A playful, hilarious, political, documentary about the aficionados of the recently-deceased well-known writer Hunter S. Thompson. They are all too eager to have his ashes distributed by cannon shots, until Johnny Depp took the honours.

Hunter S. Thompson, the inventor of Gonzo journalism, died on February 20, 2005. He committed suicide with a pistol shot to the head. His last request was that he wanted his ashes to be shot from a cannon at his estate near Aspen, Colorado. At the request of Thompson's family, an essay contest was held in the Aspen Daily News so that private artillery owners could describe why their cannon was the most suitable for firing Thompson's ashes. None of them got the job however and Johnny Depp, a personal friend of Thompson (who had portrayed his alter ego Raoul Duke in the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), decided to handle the ceremony himself. Depp spent two million dollars to have Thompson's remains blasted out of a 153-foot tall tower shaped as a two-thumbed Gonzo fist. In this engaging and often quite funny documentary, director Blue Kraning provides essay contestants with the opportunity to pay a final tribute to their outlaw hero. These 'Gonzo patriots' enjoy Thompson's unique view on American politics and society and also share his passion for heavy artillery. As they read or quote their favourite Thompson fragments and discuss contemporary American politics, it becomes obvious that Thompson was an important voice that will be sorely missed. Something his followers compensate with the sound of on-going cannon fire. Fire in the hole! -Rotterdam International Film Festival


"Hunter S. Thompson embodied the American ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Blue Kraning's Blasted!!! is a twisted, anarchic, fun, and funny tribute to Hunter, those ideals, and Americans who don't merely mouth the Declaration of Independence, but live it."
- Michael Simmons, The Huffington Post

"These are not the famous actors, politicians or even journalists. These are Hunter's readers who are "his people" in the purest sense, an army of thoughtful citizens who are inspired by Hunter's work and who do a fine job of carrying on his legacy."
--Anita Thompson, wife of the late author, Hunter S. Thompson

"Blasted!!! offers an entertaining glimpse of Thompson's "Gonzo Patriots" -- they range from Civil War re-enactors to polyester suit wearing eccentrics -- enthusiastically showing off their beloved cannons."
-Antelope Valley Press

"A very interesting tribute to Hunter S. Thompson."
-Dan Meyers, National Public Radio