Phoenix Jones: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Superhero

Phoenix Jones: The Rise and Fall of a Real Life Superhero is a new documentary, directed by Bayan Joonam. It aims to remove the mask on a real vigilante. This is a morally complex portrait of a man and the ambiguous movement he came to represent. Technically speaking, this is a well-assembled, researched and paced chronicle – as well as being a fascinating fusion of formats. Every subject is very nicely captured, with a crystal-clear look at play. Light and colour are treated with contrast and clarity. More than anything else, in terms of content, I would say that this film is about contradiction. It’s telling that news outlets seem to be more focused on the iconography of the superhero (taking a simplistic angle), as opposed to the ethical ambiguity at the heart of Phoenix’s story. But this documentary finally provides a more dynamic and confrontational perspective on a real person who decided to put on a suit, head out into the city, and fight crime.

There’s always something concerning about vigilantism; and this documentary isn’t afraid to explore the danger, toxicity and authoritarianism which are inherent to a movement such as this. It’s especially disconcerting to see one interviewed subject – a ridiculous, aggressive individual – who attended his interview carrying a loaded weapon. On the flip side of this, however, is a more rational philosophy – expressed by Jones himself relating to how it is the direct result of a corrupt government which leads the individual to take matters into their own hands (I’m paraphrasing). Whilst an undeniably fascinating portrait, one would hope that the audience takeaway be two-fold: one, that this is a biproduct of institutional issues; two, that activism and peaceful protest are far more admirable than this form of vigilantism (the film puts a lot of emphasis on the difference between peaceful and non-peaceful protest, perhaps to the detriment of a greater lesson).

Much of this film leaves a slightly sour taste in my mouth – especially with fascistic forces such as ICE in the US and malignant, reactive incel culture feeling more and more relevant day after day. For some, the “take matters into your own hands” attitude is a negative one; a phrase that may excuse or enable someone’s pro-violence set of beliefs and then taking the step to enforce those beliefs. But I would argue that Phoenix’s heart is ostensibly in the right place, even if it manifested in frequently damaging, messy and unconstructive ways.

There’s a willingness on the documentarian’s part to enter dangerous situations and to confront reality with the camera. More than any individual featured in the film, you could argue that the filmmakers themselves are far more admirable for their want to present truth. I quite admire this style of filmmaking. The director knows that true perception – when it comes to grey topics like these – can be attained through gradual, non-biased accumulation of testimony, intentionality and context. The result is this movie: something rich, thought-provoking and open-ended. As stated in the film, it’s an effective depiction of “people who were desperately seeking community and purpose.”