Critics Ignored ‘Screams,’ Rave Over ‘From Ground Zero’

Type “Screams Before Silence review” into Google.

You’ll eventually find a handful of reviews. Less than five, to be exact. Only one major outlet weighed in on the searing documentary – TheWrap.com.

The film came out last year, clocks in at roughly 60 minutes and has been available all this time via YouTube. The documentary lets survives of the Oct. 7 terror attacks on Israel speak, and what they share is the stuff of nightmares.

It all happened, unless we suddenly don’t “believe all women.”

The attack and its aftermath remain relevant today with opinions varying widely on the subject. Yet the vast majority of film critics refused to review the film. And it’s been available since April 2024.

Nothing has changed since then.

Now, compare that to the media’s response to “From Ground Zero.” The film hit a limited number of theaters Jan. 3 and tells the story of Gaza from a pro-Palestinian perspective.

Literally.

Here’s the official description:

22 Palestinian filmmakers living through war capture their lives in Gaza over the past year, revealing stories beyond the headlines. Their work offers a striking view of life’s fragility and the resilience of love in the face of devastation.

Now, go to Rotten Tomatoes and count up the official reviews for a film shortlisted for Oscar consideration.

38 reviews. Major outlets like The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times. RogerEbert.com and more offered their praise. Smaller outlets also weighed in.

Notice a difference? Think that’s a coincidence?

Today’s film critics routinely ignore films that don’t align with their worldview. Just ask the folks at The Daily Wire. The conservative platform released the most popular documentary of the past 10 years, “Am I Racist?” That film has 16 Rotten Tomatoes reviews, with only one major platform giving it a chance (The New Yorker).

The Oct. 7 attacks weren’t political, at least on the surface. Critics chose to ignore the most substantial documentary on the subject while feting a film told from a vastly different world view.

Again, no accident.

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