Imagine Woodstock with fewer hugs, more knives, and Hells Angels security guards paid in Budweiser by the gallon.
And a murder at the show — all caught on film.
“Gimme Shelter” will be in my list of 10 Best Concert Documentaries when I get to it!
Thx to Christian Kearney for reminding me to share this epic doc.
Trailer for “Gimme Shelter”
Watch “Gimme Shelter”
You can stream “Gimme Shelter” on Max here.
For all streaming options, check JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 91/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 91/100 (Critics); 93/100 (Users)
Director’s Note: Gimme Shelter is directed by Albert Maysles, David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin. Known for their cinéma vérité work like “Salesman” (which I rank 97/100) and “Grey Gardens” (92/100), the Maysles let the camera speak—and in this case, it screamed.
Release Date: December 6, 1970 (one year to the day after the Altamont concert)
My Review of “Gimme Shelter”
The Setup
What started as a plan to capture the Rolling Stones’ 1969 U.S. tour turned into a chilling real-life horror film when the band’s free concert at Altamont spiraled into chaos. The film’s climax—the murder of 18-year-old Meredith Hunter—is not re-enacted. It’s real. And it’s in the film.
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- The Hells Angels were hired for security for just $500 worth of beer—and showed up wielding leaded pool cues.
- Mick Jagger was punched in the face within seconds of landing at Altamont via helicopter.
- The stage was so low and poorly protected that Jefferson Airplane’s Marty Balin got knocked out mid-set by a Hells Angel.
- Meredith Hunter, a young Black man, was stabbed to death by Hells Angel Alan Passaro as he pulled a gun near the stage—while the Stones kept playing, unaware of what was happening just feet away.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Altamont was supposed to be “Woodstock West”—instead, it drew 300,000 fans, zero planning, and utter chaos.
- Scenes in the editing room show Mick Jagger and Charlie Watts watching the murder footage for the first time, visibly shaken and stunned into silence.
- The doc captures a band watching their dream implode. The moment they see Meredith pull the gun and then drop from the knife wounds is bone-chilling.
- Editor Charlotte Zwerin chose to structure the film around the Stones watching the footage. It wasn’t scripted—it was a real reaction used to build emotional context.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- The Maysles brothers captured the killing on film. That footage was used as evidence in court.
- Despite the disaster, the Stones performed songs like “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Under My Thumb” as fights broke out in the crowd.
- The film’s Direct Cinema approach meant no voiceovers, no setup, no commentary—just the camera observing. The filmmakers insisted they didn’t stage or direct a single shot.
- The Maysles brothers always acknowledged the subjectivity of editing but maintained they “didn’t tell any lies that [they] know about.”
Wrap Up
“Gimme Shelter” is a cultural autopsy. It shows how peace and love turned into knives and death, all caught in 24 frames per second.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc