7.5
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Documentary, TV Movie • 2017 • 93 min
A Gray State (2017)
A Gray State (2017)
Overview
In 2010 David Crowley, an Iraq veteran, aspiring filmmaker and charismatic up-and-coming voice in fringe politics, began production on his film Gray State. Set in a dystopian near-future where civil liberties are trampled by an unrestrained federal government, the film’s crowd funded trailer was enthusiastically received by the burgeoning online community of libertarians, Tea Party activists and members of the nascent alt-right. In January of 2015, Crowley was found dead with his family in their suburban Minnesota home. Their shocking deaths quickly become a cause célèbre for conspiracy theorists who speculate that Crowley was assassinated by a shadowy government concerned about a film and filmmaker that was getting too close to the truth about their aims.
Starring Cast
David Crowley • Danny August Mason • Alex Jones
Where to watch
Apple TVRating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Traditional
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: Low
Family Values: Mixed
Viewer Rating
7.5
Overview
In 2010 David Crowley, an Iraq veteran, aspiring filmmaker and charismatic up-and-coming voice in fringe politics, began production on his film Gray State. Set in a dystopian near-future where civil liberties are trampled by an unrestrained federal government, the film’s crowd funded trailer was enthusiastically received by the burgeoning online community of libertarians, Tea Party activists and members of the nascent alt-right. In January of 2015, Crowley was found dead with his family in their suburban Minnesota home. Their shocking deaths quickly become a cause célèbre for conspiracy theorists who speculate that Crowley was assassinated by a shadowy government concerned about a film and filmmaker that was getting too close to the truth about their aims.
Starring Cast
David Crowley • Danny August Mason • Alex Jones
Where to watch
Apple TVDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Traditional
Primary
Political: Leans Right
Confidence: Medium
The film extensively documents and gives a platform to anti-government conspiracy theories and fears of martial law, which are dominant themes in right-wing and libertarian discourse, through the tragic story of its protagonist.
Diversity: Low
Confidence: High
The documentary primarily features individuals who are white, reflecting the real-life subjects and interviewees without intentional race or gender-based casting changes. The narrative focuses on an individual's personal struggles and radicalization, without explicitly critiquing traditional identities or centering on DEI themes.
Secondary
Family Values: Mixed
Confidence: High
The film documents the tragic breakdown of a nuclear family due to one parent's escalating paranoia and mental instability, portraying the family's collapse without endorsing or critiquing specific traditional or progressive family norms.
LGBTQ: N/A
Confidence: High
The film 'A Gray State' is a documentary exploring the life and death of David Crowley, an aspiring filmmaker involved in anti-government movements. The narrative centers on his personal struggles, radicalization, and the investigation into his family's deaths. There are no identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes present in the film's plot or character arcs.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
A Gray State is a documentary chronicling the life and death of David Crowley, an aspiring filmmaker and veteran. The film explores his descent into extremist ideologies, his unproduced dystopian film project, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding the deaths of his family. The narrative does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
This documentary focuses on real historical figures and events surrounding David Crowley and his unfinished film. It portrays all individuals, including David Crowley, Komel Crowley, and others, according to their documented historical genders without any changes.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
This is a documentary film about real historical figures. The film presents these individuals and their stories without altering their established racial identities through casting or portrayal.
Hinduism: N/A
Confidence: High
Not depicted in the film.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.2
6.5
Critic Ratings
10.0
7.4
More Like This
Leans Traditional
6.5
The Quest Fulfilled: A Director's Vision
(2003)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.3
Faye
(2024)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.3
Universal Horror
(1998)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.9
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
(1980)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.9
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
(1995)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.0
Nichols and May: Take Two
(1996)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
8.2
All Star Tribute to Ingrid Bergman
(1979)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
6.9
'N Sync: Live from Madison Square Garden
(2000)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.5
Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star
(1991)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.2
The Alphabet Conspiracy
(1959)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Traditional
8.3
Alone in the Wilderness
(2004)
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.3
The Countess and the Russian Billionaire
(2020)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.1
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years
(1986)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.3
Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces
(2000)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
10.0
WUFT at CES 2026: Megabytes and Vegas Nights
(2026)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
8.6
Marcella
(2025)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
8.6
Veselka: The Rainbow on the Corner at the Center of the World
(2024)
Political: Not Rated
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.3
In Waves and War
(2024)
Political: Not Rated
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.9
Tim's Vermeer
(2013)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
8.6
Noah Kahan: Out of Body
(2026)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low