A Gray State

2017
6.2| 1h33m| NR| en
Details

In 2010 David Crowley, an Iraq veteran, aspiring filmmaker and charismatic up-and-coming voice in fringe politics, began production on his film Gray State. Set in a dystopian near-future where civil liberties are trampled by an unrestrained federal government, the film’s crowd funded trailer was enthusiastically received by the burgeoning online community of libertarians, Tea Party activists and members of the nascent alt-right. In January of 2015, Crowley was found dead with his family in their suburban Minnesota home. Their shocking deaths quickly become a cause célèbre for conspiracy theorists who speculate that Crowley was assassinated by a shadowy government concerned about a film and filmmaker that was getting too close to the truth about their aims.

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A&E IndieFilms

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Also starring David Crowley

Reviews

Perry Kate Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
SpecialsTarget Disturbing yet enthralling
Helllins It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.
Kinley This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows
gjkrulick Ultimately I enjoyed this movie but as others have noted, the film maker does not spend much time on any other possible conclusion than the narrative you are left with. Two small bits with the keyboard jockey conspiracy guys is the only real glimpse into an alternate story as to what happened with this young family. I happen to agree with the probable answer that mental illness drove David to do the unthinkable but i would have preferred a bit more time having been spent on other possibilities. I am sure I will now go down the internet rabbit hole to find any "evidence" of a conspiracy as the film really did not explore that angle at all. My specualtion would be that the film maker was convinced, after investigating the story so deeply, that what he presents is the truth. I was just disappointed that Netflix eludes to the story being more of a conspiracy in the description.
mj-04155 The story does not provide any insight on any the alleged conspiracy theory, neither does it delve into the psyche of the protagonists. To me the story is nothing more than the sad unfolding of a young person's mental illness with a tragic ending. We know nothing about the protagonist's childhood, family upbringing or intimate relationships. All the movie does is interview friends and family who speculate on and on his apparently disintegrating marriage. Did he suffer from PTSD? Paranoid schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur mania? Very few concrete facts, a lot of speculation...
kme008 Need to know what is being said in the video recording left on Davids phone before his voice recording labled "Komel's prophecy 30oct14" sound is unintelligible and leaves us feeling like a key detail is missing right as the documentary ends. What did she forsee, feel, speculate, or otherwise? This film did a good job of documenting but I think it makes clear that this was not a conspiracy do-in but rather an unfortunate mental health nightmare.
anthonyjlangford I was gripped from the opening scenes. Not knowing the story, it unfolded like a mystery, thanks to a solid structure from a director in control. I don't wish to diminish the content, as really, this is a very disturbing and sad story, as told through the people closest to David, the young man at the center of A Gray State. He was clearly talented but did not realize that as he was creating his debut feature film, he was really documenting his own story, one, which unfortunately, we are now all to privy to. It's a shame that the young woman who shares his journey wasn't represented more by her family, but given the situation, you can understand why they probably didn't wish to participate. As a parent, it's absolutely heartbreaking. A truly tragic story, that didn't leave any questions for me, that it might do for others. The human mind is a fragile thing, especially after trauma. There is a high degree of responsibility, however, of governments to look after those whom it exposes to war, that should last long after duty is over.