Murder by Proxy: How America Went Postal Movie Review

'Murder by Proxy: How America Went Postal' Examiner Movie Review, Written by: Karen Benardello


American work conditions have become increasingly glim in recent years, since the fall of the economy has led thousands of people struggling to find work. But even the people who are fortunate enough to have a job are being more and more discontent with the lower pay and higher expectations they’re given. In the new film ‘Murder by Proxy: How America Went Postal,’ which is now available for download in New York, first-time filmmaker Emil Chiaberi courageously explores the workplace and social conditions that lead discontent workers to unleash their rage in mass killings.

‘Murder by Proxy’ chronicles the widespread changes that have occurred in workplaces across the United States over the last 50-years, and what societal conditions have caused people to commit mass shooting sprees in the workplace. Most people who are responsible for the shootings have no criminal record or history of mental illness, but are driven to take severe action to have their grievances heard. The documentary also examines the complex personal factors that are the primary causes of workplace massacres.

Chiaberi, who served as ‘Murder by Proxy’s director, writer and producer, effectively showed the growing socio-economic changes that have taken place throughout the U.S. since the Reagan era. The filmmaker took a risky move in trying to show the murders were more of a rebellious act than a crime, and viewers may initially think the director is being sympathetic to the shooters. But he commendably showcased the reasons why they felt compelled to take such an extreme method to be heard.

‘Murder by Proxy’ focuses on several of the most well-known workplace shootings in American history, including the first, which occurred on August 20, 1986 at the Emond Post Office in Oklahoma. After being reprimanded by two supervisors the day before, the shooter, Patrick Sherrill, walked into the post office shortly after 8 AM. He immediately killed one of the supervisors, and ended up killing 14 people in all, and wounding six others.

Chiaberi emphasized how Sherrill felt alienated and targeted by his bosses for not following their guidelines of productivity. While viewers will still remain sympathetic to the victims of the crime, they will also come to understand that Sherrill took an extreme measure to have his grievances against the post office heard.


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