Terrorsploitation

“London Has Fallen – into a pit of manure.” Hollywood’s latest take on the War on Terror has been condemned by critics as a racist “terrorsploitation” fantasy designed to spread fear after the Paris attacks.

In fact, in structure, theme, and success, American Sniper isn’t so much a war film as a terrorsploitation shoot-em-up. Forget Billy Lynn; closer analogues are the television show 24 or London Has Fallen (2016).