“Tread,” available on Netflix, reconstructs a Granby rampage
There are many ways to look at “Tread,” the Netflix documentary about a June 4, 2004, rampage through the town of Granby by local businessmanturnedkilldozer- driver Marvin Heemeyer.
It’s a documentary, first, and a highly detailed one at that. It features blow- by- blow re- creations of the events leading up to that widely publicized day in which Heemeyer destroyed half of that tourist- friendly Colorado mountain town with a modified bulldozer ( or “killdozer,” as
it’s been frequently called) that featured bulletproof plates, video cameras and a .50- caliber rifle.
But it’s also a reminder that small- town politics aren’t always a microcosm of the national stage.
Through delusional audio recordings he left behind on cassette ( and which narrate the film) Heemeyer rants about perceived slights and conspiracies. But the filmmakers were unable to confirm many of his recollections in follow- up interviews with the people he mentions.
Was it all in Heemeyer’s head? It seems so. But his anti- establishment rage doesn’t fall neatly into the politics of the moment,
given that phrases ranging from Tea Party to QAnon are never spoken in the documentary.
Heemeyer was railing against what he thought was a “good old boys” network of town leaders who were determined to thwart his every success. And he had plenty, both as a small businessman who ran muffler shops and as a well- liked local personality who lorded over a loose group of avid snowmobilers.
But a zoning dispute lit the fuse, and when he shed his public life to work in secret on the bulldozer, he began talking of
“God’s plan” for him and the town. Ultimately, Heemeyer committed suicide inside the killdozer after it stalled, but before police could gain access.
In fact, Heemeyer had several chances to turn back before his historic rampage, which totaled or damaged buildings including Granby Town Hall, Sky- Hi News and even the house of an elderly woman whose family he believed was working against him. Total damage to the town was estimated at $ 7 million.
In that way, “Tread” — which generated huge viewership for Netflix when it premiered — is less of an action movie and more of a snow globe filled with sparks, chunks of metal and shattered glass. Turn it this way and that, and you’re likely to get a different view each time.
Produced in 2019, and premiering on streaming platforms in July, director Paul Solet’s documentary is now available to watch on Netflix.