“Q: Into the Storm” is a horrifying look into the susceptibility of humankind and desire for power

Who is QAnon? Whatever the identity of the mystery blogger claiming to have secret information about Satanic cults controlling the world, their impact over the past five years has been dramatic and fatalistic. Investigating the phenomena, documentarian Cullen Hoback probably had no idea just how bizarre and far reaching the online conspiracy grew. As he searched for Q’s identity in Q: Into the Storm, a portrait of greed, ego and influence emerges that shows the absolute worst of humanity, a vital story for the digital age.

Over six episodes, the HBO documentary series follows Hoback as he follows the trail of Q from rather humble beginnings ranting on pedophiles and Satanic worshipping on the uncensored 8chan website to proliferating theories about government conspiracy aided by a growing following on Twitter, YouTube and other platforms. Soon, the movement becomes a base of the GOP, beyond reason or motivation. Hoback follows 8chan owners and founders Frederick Brennan, Ron and Jim Watkins and Paul Furber, trying to gauge what they know about their most famous user and if any of them may actually be Q. The four individuals not only try to reframe the narrative to their own benefit, but spend equal amounts of time stabbing the others in the back, showcasing how their free speech argument is just a smokescreen to their own need for power and influence.

The self-delusion of the subjects of Hoback’s documentary really reveal the latent ego and neverending desire for authority in the digital world. The father and son Watkins’ duo go on and on about the importance of free speech, but never feel responsibility when their platform is used for fear mongering, racism and calls to violence. If they are not Q, how much blame do they deserve for his actions, their platform the reason that his insane theories gained momentum in an unbalanced world? Their motivation is revealed as not principled but ego-driven, their need to feel important resulting in a nefarious and destructive movement that most everyone else will agree is insane and evil.

When 8chan founder Brennan turns against the website, it offers a glimmer of light that someone is willing to take responsibility for the damage wrought by Q, but that is quickly dispelled as Brennan is forced to leave Thailand or face arrest, leaving his wife behind, nearly destroying his life. It just goes to show how dangerous those with power can become and how the flow of information is vital for maintaining power.

Seeing how the first flames of Q are exacerbated by others is a sobering reflection on mankind. Just as millions of people are swayed to the mantra of Nazism or Scientology or any other extreme movement, people find some sort of connection to Q despite the fact that his theories are so blatantly self-worshiping and idiotic. You’d like to think that you, as an individual, are better. You hope so. Because it seems that we all know someone who sees garbage like Q and chooses to believe it, over government, science and plain decency. Seeing the backstory to 8chan and the corrupt people running it is just a gut punch to a higher belief in humanity.

Who is Q? It could indeed be any of the subjects of Q: Into the Storm. Hoback himself does feel Ron Watkins knows more about Q than he lets on, despite repeated claims to the opposite. In the end though, it might not matter. The actions of Q and his deranged cohort are far more important than any identity and Hoback’s documentary only reinforces the culpability of the world as a whole.