Alt-Right: Age of Rage is perhaps the only documentary this year that one will watch and can’t help getting angry.  It’s not even the good anger but the WHY ARE THESE PEOPLE THINKING THEY’RE RIGHT ANGER!  Without a doubt, it’s a documentary that requires a trigger warning before going forward.

Director Adam Bhala Lough manages to profile a lot of key players of the “alt-right,” which the AP would have you label as a multitude of terms.  It’s the inclusion of this guy that will draw a lot of anger–sorry, won’t name him.  I have too much dignity to allow this site to include his name.  There’s nothing wrong with what Lough is doing from a journalistic perspective.  It’s just the sheer amount of anger that one is going to feel while watching.  There were a bunch of “ARE YOU SERIOUS?” and “SERIOUSLY?” over here.  I’ve never wanted to yell at the screen more than I did in viewing.

How in the hell that director Adam Bhala Lough and cinematographer Christopher Messina were able to capture the footage that they did is simply insane to say the least.  They get up close an personal not just with their one-on-one interviews but this is a film that culminates with the unfortunate tragedy that transpired in Charlottesville in August 2017.  Yes, it also manages to include the controversial statements made by the nation’s 45th president.

In addition to those members of the alt-right profiled in the film, there’s also some representation on the left by way of Daryle Lamont Jenkins, the executive director of the One People’s Project.  Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) also shares his knowledge of the rise of the white supremacists.  Activist Lacy MacAuley was also among those interviewed.

The crazy thing is that while there were several players interviewed, they don’t realize how wrong their views are.  How does one not realize that they are actually a racist?  How can they not acknowledge that the Civil War was a battle over slavery?!?  Like did they not actually learn anything when they were taking U.S. history classes?!?  You’ll have to forgive me for being angry after watching this documentary.

There are better documentaries out there and those will inspire viewers in the right kind of way without the anger that comes with it.  If anything, Alt-Right: Age of Rage will remind viewers of the evil that white supremacists are capable of doing.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER:  Adam Bhala Lough

An official selection of the 2018 SXSW Film Festival, Alt-Right: Age of Rage premieres as a part of the Documentary Spotlight program.