Enemies of the State

Enemies of the State is a 2020 American documentary film directed and produced by Sonia Kennebeck. It follows Matt DeHart, a former intelligence analyst and convicted sex offender, who claims that the FBI invented child pornography allegations against him in retaliation for possessing confidential documents alleging misconduct by the CIA. Errol Morris serves as an executive producer.

Enemies of the State
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySonia Kennebeck
Produced by
  • Ines Hoffman Kanna
  • Sonia Kennebeck
CinematographyTorsten Lapp
Edited byMaxine Goedicke
Music byInsa Rudolph
Production
companies
Distributed byIFC Films
Release dates
  • September 11, 2020 (2020-09-11) (TIFF)
  • July 30, 2021 (2021-07-30) (United States)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$8,495[1]

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2020. It was released on July 30, 2021, by IFC Films.

Synopsis

Matt DeHart and his family claim that after he discovered documents showing misconduct by the CIA, he was the victim of an attempted cover-up by the United States government. He alleges that he was tortured by the FBI and framed for the possession of child pornography. His claims remain unverified and ultimately he pleaded guilty to sex crimes against minors in federal court in Tennessee.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2020.[2][3] The film was initially set to have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2020, but the festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5][6] In March 2021, IFC Films acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and set it for a July 31, 2021, release.[7]

Reception

Enemies of the State holds a 78% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 40 reviews, with an average of 6.4/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Its narrative twists and turns hinder the effectiveness of its message, but Enemies of the State is a fascinating and timely look at the erosion of trust and truth."[8] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 74 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[9]

References
  1. "Enemies of the State". The Numbers. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  2. "Enemies of the State". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  3. Wiseman, Andreas (July 30, 2020). "Toronto Sets 2020 Lineup: Werner Herzog, Regina King, Mira Nair, Francois Ozon, Naomi Kawase Titles Join Hybrid Edition". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  4. "Enemeies of the State". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  5. Goldsmith, Jill (March 3, 2020). "Tribeca Sets Feature Lineup Of Films For 2020 Fest". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  6. Beresford, Tribly; Lewis, Hilary (March 12, 2020). "Tribeca Film Festival Postponed Amid Coronavirus Fears". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  7. Day-Ramos, Dino (March 9, 2021). "IFC Films Acquires Sonia Kennebeck's Docu Thriller 'Enemies Of The State' Executive Produced By Errol Morris". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  8. "Enemies of the State (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  9. "Enemies of the State Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
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