Deep Web 2015
Distributed by Bond/360, 42 Bond Street, Third Floor, New York, NY 10012 212.354.2650
Produced by Bond360 Trouper Productions Zipper Bros Films
Directed by Alex Winter
DVD, color, 90 min.
Middle School - General Adult
Crime, Ethics, Financial Institutions, Internet, Privacy, Social Media
Date Entered: 02/10/2016
Reviewed by Tom Ipri, St. Joseph’s UniversityTelling the story of Ross Ulbricht, suspected to be the notorious drug dealer known as Dread Pirate Roberts on the underground website, Silk Road, Deep Web is a fascinating exploration of the dark corners of the Internet. Beginning with an effective overview of the dark web, that part of the Internet not indexed by search engines, Alex Winter’s documentary slowly builds intrigue around the origins of Silk Road and, more specifically, about the identity of the Dread Pirate Roberts.
The story of Silk Road is a complex mix of libertarianism, technology, privacy, community, anonymity, and the War on Drugs. Deep Web is an eye-opening exploration about the radical possibilities of the Internet. It balances these higher level issues with the intriguing criminal case against Ulbricht.
For anyone not familiar with the dark web, Winter’s film will be a disturbing reality check for what it going on in the shadows. Despite some honest discussion about drug use and drug policy, Deep Web provides myriad topics for classroom discussion.