Fear and Loathing in Aspen

Hunter S. Thompson was a journalist and provocateur who ran an eccentric campaign for sheriff of Pitkin County in the 1970s. Fear and Loathing in Aspen follows that odd, public stunt with a focus on the personality and performances that made it news. The film tracks Thompson's theatrical speeches, outrageous rhetoric, and confrontations with local law enforcement and the press, showing how his act blurred politics, entertainment, and personal myth. Rather than hiding the absurdity, the movie stays close to the chaos, presenting scenes that shift between satire and earnest critique of small town power. It keeps the timeline intact while avoiding spoilers about how events resolved. It highlights his charisma and legal eccentricities, and shows how a media-savvy campaign could unsettle a quiet mountain town.

Released in 2021, the film was created by Bobby Kennedy III and stars Jay Bulger as Hunter S. Thompson, with Cheryl Hines, Laird Macintosh and Weston Cage in supporting roles. It premiered at select festivals and went to streaming shortly after.

The picture had a limited release and did not register major box office results, finding most of its audience through streaming and niche platforms rather than wide theatrical exposure. Its footprint remained modest, with discussion mostly in niche film circles and blogs.

Among fans of Thompson and countercultural history the film sparked conversation about political theatre and personal branding, even if it didn't break into mainstream discourse. Its recreation of the Aspen campaign scenes appealed to collectors of oddball political lore. While not reshaping popular culture, it added another chapter to Thompsonian lore.

Critical response was mixed to negative, reflected in a low user rating, 4.8 out of 10 from a handful of votes. The film tackles themes of spectacle in politics, media manipulation, and the blurry line between persona and policy. Performances divide viewers; some praise the lead's commitment, others call the tone uneven.