I'm a bit hesitant when documentary filmmakers include themselves in the film their making. But in this case filmmaker Nanette Burstein straddles that line nicely, particularly when the subject of her film won't talk to her! But McAfee does..... via email. And near the end of the film when she is able to "corner" her subject, the result is interestingly captured all on camera. Her persistence in tracking down witnesses, friends and associates is admirable and the results speak for themselves. Is John McAfee crazy? a brilliant media provocateur? A computer genius? All three? I won't spoil anything, but let me just say that the interviews with the "girlfriends" was probably one of the most shocking and disgusting things I have ever heard in my life. Let's leave it at that. In conclusion, the documentary held my interest and was well-produced.
27 Reviews
Well made documentary about a psychopath with money and media presence
zat-831742 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
McAfee was and is not a security guru, but a very good spin doctor for his own purpose. Surely he was at the right time in the right place and sensed a business opportunity. But creating a program to get rid of first virus with global media attention has not been rocket science. Not at the time when the computer world has been much more simple and not so interconnected and multi-layered like today. But John was and is good in getting media presence and making business out of it. Now he manages to transport his deception of the security guru legend into the modern IT world and sell it to young gullible people. Have a look at the negative reviews on IMDb trying to discredit the documentary and its film maker to get a glimpse on the success of the ruthless self-marketing abilities of McAfee.
The documentary is about how to get away with murder when you are John McAfee. If you want a label for it then I would compare it to The Jinx. There are a lot of different people interviewed whose testimonials in combination shed light on McAfees dangerous personality and make a strong point that John needs to go on trial for the murder of Gregory Faull.
The documentary is about how to get away with murder when you are John McAfee. If you want a label for it then I would compare it to The Jinx. There are a lot of different people interviewed whose testimonials in combination shed light on McAfees dangerous personality and make a strong point that John needs to go on trial for the murder of Gregory Faull.
Life and death on the mosquito coast
paul2001sw-125 June 2017
This documentary about the life of John McAfee reminded me of the movie 'The Mosquito Coast'; a maverick, libertarian American travels to central America and becomes very strange. In the case of McAfee, who developed the world's first anti-virus computer software, said "strangeness" involves bizarre sexual practices, a permanent escort of armed guards, and allegations of rape and murder. Yet McAfee returned to the U.S. and an apparent life of contemporary respectability. Nanette's Burnstein's documentary isn't perfect: I don't think much of her interview technique, and she credits a failed bid for the Liberartarian Party of America's nomination for the U.S. presidency with rather more seriousness than it deserves. But it's still a compelling story, whose ending if foreshadowed very early on when we learn of the unconventional practices among the staff of the McAfee company from it's earliest days: those interviewed remember the competition to see who could get laid on their desktops most frequently with fondness, but it seems of a piece with McAfee's later, more disturbing behaviour. Overall, it's a lesson that too much money never really does anyone good; but it's even worse if you get in the way of the person who has it.
Remarkably interesting....
matthijsalexander18 November 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This documentary is interesting and absolutely worth watching.
I found the overall documentary somewhat weak, the story could have been told better and with more debt. I can't quite put my finger on it, something about the presentation I disliked.
The story itself though interesting. Yeah, I didn't know I knew him. I never gave him any thought. He may as well be more famous than Michael Jackson. It always amazes me how mediocre looking dude with a good vocabulary can attract women and make them do virtually anything. Note: I am not jealous.
So you have a product that is known worldwide, and the inventor a bit of an eccentric A*******, that's potentially a recipe for disaster.
Absolutely worth a watch, one hell of story! The story of the guy you know by name and his products' fame. The story of how money can mess with your mind? Or the story of a highly intellectual with vices??
Thank god that the elections weren't McAfee VS Trump. It could have been.
I found the overall documentary somewhat weak, the story could have been told better and with more debt. I can't quite put my finger on it, something about the presentation I disliked.
The story itself though interesting. Yeah, I didn't know I knew him. I never gave him any thought. He may as well be more famous than Michael Jackson. It always amazes me how mediocre looking dude with a good vocabulary can attract women and make them do virtually anything. Note: I am not jealous.
So you have a product that is known worldwide, and the inventor a bit of an eccentric A*******, that's potentially a recipe for disaster.
Absolutely worth a watch, one hell of story! The story of the guy you know by name and his products' fame. The story of how money can mess with your mind? Or the story of a highly intellectual with vices??
Thank god that the elections weren't McAfee VS Trump. It could have been.
Engrossing (And Distrubing)
Sawyer-481516234230 June 2018
I have awarded 7 stars for sheer entertainment value. Despite some questions surrounding the authenticity of this documentary's sources the bottom line for me is that this movie hooked me from the start and held my interest from beginning to end. It's a disturbing look at the life of a rich man with questionable morals acting like he's king of his adopted foreign country.
Be warned, there are some disturbing scenes and topics discussed such as rape, and graphic descriptions of torture and murder. But if you can handle that I recommend this movie, I found it engrossing.
Be warned, there are some disturbing scenes and topics discussed such as rape, and graphic descriptions of torture and murder. But if you can handle that I recommend this movie, I found it engrossing.
Interesting, of course a little over dramatized.
dmarinenko-4949224 June 2021
This was interesting and I think did a fairly good job of being factual. Some of the "chats" the author had was a little funny. And it started bugging me a little they kept putting up pictures of one of his bodyguards holding a scoped rifle, that is all black with a huge scope like a sniper rifle. And I'm thinking hmmmm, that is way to of a gas chamber below and it looks familiar..... Like an air rifle. So I look it up and sure enough it's a Walther 1250 Dominator air rifle. Hahaha. If they are going to put pictures up asking people look scary, they should probably vet a little better.
An eye opener
eva000724 May 2018
Disturbing
kellymsibillia3 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Incredibly brave Nanette. Brilliant. He does not respresent decent Americans and we as Americans should send him back to answer for what he is accused. When someone kills on our soil we want other countries to honor our extradition. HE KILLED AN AMERICAN as well a LOCAL MAN. Just thank you god there was no sex tape! You will understand once you watch this.
Worth watching but not for journalistic reasons.
natlacorp11 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
What i was hoping would be a journalistic piece turned out to be a pop-documentary and assassination piece.
Stylistically it is very slick, however uses elements similar to shows like MTV's Catfish, with cheap animated email snippets.
As a journalistic piece this documentary is very poor. Something from the offset does not ring true with the interviews, there are many inconsistencies which go unquestioned. At one point when interviewing Johns ex-girlfriends they all just happen to have the exact same story, one even says she was payed for sex and then says she never actually had sex with him (claiming only to have done other stuff), it feels like they interviewer is prompting towards it. At no point do the makers even attempt to come across as unbiased, When interviewing what they claim to be the actual murderer, he presents them with an alibi for the murder, which they openly state in the documentary they didn't bother investigating. The opening of the documentary is even dash cam footage of Mcafee being arrested, which at no point is made relevant, shortly followed after by the question; "is John simply a master manipulator?". At no point either are any of Johns claims investigated despite the fact there does seem to be evidence towards them in the free press and what could of been a very interesting thread of the story (John being intimidated for $2 million dollars by a government official and days later being raided by an elite police unit.
One of the most compelling parts of the story is about how John treated a female American botanist, though again this story has a falsity that it is hard to place a finger on. The documentary does not challenge or attempt to question aspects of her story. She states that after an incident she "smashes the vials so John could hurt anybody", the documentarian never asks why or what the vials were.
More than that defeating the legitimacy of this documentary are the various interviews with people from it, either claiming to have been lied to by the director or producing receipts showing they had been payed by Nanette (simply check YouTube), including one produced by "Mac-10", who on the documentary it was claimed fled the country.
The most painful part is when she confronts Mcafee while running for president and seems delight in making him uncomfortable.
I did not mean for this to be such a negative point of view or an attempt to defeat what is presented. The documentary lays out and presents the arc and story of Johns life very well, focusing on the period of his life spent in South America. It is well filmed and put together, however journalistic-ally it is lacking and seems quite happy to make no attempt to really investigate anything.
Worth watching, especially if you are not aware of who John Mcafee is but with a large pinch of salt and a little extract research on the side.
Stylistically it is very slick, however uses elements similar to shows like MTV's Catfish, with cheap animated email snippets.
As a journalistic piece this documentary is very poor. Something from the offset does not ring true with the interviews, there are many inconsistencies which go unquestioned. At one point when interviewing Johns ex-girlfriends they all just happen to have the exact same story, one even says she was payed for sex and then says she never actually had sex with him (claiming only to have done other stuff), it feels like they interviewer is prompting towards it. At no point do the makers even attempt to come across as unbiased, When interviewing what they claim to be the actual murderer, he presents them with an alibi for the murder, which they openly state in the documentary they didn't bother investigating. The opening of the documentary is even dash cam footage of Mcafee being arrested, which at no point is made relevant, shortly followed after by the question; "is John simply a master manipulator?". At no point either are any of Johns claims investigated despite the fact there does seem to be evidence towards them in the free press and what could of been a very interesting thread of the story (John being intimidated for $2 million dollars by a government official and days later being raided by an elite police unit.
One of the most compelling parts of the story is about how John treated a female American botanist, though again this story has a falsity that it is hard to place a finger on. The documentary does not challenge or attempt to question aspects of her story. She states that after an incident she "smashes the vials so John could hurt anybody", the documentarian never asks why or what the vials were.
More than that defeating the legitimacy of this documentary are the various interviews with people from it, either claiming to have been lied to by the director or producing receipts showing they had been payed by Nanette (simply check YouTube), including one produced by "Mac-10", who on the documentary it was claimed fled the country.
The most painful part is when she confronts Mcafee while running for president and seems delight in making him uncomfortable.
I did not mean for this to be such a negative point of view or an attempt to defeat what is presented. The documentary lays out and presents the arc and story of Johns life very well, focusing on the period of his life spent in South America. It is well filmed and put together, however journalistic-ally it is lacking and seems quite happy to make no attempt to really investigate anything.
Worth watching, especially if you are not aware of who John Mcafee is but with a large pinch of salt and a little extract research on the side.
Nicely done!
john2121fl12 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
At first I was skeptical thinking this was a documentary praising the psychopath John McAfee, however I saw the documentary outlined the facts.
A lot of work went into this documentary and I am glad the people in charge were not bought or intimidated off by John.
It shows corruption at the highest levels including in Belize, Guatemala and the US as well because in my opinion they could have sent a DNA team down there or pressured Belize to file charges on John, but it goes to show if you are famous and you are US rich, you can get away with murder.
The documentary leaves it up to the viewer to make their own conclusions in my opinion John hired someone to kill the neighbor US citizen, John is a psychopath like Charles Manson and until I watched the documentary did not know he was running to become the US president.
Overall this is a must watch documentary, no one should have this criminal as their neighbor any of your family members involved with this psycho.
A lot of work went into this documentary and I am glad the people in charge were not bought or intimidated off by John.
It shows corruption at the highest levels including in Belize, Guatemala and the US as well because in my opinion they could have sent a DNA team down there or pressured Belize to file charges on John, but it goes to show if you are famous and you are US rich, you can get away with murder.
The documentary leaves it up to the viewer to make their own conclusions in my opinion John hired someone to kill the neighbor US citizen, John is a psychopath like Charles Manson and until I watched the documentary did not know he was running to become the US president.
Overall this is a must watch documentary, no one should have this criminal as their neighbor any of your family members involved with this psycho.
Watch it. If you've money here's something else you can get away with...
iantrader6 January 2018
This is an incredibly interesting and near seat-gluing documentary, extremely well put together with many fascinating interviews with people who seemingly know exactly what happened in Belize.
Burstein says she's interested in how money, power and fame can afford people privileges which allow them to get away with things others could not. To many this may seem like a given and very few 'ordinary' people can do anything but know it's absolutely true - look at who's running the country! - and this film simply confirms the fact.
All the FBI has to do is find the culprit (avoiding spoilers) and do an DNA test. Burstein found him but maybe the FBI's not that clever or perhaps they lack the resources or perhaps it's simply a question of the rich and famous getting away with things. Again.
In all, a fascinating and very watchable movie.
Burstein says she's interested in how money, power and fame can afford people privileges which allow them to get away with things others could not. To many this may seem like a given and very few 'ordinary' people can do anything but know it's absolutely true - look at who's running the country! - and this film simply confirms the fact.
All the FBI has to do is find the culprit (avoiding spoilers) and do an DNA test. Burstein found him but maybe the FBI's not that clever or perhaps they lack the resources or perhaps it's simply a question of the rich and famous getting away with things. Again.
In all, a fascinating and very watchable movie.
Shameful to call this a documentary
lolalexlin28 June 2021
The director of the film was very unbiased and rarely explored other opinions. It was a straight narrative and as others said, a hit piece. This was absolutely a cringe worthy film based on how it was made. Absolutely repulsive.
From millionaire to one of the biggest loser ever
deloudelouvain20 August 2018
A documentary about John McAfee, the antivirus software creator, not really the thing I thought I would enjoy watching. But I did, as the documentary is very well made. Not only is it well made but the story itself is just extraordinary. The amount of people telling the vile stuff they did on camera just shows how stupid people can be in front of a camera just because they like the attention. John McAfee belongs in prison, without a doubt, but he has money and with money you get away with anything, especially in the USA. From the most famous antivirus creator of that time to an absolute paranoid schyzophrenic, you just have to see it to believe it. The least you can say is that John McAfee had a busy life. He surrounded himself with all kind of lowlifes and wannabe gangsters, just because he could buy anything with his money and because he's a big coward. Too much drugs made him completely paranoid, almost laughable how pathetic is life was and still is. The sexual act itself was not possible anymore, certainly because of his drug abuse, so he just hired pretty ugly (no pun intended) girls to poop in his mouth. How more of a loser can you be? Well done documentary that teaches another lesson that we money you can get away with anything.
How did I miss this?
reneereives10 March 2019
I feel like I missed a huge part of 2010-2012 since it's 2019 and I'm just now learning about this guy. I had heard of him before and some of the craziness surrounding him, but when you only hear bits and pieces, you don't really think about it. Good job on Nannette's part for delving into this, but I definitely feared for her. Great documentary that definitely hits home on the inequalities that exist in this world for the rich.
Disappointed after hearing about the rave reviews.
jyhjqnn27 June 2021
The director was certainly pushing a narrative and never presented any hard facts. This was more speculation than a documentary sadly. I am very disappointed in watching this film, as there seems to be a motive than trying to capture facts.
A compelling documentary
admhr-043735 June 2018
Frightening to see how this man could travel to a poor country and establish himself effectively as a feudal lord and apparently engage in extensive criminal activity and then walk away as if it was just a bad holiday. I think the best line in the documentary is that by a local who knew him and said "he is as crazy as bat-shit" and if you watch the documentary most people will agree. The most heart breaking portion of the documentary is the scenes with the father of the man he allegedly murdered talking about how helpless he feels seeing this guy walking around Scot-free and running for president in the US whilst his son is dead. Well worth a watch.
A rich man who made plenty of poor decisions
bettycjung12 May 2018
5/12/18. A good documentary about John McAfee, the namesake of the very popular antivirus software. Behind the scenes he was totally something else, spending his fortune on who knows what on the island of Belize. Through a series of interviews with those who were involved with him during his time in Belize he sure was involved with some sleazy people and strange behavior. In the end, he gets away with it all. Why? He's McAfee.
Love this guy
David_allen125 January 2020
Horrid defamation attempt
darkopavloski-088473 July 2021
This movie is everything but a documentary. If you are intrigued by McAfee's life this has nothing to do with him but rather how the media is trying to portray him. The people behind this film had a history of attacks on the image of McAfee, a lot of the interviewed people are obviously lying (especially Allison), and a couple even admitted later that they were paid substantial amount of money to reinforce the narrative the film was set to create for John. So, if you are coming here after his death to try and see what this guy was all about, do NOT waste 90 minutes on this bull$#!+ instead spent that time watching a few unbiased interviews he had gived in the past several years to really get a sense of what kind of a guy he was and why the media and the government really wanted to create an image of a rich lunatic, murderer and what not. Just look elsewhere for legitamate information, not worth watching. PS: McAfee didn't uninstall himself.
Not worth watching.
chesh-2112712 October 2016
Previous to watching this documentary, I knew very little about the man who's name had consistently popped up on my computer's desktop, and watched from a perspective of intrigue. Unfortunately, it became very clear early on that rather than being an unbiased peace of investigative journalism, this documentary would be the opposite and presented more like a biased hack-job, or smear campaign against John McAfee. Although it is all made very well, there is not a single moment throughout where I felt like I was hearing the full truth, and as such, decided to investigate the matter for myself after I'd finished watching. What I found was shocking... Although I found interviews with Nanette Burnstein (the documentaries maker), claiming that she'd not paid anyone for interviews, (merely 'photos'), whilst continuing to attack John McAfee. I also found articles from many Belizian news outlets stating that interviewees were paid to lie. These news outlets interviewed the same people, and also had proof of the money transfers sent by Nanette Burnstein. Overall, it seems like Showtime have a lot to answer for. I am very disappointed that I spent an hour and a half watching such fiction.
Yawn + Failed Hit Piece = I wish I didn't waste my time watching this.
TheOneThatYouWanted13 October 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This isn't a documentary. I know and love watching documentaries, been doing so for years now. I started out watching Micheal Moore's stuff and branched out into everything under the sun. The biggest problem real documentaries are facing today are films like this one, if you can call this a film. Basically anyone thinks they can make a documentary nowadays because they have a camera, laptop and an idea for a cool title. And once someone's watches these so-called "documentaries", they'll cringe at the idea of wasting 2 hours of their time watching another documentary. These random 2 hour over-glorified slideshows are killing the art of documentary films. The market has been oversaturated thanks to lame films like this and now real, I repeat REAL DOCUMENTARIES with an actual message or story to tell are getting thrown under the bus because of hipsters like this director who random cut and paste clips together and call it a day, and are doing so just for a paycheck. This is not a film, it is basically 2 hours of some chick p!ssed off at John McAfee because he would not give her an interview for her lame slideshow of a movie. She literally interviews random people (in serious need of money) and has them repeat the same story about John McAfee. They come off as coached. During the interviews they're giving answers like "yah" and "sure." When the director has to finally go somewhere to supposedly verify something, she chickens out because she claims it is too dangerous. It is like a bad high school project, not only half-piped and fake but lacking of much effort. Whatever she was paid to do this, I can tell you she not only pocketed most of the production money but got a free trip out of it. I'm giving it 2 stars because it was kind of funny to hear her keep complaining about John McAfee refusing to give her an interview. It probably forced her to waste more money on paying off locals for bogus interviews. This wannabe documentary isn't worth your time.
Just awefull piece
clubsparties816 March 2019
I knew already about McAfee and him leading an larger than life lifestyle and was hoping on some facts that would like support the image however instead the "documentary" is filled with people saying how nice and generous he is but still manages to spin the story to attack him. This is not journalism. Just great editing
Fake information
greg-1476122 May 2018
Just by watching the documentary, you will realize which sentences were said for money (paid lies) or out of anger/revenge. I cannot recommend this movie if you are looking for facts. If however, you want to see how this world slowly degrades by making fictional documentaries like this, in order to achieve "something"... be my guest.
Pathetic Hatchet Job
rawreel-154735 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is a despicably biased piece of cinematic garbage, haphazardly directed by an artless propagandist. Not one moment of this film even portends to be the slightest bit objective or open-minded. It's kind of sad, because somewhere in this series of events it seems that there could be a cogent and compelling narrative, but in the hands of this ham-fisted, half-wit director, all is lost. Reading the email exchange between the director and McAfee (despite being edited by the director) is something akin to watching a chimp play chess against Garry Kasparov. It makes me wonder just how inept she would seem if the unedited exchanges had been included instead. All in all, don't waste your time with this God awful, raging dumpster fire of a "documentary."
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