On Sunday 21st of July this year, the world stopped as former US President, Donald Trump, survived an assassination attempt. The last attempted American Presidential assassination attempt was March 30, 1981 when John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate US President Ronald Reagan. This significant world event sparked global interest about history repeating itself.
In Queensland, Australia, director Neil McGregor was working behind the scenes with his team to release his documentary, Hinckley – I Shot the President for an August 30 release. This world news sent the intended trailer release into overdrive, with the film now holding a chilling renewed relevance in light of these world events sparking heightened interest.
John Hinckley shocked the nation with his attempt to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981, leaving Reagan and three others critically wounded. Fueled by an obsession with the film Taxi Driver and actress Jodie Foster, Hinckley’s severe mental illness drove him to commit an act that forever changed the course of American history.
Now, after spending 35 years confined in a psychiatric hospital, Hinckley is released and free, navigating a world vastly different from the one he left behind. Seeking redemption, he faces the daunting task of confronting his past and finding his place in a society still grappling with the legacy of his actions.
Since his release, Hinckley has turned to music as a form of therapy and self-expression. Composing and performing his own songs, he seeks solace and connection through his art, hoping to redefine his identity beyond the shadow of his infamous past. His music offers a glimpse into his ongoing journey of rehabilitation and redemption, revealing a complex portrait of a man striving for normality.
Featuring never before seen footage and photos, this controversial documentary explores the human condition and delves deep into the psyche of John Hinckley for the first time ever and comes to terms with the uncomfortable truths of his past, viewers are taken on a journey through the dark underbelly of the American Dream. Set against a backdrop of a nation divided by politics and gripped by relentless gun violence, the film explores the human condition, the complexities of mental illness, and
the haunting echoes of a fractured society.
John Hinckley – I Shot the President is available for pre-sale now at $9.95 with early access available on August 27th for 72 hours prior to the premiere on August 30, 2024 where the cost will go to $12.95. The website includes FBI Case files, behind the scenes footage with further elements to be announced.
Glass Engine will release the film on its own platform Launchpad: https://hinckley.movie
