United States of Insanity (2021) Review

The Insane Clown Posse are a band of extremes. Forming in 1989 childhood friends Joseph Bruce aka Violent J and Joseph Utsler aka Shaggy 2 Dope have released 16 studio albums earned two platinum and five gold albums and in 2021 they were estimated to have a net worth of $30 million.

Take a quick trip to the internet however and you will see that the Insane Clown Posse are vilified and vehemently mocked often cited as ‘The World’s Most Hated Band’ ‘Worst Rappers of All Time’ (GQ magazine 2013) ‘The Worst Band in the History of the World, Ever’ and much more.

Heavily influenced by horror Insane Clown Posse’s lurid lyrics and overly theatrical videos and performances draw on the sick side of popular culture creating their own mythology based on the Dark carnival “a metaphoric limbo in which the lives of the dead are judged by one of several entities.” Taking supernatural inspiration in songs like ‘Southwest Voodoo’ ,’Dead Body Man’ and ‘Hell’s Forecast’ they revel in the macabre and this has often alienated the mainstream.

Not that this stops their ten’s of thousands of fans who call themselves Juggalos from championing the band, turning up to concerts and festivals in droves, adorning themselves with tattoo’s, clown face paint and merchandise and vowing their allegiance to a group who for them represents family.

As much as its subject matter is about the controversial rapper’s and their music, filmmakers Tom Putnam and Brenna Sanchez’s United States of Insanity actually tackles something far more important, far more interesting and far more shocking; an attack on the very foundation of America by the FBI and the erosion of all United States citizens civil rights.

In 2011 the FBI’s National Gang Intelligence Centre listed the Insane Clown’ Posse’s fans the Juggalos as “a loosely organised hybrid gang” in a report, a seemingly small comment that actually had a huge impact.

As the fantastic film lay’s out again and again this classification led to law enforcement agencies across America inspired by the FBI’s report targeting these music lovers for stop and searches, harassing them due to their clothing and detaining them for no other reason than what they choose to listen to.

We hear stories of Juggalos losing their jobs, having their children put into protective custody, facing jail time, being prevented from gaining rightful custody of their kids and much worse all because of their musical tastes. Coupling this with the fact that the majority of their fans are poor, from the lower classes, working in service industries and often products of the care system dealing with depression and dire straits, like the rappers themselves, the FBI’s attack seems extremely targeted.

Enraged and inflamed the Insane Clown Posse filed a federal lawsuit against the FBI in 2014 joining up with the American Civil Liberties Union who quite rightly saw the case as an outrageous violation of the first amendment which says Congress shall make no law “abridging the freedom of speech.” As the ACLU point out if the government can add Juggalos to the gang list then any music fan could be added, or any sport’s team or in fact anyone.

In a story so crazy you couldn’t make it up the film tracks the case in full, fleshing out the huge impact of the FBI”s ruling with multiple stories from innocent Juggalos persecuted for their musical taste.

Giving a face to the clown make up wearing ICP obsessives humanises them and truly uncovers the shocking damage the FBI caused by citing them as a gang alongside real life drug dealing mass murdering organised criminal’s such as the Latin Kings, MS-13, the Bloods, Crips and Aryan Brotherhood.

United States of Insanity is a well made and extremely engaging documentary balancing insights into the band with those of the fans, a vital part of any artists career and legacy which is often overlooked in musical docs.

Thats not to say there isn’t a full exploration of the band’s background as well with their early life as gangster rapers, teenage wrestlers and the foundation of what went on to become the strange and surreal world of the Insane Clown Posse documented in details for fans and newbies alike.

Made over 7 years the documentary utilises ICP’s extensive archive of music videos and home movies as well as extensive interviews with both Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope and their friends and family to paint a poignant portrayal of a pair of outcasts who managed not only to live their dream but also inspirer an entire community.

Considering its subject matter is two rappers dressed as circus freaks throwing fizzy drinks over their fans and spouting obscenities the United States of Insanity is a far more moving and powerful movie than you would ever imagine just going to show you should never judge a documentary by its subject, a person by their musical tastes or a clown by their make-up.

Movie Rating:

Trailer: