The Shock Doctrine (2009)

Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating

An investigation of "disaster capitalism", based on Naomi Klein's proposition that neo-liberal capitalism feeds on natural disasters, war and terror to establish its dominance.

The Quartile Take

Based on Naomi Klein's incendiary book, the documentary presents a genuinely striking and provocative thesis — that neoliberal economic shock therapy has been systematically imposed on vulnerable populations during moments of crisis. The argument is constructed with considerable rhetorical force and archival depth, making it conceptually distinctive and memorable. Cinematography is competent but unremarkable for the genre, relying heavily on news footage and talking-head interviews. Acting is not applicable in the traditional sense; Klein and interviewees are earnest but variable in screen presence. The ending lands with appropriate gravity but doesn't fully resolve the tension it builds, leaving the audience energized but somewhat unmoored.

Related films on Quartile

Browse and rate films on Quartile