Roger Stone (Donald Trump’s flamboyant, Nixon-tattooed political hitman) lets a filmmaker follow him as the 2020 election spirals toward January 6.
Emily Baker of MSN recommended this one.
Trailer for “A Storm Foretold”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Director Christoffer Guldbrandsen had rare access to Roger Stone for about three years. Cameras followed Stone through his 2019 indictment, Trump’s 2020 pardon, and the run-up to January 6.
- Stone talks about “the storm” long before January 6 happens. Hearing the phrase early in the film makes the title feel eerie.
Watch “A Storm Foretold”
“A Storm Foretold” is not currently available for streaming in the United States. You can track its availability on JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 91/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 78/100 (Users); 100/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Christoffer Guldbrandsen is a Danish filmmaker who managed to get unusually close to Roger Stone. Stone often seems to enjoy having the cameras around. That access leads to moments where he talks openly about politics, loyalty, and power.
Release Date: 2023
My Review of “A Storm Foretold”
The Setup
This 90-minute documentary follows Roger Stone from 2018 through January 6, 2021. Stone, who calls himself Trump’s political “godfather,” becomes the perfect guide to the movement. He talks a lot, loves attention, and rarely filters what he says.
Guldbrandsen first set out to film a political movement. Instead, he captured something bigger. The cameras record Stone’s indictment, his effort to get Trump to pardon him, and the political chaos that builds until the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
More Highlights from the Doc
- The film shows Stone during his 2019 legal fight tied to the Mueller investigation. His arrest turns him into a political hero for many Trump supporters.
- Stone clearly knows the cameras are there. But he still brags and talks strategy openly, which makes the footage revealing.
- The movie shows Stone moving through hotel rooms, strategy meetings, and MAGA events like a veteran political operator while the country moves closer to the Capitol attack.
- The movie also shows Stone around figures from the far-right world, including Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs.
- Trump’s pardon of Stone in December 2020 becomes one of the film’s key moments. It changes Stone’s situation overnight.
- By the end, the film feels less like a portrait of one political strategist and more like a warning about where the movement was heading.
Cameos
- Joe Biggs appears as one of the activists moving in the same political world around Stone.
- Director Christoffer Guldbrandsen also becomes part of the story, especially when he debates Stone about politics and the film itself.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Guldbrandsen did not plan to make a January 6 documentary. He only wanted to follow a political strategist.
- Many of the best scenes happen in cars, hotel rooms, and private meetings where Stone talks strategy.
- Stone often treats the camera crew like they are not even there. That is why the film captures so many blunt moments.
- The title feels stronger after watching the film. “A Storm Foretold” sounds less like a metaphor and more like a warning.
Wrap Up:
“A Storm Foretold” is unsettling because much of this was happening in plain sight. If you want a close look at the personalities and strategy around January 6, this documentary is worth watching.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc