FrackNation

FrackNation is a 2013 documentary created by Phelim McAleer to seek out the truth about hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." Hydraulic fracturing is the process of drilling into bedrock to get oil and natural gas. To get this oil and natural gas, water and chemicals are injected underground at high pressure. McAleer created this film after the positive response to Josh Fox's film Gasland, which discusses the negative impacts of fracking. In FrackNation, McAleer attempts to point out the flaws of Fox's argument and justify fracking through interviews with people in the areas that Fox claimed were suffering due to fracking. McAleer approaches people who believe that fracking is beneficial throughout the film, such as the farmers in Dimmick, Pennsylvania, and fracking companies. In this 1 hour and 17-minute long documentary, we follow McAleer to seek out the truth about fracking.

This film is perfect for those unconvinced by Fox's documentary and believe that fracking is a positive method for attaining energy. To those who didn't believe Fox's argument, McAleer shows the positive side of fracking. However, in doing so, McAleer doesn't touch upon the negatives of fracking as well; as a result, he only has a partial and a somewhat conservative biased argument. He does good by going to scientists and attaining data, but he solely relies on farmers' who are not affected by fracking. McAleer focuses on two cities, one of which is part of Fox’s focus, where fracking doesn't appear to be a problem, which doesn't promote the truth about fracking, as a majority of fracking currently occurs in the Midwest. While pointing out the flaws in people's arguments, he bombards them with questions and does not give them a chance to speak. Although this film may prove a point for those who believe fracking is a positive thing, it can be incredibly influential for those who do not know anything about fracking due to the film's misinformation.