The Center for Investigative Reporting - The Terrorist Hunter
Description
Reviews
Citation
Cataloging
The U.S. spent an estimated $175 billion on counterterrorism in 2017— an 11-fold increase from before 9/11. At a time when terrorist violence – both domestic and international – is on the rise, The Terrorist Hunter follows the career of controversial spy Rita Katz.
Credited with uncovering key information about al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, Katz is both lauded and derided in a field dominated by men. She is upheld for her efforts in tirelessly fighting terrorism, but her critics fault her for supposedly fabricating plots where none exist. This short documentary goes into Katz's home to hear from the woman herself. In her own words, she insists that she has no agenda. She merely sees things and reports them. What the government does with the information is a different story.
Her tale is woven within the context of the multibillion-dollar counterterrorism industry.
"This thought-provoking film provides an insightful look into a largely unknown aspect of American intelligence activity." — Library Journal
"The film supplies ample topics for history, sociology, journalism, political science, and philosophy classes." — School Library Journal
"Recommended. Ann Shin's documentary short focuses on Rita Katz, one of the nation's most prominent and controversial counterterrorism experts...The story of Katz's life is truly fascinating." — Video Librarian
"The Terrorist Hunter calls attention to the self-serving and harmful nature of the counterintelligence industry in an exploratory, honest light, developing parallels with the ways in which the Trump administration has stoked debased fears of Islam -- and fires of white supremancy — in the minds of American people." — The Daily Dot
Citation
Main credits
Shin, Ann (film director)
Shin, Ann (screenwriter)
Shin, Ann (film producer)
Katz, Rita (on-screen participant)
Other credits
Cinematography, Iris Ng [and 3 others]; editing, Steve Taylor.