THE PREMISE:

"Filmmaker Andrew Callaghan investigates about the life of Kelly Johnson, a participant at a 2021 White Lives Matter rally in Huntington Beach, California, delving into Johnson's background and beliefs."

OUR DOCUMENTARY REVIEW:

A QAnon conspiracy theorist walks into an abortion clinic. That’s no punchline for a joke, but rather a very real incident that YouTuber-turned-filmmaker Andrew Callaghan captures in his latest documentary Dear Kelly. And it goes just about as badly as you might expect. Within seconds of entering, that same conspiracy theorist is thrown out for accusing doctors of harvesting and selling parts of unborn fetuses. Believe it or not that isn’t the last we see of that “truther” - or the least offensive thing we see him do. In fact, when we first meet him, he’s preaching at White Lives Matter rally about how Bill and Hillary Clinton allegedly killed Kobe Bryant.

As the title of the film suggests, that man’s name is Kelly. While most would ignore his nonsensical talking points, or attempt to disprove them, after meeting him Callaghan simply decides he wants to get to know him. Not to troll him. Not to change his mind. But to understand how he became so radical. The result is a funny yet surprisingly profound ride that might just be as unbelievable as anything QAnon has ever claimed - if it weren’t all caught on camera.

Now, if there’s one thing Callaghan is known for it’s his willingness to get up close and personal to subjects that some might deem outcasts. One quick glance at his YouTube Channel “Channel 5 News” and you’ll see interviews with Satanists, pick-up artists, gang members, and even Tom Hanks’ estranged son Chet. In his directorial debut, This Place Rules, he notably conducted interviews with members of QAnon and some of the individuals who were later revealed to be pivotal in planning the January 6 United States Capitol attack. Despite its groundbreaking subject matter, early on in this film Callaghan reveals that he doesn’t think his last film successfully explored the nation’s current political divide. And he explains that it actually wasn’t until he met Kelly that he started to understand it himself.

“Andrew’s Radicalization Theory,” as Callaghan humorously calls it because well he’s Andrew and “it’s [his] theory,” goes against what the media and other experts have consistently said about the origin of radicalization in America. Instead of blaming undercurrents of hate and echo chambers of misinformation, Callaghan’s believes that domestic radicalization can be the result of a deeply personal tragedy. And Kelly sparks this belief in him when he opens up about how he had his house stolen from him by a man named Bill Joiner. At first, on the surface, it looks and feels like Kelly is just looking for an excuse to hang his anger on. But the more Callaghan gets to know him, the more he begins to see where it all went wrong for Kelly.

In one eye-opening exchange between the two, Kelly explains that Donald Trump’s loss to Joe Biden during the 2020 election reminded him of his own loss. Not only did that make him feel like he could relate to Trump, that made him feel like he had purpose again. But that renewed sense of self wasn’t used to fix his own problems. It was used to speak out on the injustice he believed was carried out against Trump.

And this only proves “Andrew’s Radicalization Theory” more. The theory goes on to also suggest that those who suffer from deep personal tragedies slowly sever themselves from their main support system. As a result, they lose their physical or emotional security, significance and connection to reality. Once all three of those needs are gone, they become absolutely susceptible to problematic ideologies. 

When Kelly loses his home, he slowly ices out his family. He and his wife eventually get a divorce, and the relationship between him and his three children becomes alien. Believing that there is still hope for Kelly, Callaghan takes it upon himself to help him reconnect with both his family and reality. That is where the film truly takes off. 

Unlike any of the short form content “Channel 5” fans are used to, Callaghan really takes his time flushing out Kelly’s life to illustrate how much of a man exists behind the ignorant façade. For example, he conducts interviews with all of Kelly’s children and tries to understand how they cope with their dad’s behavior. What’s most shocking is that they are unphased by it. In fact, his son reveals that he occasionally attends radical events with his dad just because he knows it’s the only time he’ll be able to spend time with him. And his oldest daughter (who is a member of the LGBTQ+ community) holds no grudges against him despite her dad actively protesting her rights. HIs family’s unwavering love further proves how Kelly is actively sabotaging himself and depriving himself of a support system because of his loss. And it shows just how greater of a loss is dealing to himself by not moving on and being there for his family. 

Despite the numerous dramatic beats and conversations, this documentary does have some comedy as well. For example, “Channel 5” fans know that Callaghan always has to squeeze in a freestyle rap sequence in his projects. The way in which he shoehorns it in here is hilariously admirable. However, one of the funniest sequences is easily Callaghan’s attempt to track down the man who Kelly swears ruined his life. What follows is a brief, yet hilarious foray into investigative journalism that ends with one of the film’s most shocking revelations. 

The film is a huge step up for Callaghan compared to his last doc - both emotionally, comedically and conceptually. However, one place it does fall flat is the ending. That’s not to say Callaghan doesn’t wrap the film up nicely. It’s just that Kelly’s arc may not end exactly where viewers might expect, despite even the best intentions and an earnest intervention. Like many other great stories, however, it succeeds by starting a larger conversation. While not everyone may not like what it has to say, it should be deemed required viewing for those who don’t understand social support sincerely.