Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, posted the film 'Citizen Vigilante' for free on his X account from Thursday to Sunday, dramatically boosting its viewership and securing worldwide distribution for the controversial thriller. The film, starring Armie Hammer and directed by Uwe Boll, had been denied a certificate by Germany's ratings board, the FSK, for allegedly inciting violence against immigrants.
Film's Controversial Content and Censorship
According to director Uwe Boll, the FSK rejected the film in a six-to-two vote, with the board citing that the film incited violence against migrants. Boll told the Telegraph, 'It was a deliberate censorship decision. I hired a lawyer to complain about it, but we lost.' The film follows an American businessman, played by Hammer, who takes bloody revenge on immigrant criminals in a non-specific European country. Boll stated he was inspired by a 2016 Hamburg case where three teenagers involved in gang rape received suspended sentences.
Musk's Intervention and Impact
Musk's promotion of the film led to a surge in its commercial profile. Quiver Distribution, which released the film in the US on June 19, has now acquired worldwide rights, according to Variety. Musk also posted on X, 'Citizen Vigilante 2 will be even better.' Boll revealed that Musk contacted the makers of his podcast 'Uwe Boll Raw' to request the film. 'I didn't really chat myself with him or talk to him. It was very quick,' Boll told Variety. 'I think this guy, I don't know what he's doing per day, but I think his attention went like fast. So, I felt also if we don't in a way agree to do it, he would've just moved on.'
Critical Reception and Cultural Context
The film has been widely panned by critics. Variety's Todd Gilchrist called it 'a violent, incoherent, morally bankrupt slice of exploitation' and 'so astonishingly bad, it almost feels like [Boll] is deliberately sabotaging his star.' Boll, often labeled the 'worst director of all time,' has directed over 30 feature films, including notoriously poor video game adaptations like 'Postal' and 'BloodRayne.' Musk's involvement places the film within the ongoing culture war, as Musk has regularly supported far-right anti-immigrant activists, particularly after the knife attack in Belfast in June.
Hammer's Comeback Attempt
Before Musk's interest, 'Citizen Vigilante' had already courted controversy by casting Hammer, who faced accusations of rape and abusive behavior in 2021. Authorities in Los Angeles County declined to pursue sexual assault charges, and Hammer denied claims of cannibalism and sexual abuse in interviews with Tyler Ramsay and Louis Theroux. Boll also changed the film's original title from 'The Dark Knight' after what he described as a 'friendly conversation' with Warner Bros.
