“Enemies of the State” is a documentary thriller that investigates the strange case of Matt DeHart, an alleged hacker and whistleblower, and his former Cold War spy parents who believe they are at the center of a government conspiracy and are ready to do anything to save their son from prison. This stranger-than-fiction story takes audiences on a wild ride of unexpected plot twists and bizarre discoveries in an artistic and cinematic documentary that blurs the line between reality and paranoia. With extraordinary access to all lead characters and key sources, this film presents many contradicting viewpoints as it attempts to solve a mystery that has kept attorneys, activists and journalists occupied for over a decade.
“Enemies of the State” is a timely and compelling media and legal case study, showing how conspiracies can be created, evolve, and then be perpetuated with the help of the internet and aided by lack of transparency by the government. At the same time, this film examines the transformation of a local criminal case to an international media story, and the trust – or blindness – of completely devoted parents who will protect their son, literally at all costs.
A powerful combination of investigative journalism and true crime story, “Enemies of the State” recreates dramatic events with the high production value and feel of a fiction film. The story is as twisted and complex as the Serial podcasts or Making a Murderer, with a beautiful and cinematic visual style comparable to “The Imposter” or “The Thin Blue Line.” Similar to these movies, “Enemies of the State” uses its unreliable narrators to play with the audience’s perception of reality, exposing the power of conviction and manipulation and the significance of seeking the truth.
Sonia Kennebeck is a documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist with 17 years of experience. “National Bird,” her first feature-length film, received a 2018 Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary and the Ridenhour Documentary Prize. In 2016, Foreign Policy recognized her as one of 100 Leading Global Thinkers. Her film “United States vs. Reality Winner” world premiered at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival.
In Theaters & On-Demand Friday, July 30th
