Netflix's 'nail biting' new docuseries lands impressive 100% Rotten Tomatoes score
A new Netflix documentary currently boasting an impressive 100% Rotten Tomatoes score has taken the streaming platform by storm as it surged up the top TV rankings. American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden is made by the same creators as American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon bombing and explores the counterterrorism efforts that were put in place by the US in response to the tragic 9/11 attacks.
The Netflix mini series explores the lead up of events in the ten years it took to track down and capture Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind behind the terrorist attack. The three-part series pieces together archival footage and talking heads interviews to create a behind-the-scenes look at the governmental decision making at the time.
Directors Daniel Sivan and Mor Loushy explained their aim in making the show was to transport viewers into these rooms in real time, building up from the initial intelligence which hinted an attack was imminent to working out who was responsible and seeking justice. The show aims to ask viewers what they would do in such a situation as the director's explained to Netflix's Tudum: "For us, the best way to understand history is to truly experience it.
"Being thrown into the driver's seat after the worst attack in American history would rattle anyone, even these brave men and women who had devoted their lives to protecting Americans by assessing geopolitical threats and sounding alarms that were often ignored.
"But the intelligence analysts didn't have time to grieve or reflect. They had a mission at hand: to figure out who did this and stop them before the next attack."
Sivan and Loushy added: "American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden does not tell the story of the United States and the War on Terror. It tells the story of the people tasked to find the world's most wanted terrorist and bring him to justice. It [was] a hunt that changed their lives, America, and the world as we know it."
The show's third and final episode gives the 2013 Hollywood blockbuster Zero Dark Thirty a run for its money in the its tense recreation of how Osama Bin Laden's compound in Pakistan was raided during the middle of the night by US soldiers on a nighttime operation that was all formed on the basis of a hunch he was inside after years of looking for him.
Their mission was successful and Osama Bin laden was finally killed 10 years after 9/11 on May 2 2011.
Netflix viewers already shared their reactions to the gripping show, taking to X to praise the direction, the Metro reports.
@RakitaMode remarked: "American Manhunt Osama Bin Laden was a riveting documentary series. Just 3 episodes, most of which I've seen bits and pieces over several documentaries/movies.
"But it was put together so well, especially the 3rd episode was nail biting cinema! Hard hitting! Must watch!"
@AngelaBaevis echoed: "That Osama Bin Laden American Manhunt installment is soooo good. 10s to whoever produced & directed it."
Other viewers did point out the one-sided nature of the documentaries, which strongly defended the CIA intelligence officers who spent years looking for Bin laden.
@boredpeanutt shared: "Watching the American manhunt for Osama bin Laden on Netflix rn, and it feels like the main point of the show is to make people sympathise with the CIA and the intelligence officers for their years-long intelligence failure. It's an overkill at this point."
@JakeQRyan agreed: "Netflix has released American Manhunt Osama Bin Laden which seems to feature the 'heroic' CIA Officers who worked in Alec Station??
"FBI & Congress blamed those clowns for actively concealing the presence of known Al Qaeda terrorists in USA before the 9/11 attacks. Not heroes. Idiots."
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