73
Metascore
16 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80Los Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinLos Angeles TimesGary GoldsteinA compelling and instructive look at the political practice of gerrymandering. It’s also an infuriating watch on several levels, which is entirely the point of this call-to-action portrait.
- 75Movie NationRoger MooreMovie NationRoger MooreSlay the Dragon became the rallying cry of the Michigan and now national grassroots campaign to end this partisan practice. But as hopeful as the movie wants to be, it can’t help but make obvious how many steps “the people” are behind those Project RedMap masterminds.
- 75The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzThe Globe and Mail (Toronto)Barry HertzA fascinating, frequently angry and occasionally darkly funny documentary.
- 75TheWrapElizabeth WeitzmanTheWrapElizabeth WeitzmanThe film is structured so we come away with two competing, and yet complementary, impressions. First, that our political system has become infected with a rampant and deadly corruption that has spread out of control. And second, that there is a communal cure.
- 75The Associated PressJake CoyleThe Associated PressJake CoyleMay not be the most heartening portrait of our political system. But it’s a vital one and it provides reasons for optimism, too.
- 75The Film StageJared MobarakThe Film StageJared MobarakIt means something to see activists in Wisconsin band together and dig for the truth even if the damage has already done its job. Dashed hope is still hope after all. Every example—failed or not—reminds us that we can fight again.
- 70The New York TimesBen KenigsbergThe New York TimesBen KenigsbergSlay the Dragon is not short on outrage, and just because some of this material is not new doesn’t mean it’s not worth repeating.
- 63Slant MagazineDerek SmithSlant MagazineDerek SmithThe film is suitably direct, clear-eyed, and exhaustive in documenting the massive impacts that gerrymandering has, particularly on communities of color.
- 60The Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeThe Hollywood ReporterJohn DeForeMost will learn something here, in a film that both follows the practice to its natural, dire conclusions and champions the ordinary citizens who have stepped up to fight against it.
- 50The A.V. ClubIgnatiy VishnevetskyThe A.V. ClubIgnatiy VishnevetskySlaying The Dragon is meant as an urgent call to action ahead of this year’s elections, and it is here that it really falters.