Seems that there’s an entirely new sub-genre that’s emerging: Mark Wahlberg as a real guy in a fact-based crisis situation, as directed by Peter Berg. That’s a three-peat this actor-director duo have accomplished, having depicted a significant amount of suffering in Afghanistan (Lone Survivor; spoiler alert: Mark Wahlberg lives), the Gulf of Mexico (Deepwater Horizon, when a BP ocean rig blows up; ruins the ocean), and now the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, in a film so distinctly Bostonian that they all-but pahhk their cahhhs in Hahvahhd Yahhd.

So, there he is again, Mark Wahlberg, being an everyman, and something goes wrong. And he reacts, invariably to his tough-as-nails wife/girlfriend. He shows a degree of vulnerability that his alpha machismo self would previously have not been willing to show. He’s a Southie, after all. And then he helps fix the problem or get out of the peril the problem caused. He’s the working American man; he’s the guy who does his fuckin’ job; you must be the other guy.

There’s not a great deal to fault in any of these three films – the stories are based on true-to-life events; the cast is in each instance solid and are getting it done. In Patriots Day, the whole thing is aided by the likes of JK Simmons, Kevin Bacon and John Goodman, and there’s some fellas you would pay money to act in anything. If anything, there’s a sense of the overly serious to it, but when you’re dealing with issues surrounding domestic terrorism, one presumes that light and frivolous is not the standard route to take when depicting it. Director Peter Berg, again shows he has a knack for pace and keeping proceedings tight – and manages to maintain the film’s ‘thriller’ aspects intact, even if you are a student of (very) recent history and are fairly cluey about the eventual outcome. He’s a pretty skilled action director at the end of the day; the chase scenes are handled very well.

Thankfully, the over-the-top flag waving and overt patriotism commensurate with a film of this nature doesn’t detract from the business at hand. Berg’s film shows insight into both sides of the domestic terrorism spectrum, and does not over play his hand… to a point. Thematic elements (local heroes are everywhere; we won’t be defeated by acts of terror; communities stick together; it’s great to be an American even when foreigners blow shit up) may push the wrong buttons here and there, but if you’re the kind of person to scoff at the American brand of nationalistic fervour, a film called Patriots Day is not likely to be on your pop culture radar.

The film is expertly made, and gripping. It invites a sub textural reading of its politics, but do that at your blood pressure’s peril.