Written and directed by Jennifer Baichwal, Into The Weeds seeks to answer this question: “Does the most widely used weed killer in the world cause cancer?” The filmmaker follows Dewayne Johnson, a landscaper who discovers a rash on his knee after getting dosed in the aforementioned weed killer, Round-Up (Ranger Pro). He called Monsanto to see if Round Up might have been the cause. He never heard back. Then the rash spread, and a doctor informed Johnson he had cancer. Now Johnson is suing Monsanto.
From there, Baichwal interviews lawyers, farmers, victims, and experts to understand how and why Round Up was allowed onto the market and what happened to those exposed. If all that sounds rather academic, that’s because it is. But that does not mean the documentary is boring. By focusing on the human element and honing in on Johnson’s plight, the director (along with story consultant Michael McGowan) makes the case that this affects everyone, even if they’ve never heard of Round Up before.

“…the rash spread, and a doctor informed Johnson he had cancer. Now Johnson is suing Monsanto.”
Baichwal accomplishes this in part thanks to the fantastic cinematography of the agricultural landscapes being sprayed. Into The Weeds uses the juxtaposition of the beautiful terrain versus what the weed killer does to great effect. Obviously, this does not extend to the courtroom scenes, but they are clearly shot, and their audio mixing is beyond reproach. Each and every thing any of the lawyers say is loud, clear, and makes the point most vividly.
Into The Weeds is a most satisfying but frustrating experience. The satisfaction comes from how well-made and engrossing the film proves to be. The frustrations lie in the true story being documented. The corruption on display, from Monsanto executives to EPA officials, is anger-inducing, to say the least. By the end, I can only wish Johnson and all the other victims and their families a speedy and safe recovery. And yes, the irony that one doesn’t need yet another reason to hate Monsanto, but now have one is not lost.
For more information, visit the official Into The Weeds Film Movement page.