Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Post-9/11 themed spin-off is lackluster at best.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Hot Zone: Anthrax
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Based on true events, THE HOT ZONE: ANTHRAX is a docudrama about efforts to prevent a full-scale bioterrorism attack on U.S. soil. When a Russian factory fails to contain the anthrax they are producing, the United States is alerted to an inevitable biochemical attack by its enemies. Meanwhile, three weeks after 9/11, a patient in Florida appears to have symptoms related to anthrax poisoning. As the country reels from the attacks, behind the scenes FBI Agent Matthew Ryker (Daniel Dae Kim) and behaviorist Dani Toretti (Dawn Olivieri) are scrambling to contain what could be a biological catastrophe with limited support from their director, Ed Copak (Dylan Baker). Microbiologist Bruce Ivins (Tony Goldwyn), an anthrax expert with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, is also assisting. But it's a complicated investigation, and one that eventually leads to a surprising source.
Is It Any Good?
The formulaic spin-off of The Hot Zone series offers a dramatic interpretation of what happened behind the scenes of Operation "Amerithrax," which sought to investigate, and to contain, a potential bioterrorist attack a few weeks after 9/11. But much like the real events that transpired in 2001, the anthrax threat here feels vague, and it fails to generate a sense of fear and suspense as the story unfolds. Meanwhile, despite attempts to humanize what was a complicated investigation that included multiple players and government agencies, there's little dimension to the fictional, generic FBI operatives outside of their post-9/11 PTSD-related flashbacks. But Tony Goldwyn's portrayal of Bruce Ivins and his growing paranoia is believable, which sets a solid foundation for what happens later. Some folks may want to tune in for Goldwyn's performance, but overall, The Hot Zone: Anthrax is a lackluster narrative that falls flat.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the anthrax panic that transpired immediately after September 11. What government agencies were involved in the investigation? Who was ultimately held responsible for mailing anthrax to people?
The Hot Zone: Anthrax relies on several fictional characters to tell the story. Why? Would the story be different if all the characters were based on real people?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 28, 2021
- Cast: Daniel Dae Kim , Tony Goldwyn , Dawn Olivieri
- Network: National Geographic Channel
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
What to Watch Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate