The Power of Nightmares

Examines how politicians have used our fears to increase their power and control over society.

The Power of Nightmares (2004) is a British documentary miniseries created by Adam Curtis for BBC Two. Across three hour-long episodes, the series traces how politicians and policy strategists turned fear of terrorism into a durable tool of power and control. Rather than following a single protagonist, it builds its case through interviews with analysts, former intelligence officers and political commentators such as Gilles Kepel, Richard Perle, William Kristol and Milton Bearden, who appear as themselves. Curtis threads archival footage and quiet narration through a chain of connected arguments, following how threat narratives were assembled, promoted and repeated until they shaped public life. The tone is cool, skeptical and deliberate, more essay than exposé, with an unsettling sense that the nightmares being discussed were partly manufactured. Viewers drawn to political history, post 9/11 geopolitics and thoughtful documentary craft will find resonance with the analytical provocations of The Century of the Self and The Corporation. It is a single contained season, and its power lies in argument rather than spectacle, making it a rewarding watch for anyone who wants context behind headlines about security and fear.

Critics acclaim the series as a provocative, densely argued documentary that reframes post-Cold War political rhetoric about terrorism.

• The Century of the Selfshared documentary essay style, political history analysis, archival footage argument
• The Corporationshared critical examination of state power and fear-driven politics, documentary investigation
• Zero Dark Thirtyshared political documentary tone, cold analytical framing of terrorism and government narratives

Created by

Adam Curtis

Release Date

2004-10-20

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

8.7 / 10 (81)

What is The Power of Nightmares about?

A three-part British documentary argues that politicians have deliberately used fear of terrorism to expand their power over society.

What is The Power of Nightmares like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Power of Nightmares as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as dense.

Is The Power of Nightmares violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Power of Nightmares as mild.

What did critics think of The Power of Nightmares?

Critics acclaim the series as a provocative, densely argued documentary that reframes post-Cold War political rhetoric about terrorism.

Which shows are like The Power of Nightmares?

Shows with a similar feel include The Century of the Self, The Corporation, and Zero Dark Thirty.

How long is The Power of Nightmares?

The Power of Nightmares: 1 season, 3 episodes.

Is The Power of Nightmares still running?

No, The Power of Nightmares has ended.