IMDb 7.6 2021 HD

Totally Under Control

Totally Under Control

2021
Documentary
123 min TV-14 USA
6.8 / 10
7.6 IMDB

This documentary puts a spotlight on the White House’s failed response to the global pandemic and how it could have been prevented. Featuring damning testimony from public health…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Alex Gibney / Ophelia Harutyunyan / Suzanne Hillinger
Starring
Alex Gibney / Scott Becker / Taison Bell / Michael Bowen

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

critical investigative damning sobering urgent failure leadership systemic preventable accountability stark concerning

Reviews

I
Isabelle Dubois
Mar 29, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Director Alex Gibney delivers a potent examination of the White House's pandemic response in 'Totally Under Control.' The film is anchored by the stark recollections of public health officials, whose testimonies form the backbone of its argument for…

D
David Sterling
Mar 29, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

As a deep dive into the White House's pandemic response, 'Totally Under Control' presents a clear, albeit critical, narrative. The documentary leans heavily on the accounts of public health officials, who provide what the film labels as 'damning…

S
Sophia Chen
Mar 29, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

'Totally Under Control' is a masterclass in investigative documentary. Alex Gibney assembles a compelling case against what he portrays as a dereliction of presidential leadership during the pandemic. The film is propelled by damning testimony from public health…

M
Marcus Thorne
Mar 29, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This documentary offers a critical lens on the White House's handling of the recent global pandemic. Featuring testimony from those on the front lines of public health, the film meticulously details a system-wide collapse, attributing it directly to…

E
Eleanor Vance
Mar 29, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

Alex Gibney's 'Totally Under Control' is a sobering, urgent piece of documentary filmmaking that dissects the early days of the global pandemic with unflinching rigour. The film's strength lies in its direct confrontation with institutional failure, bolstered by…

FAQs

The documentary relies heavily on firsthand accounts from public health officials to substantiate its claims about the White House's pandemic response. This 'damning testimony' is presented as evidence of systemic failures and a lack of decisive leadership. Combined with 'hard investigative reporting,' these personal narratives aim to build a compelling case that the crisis was mishandled and could have been prevented through different presidential actions.