How to Blow Up a Pipeline Parent Guide

Childhood friends Xochitl (Ariela Barer) and Theo (Sasha Lane) used to dance in the rain, unaware that it was contaminated by toxic chemicals. Now Xochitl has buried her mother and Theo has terminal cancer, thanks to environmental pollution. Determined to bring an end to the fossil fuel industry she blames for her mother’s death, Xochitl hatches a radical plan: she wants to sabotage America’s oil infrastructure, thus driving up the price of oil to the point that more climate-friendly options become viable. Not only will she avenge her loved ones, Xochitl also believes that her actions will catalyze a movement to save the planet from pollution and climate change.

Motivated though she may be, Xochitl can’t carry out her plan alone. She and Theo soon join forces with Michael (Forrest Goodluck), an indigenous activist in the Dakotas who makes bombs as a hobby and loathes the oil industry. Also in on the plot are Shawn (Marcus Scribner), a student who’s disillusioned by divestment as a green strategy and wants more radical action, and Dwayne (Jake Weary), an embittered rancher whose land has been seized for pipeline construction. Throw in a few more activists with varied motivations, and soon the plotters are ready to roll. They’ve picked a target – a pipeline in Texas – and now they’ve got to figure out how to blow it up without hurting anyone or winding up in prison. But the FBI is keeping an eye out for domestic terrorism, so the group needs to have a meticulous plan and carry it out flawlessly.

Whatever your feelings might be about climate issues, there’s no denying that this plot could be the basis of a fast-moving thriller. Unfortunately, director Daniel Goldhaber has created an overly earnest film with the plodding pace of a docudrama. This film is painfully slow and excruciatingly dull. It’s at its best when it focuses on the backstories of its characters and its worst when we spend hours (that’s what it feels like) watching Michael make bombs. There isn’t enough caffeine in the world to keep most viewers awake for the first half of the runtime.

Boredom aside, the movie’s biggest problem is its implicit support for terrorism, defined as “using violence to force political change”. The young conspirators have a brief discussion about becoming terrorists and about the ethics of their actions. One of them even wonders if it’s acceptable to do something that will cause widespread economic pain for the poor, but that’s as far as it goes. They immediately return to planning how they will use violence to solve a problem – not exactly a life hack most parents want their kids to absorb.

Given the gigantic moral and ethical hole at the center of the plot, this is clearly not a move for family audiences. Its Restricted rating underlines this: the movie is replete with scenes of alcohol consumption, smoking, and cocaine use. There is also abundant profanity, including 80 sexual expletives. Throw in extensive scenes of bomb-making, a plot to blow up infrastructure, and scenes of people being shot and otherwise injured, and this isn’t exactly a popcorn flick. There are better environmental films out there and far more exciting thrillers. Do yourself a favor and skip this dud.