Watch Freak Power - The Ballot of the Bomb

Freak Power - The Ballot of the Bomb is a 2020 documentary film about the 1970 campaign for sheriff of Aspen, Colorado, by gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. The film is directed by Ajax Phillips, and features interviews with individuals who were involved in the campaign, including Thompson himself. The film documents Thompson's unorthodox campaign, which was run under the banner of "Freak Power," a term that referred to the counterculture movement of the time.

The film covers how Thompson's campaign for sheriff came about. The idea originated in the wake of the Woodstock festival, when Thompson was approached by a group of young people who were disappointed in the current political climate and were searching for a way to take back their power. Thompson believed that the only way to effect change was from within the system, and he decided to run for sheriff in Aspen as part of his Freak Power movement.

The campaign was not without controversy. Thompson's opponents tried to discredit him by painting him as a drug-addled hippie, and some members of the community were worried that his radical ideas would make Aspen unsafe. However, Thompson was undeterred, and he continued to push his message of peace, love, and justice.

The film depicts how Thompson's campaign was marked by the use of unconventional tactics. One of the most famous of these was the "skull session," a town hall-style meeting where Thompson and his supporters would gather to discuss the issues of the day. The skull sessions were often heated affairs, with participants shouting over one another and Thompson directing traffic like a carnival barker.

Thompson's campaign also utilized a number of other tactics that were ahead of their time. For example, Thompson hired a group of hippie security guards to patrol the streets of Aspen, and he encouraged his supporters to dress up in outrageous costumes to draw attention to the campaign. He also encouraged his supporters to embrace the ethos of the counterculture by engaging in nonviolent civil disobedience.

Despite the controversy surrounding his campaign, Thompson ultimately won the election, and the Freak Power movement achieved a significant victory. The film documents this historic moment in American politics, as Thompson and his team assume control of the sheriff's department and begin to implement their vision of a more just and equitable society.

Overall, Freak Power - The Ballot of the Bomb is a fascinating and engaging documentary that provides a detailed look at one of the most unconventional political campaigns in American history. With interviews from key players in the campaign, as well as footage from the time, the film paints a picture of a time when the counterculture was at its peak, and radicals like Hunter S. Thompson were blazing a new path forward. For anyone interested in American politics, counterculture, or the history of the 1960s and 1970s, this film is definitely worth a watch.

Freak Power - The Ballot of the Bomb is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.