Taxi to the Dark Side
Alex Gibney’s probing documentary follows one Afghan taxi driver’s death into a devastating investigation of torture and the post-9/11 erosion of American law.
Overview
A harrowing exploration of the cost of security in a post-9/11 world.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- forensic
- morally outraged
- serious discussion night
- political history viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an intelligent, powerful, and rigorously argued investigation of torture and War on Terror policy.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The death of Afghan taxi driver Dilawar is connected to policies and orders from military, legal, intelligence, and executive authorities.
Dilawar's 2002 death serves as the touchstone for the film's examination of Bagram, Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and post-9/11 detention policy.
The film interweaves news footage, photographs, interviews, and a New York studio reenactment with Brian Keith Allen.
Speakers examine detainee rights, military jurisdiction, interrogation policy, and the claimed sacrifice of American ideals for security.
Films like Taxi to the Dark Side, and why
The Fog of War
shared investigative documentary form, institutional accountability, and human rights focus
Fahrenheit 9/11
shared post-9/11 political critique, documentary evidence, and examination of government power
Standard Operating Procedure
shared war-on-terror subject matter, interrogation ethics, and harrowing nonfiction testimony
The Act of Killing
shared human rights investigation and confrontational examination of state violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Alex Gibney
- Release Date
- 2008-01-18
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (270)
Cast
- Alex Gibney
- Brian Keith Allen
- Moazzam Begg
- Christopher Beiring
- Carl Levin
- Jack Reed
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Taxi to the Dark Side about?
- Alex Gibney’s probing documentary follows one Afghan taxi driver’s death into a devastating investigation of torture and the post-9/11 erosion of American law.
- What is Taxi to the Dark Side like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Taxi to the Dark Side as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Taxi to the Dark Side violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Taxi to the Dark Side as graphic.
- What did critics think of Taxi to the Dark Side?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an intelligent, powerful, and rigorously argued investigation of torture and War on Terror policy.
- Which films are like Taxi to the Dark Side?
- Films with a similar feel include The Fog of War, Fahrenheit 9/11, Standard Operating Procedure, and The Act of Killing.
- How long is Taxi to the Dark Side?
- Taxi to the Dark Side runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Taxi to the Dark Side?
- In United States, Taxi to the Dark Side streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
