Director Cullen Hoback's documentary Q: Into the Storm chronicles the QAnon phenomenon with the primary goal of unmasking the anonymous poster Q. The list of candidates ranges from political figures like Roger Stone to the owners of a website called 8chan, Q's chosen online home.
The series provides insight into a movement that was often baffling from the outside and takes the audience on a deep dive into QAnon as it grew beyond the internet into a real-world force with sometimes devastating consequences. While entertaining and informative about the QAnon movement, the series does raise questions about responsible journalism.
QAnon is a set of conspiracy theories that developed online in 2017, centering around the idea that there is an evil global cabal running the world from the shadows. The anonymous poster Q, a supposed government insider who amassed a cult following, made what are known as Q drops to reveal details of this global conspiracy. This conspiracy garnered potentially millions of devotees ready to take action. Some have made it to Congress as elected officials. Some participated in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
There's an argument to be made that the series is too flippant and perhaps unintentionally serves as a mouthpiece for QAnon. Hoback interviews key players within and associated with the movement and pretty much gives them free rein to speak, keeping his own commentary to a minimum. Rather than attempting to debunk the conspiracy, Hoback believed unmasking Q would be a more effective means of stripping power from the movement. But he frames the series as a romp, a quest to discover the identity of the elusive Q. The tone is almost lighthearted—even the background music is often jaunty.
While the tone could be read as making light of people who have done true harm, it could also be read as an attempt to frame the beliefs and behavior of many of his subjects as ridiculous. Perhaps the intent was to delegitimize the QAnon worldview through this framing, but that might not be the interpretation of every viewer.
Q: Into the Storm provides an interesting look into QAnon, online radicalization, and the consequences of stoking hateful ideology. However, the message could at times get lost amidst the trappings. Following Hoback on his journey is fun, but it's fair to ask whether fun should be the goal here. Optional purchase for developing political film collections. Aud: C, P.