User reviews

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.

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.

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.

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.

It seems like there are many sock puppets down voting this documentary.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

He's living by his own rules. The virtue signally dog who he gave a chance to, along with Nenette the reporter do nothing but make me root for John.

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.

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.

Was hoping to learn something new here, but alas that was not the case. The director pretty much proves McAfee's point that journalists will run with any story so long as it has entertainment value.

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

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.