiple real-life individuals involvedincluding survivors, police officers, and government officialsthe movie provides an interpretation of the events that emphasizes the heroism and unity of the city in its response to the attack.
