The weirder a Netflix documentary is, the better. If it’s about true crime, those docs tend to become streaming sensations. Just look at the overwhelming success of Making a Murderer and Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer. The same success rate can be said for the crazy-but-true genre, which features unbelievable stories captured on film. The latest hit for the streamer is Secret Mall Apartment.
Set in Rhode Island, Secret Mall Apartment chronicles a group of artists and their innovative journey at the Providence Place Mall. What started as a small experiment developed into a long-term project that resulted in a residency inside the walls of the mall. Upon its premiere, Secret Mall Apartment garnered critical acclaim and holds a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
How did the artists pull off this incredible feat?
Every crazy plan starts out with an idea: What if you could somehow live inside a mall undetected? In the early 2000s, Michael Townsend, the ringleader of the scheme, was upset with Providence town officials for allowing the destruction of Fort Thunder, a community warehouse and safe haven for artists. Real estate developers bought Fort Thunder and the neighboring areas to build the mall. By 2002, the artists were forced out of Fort Thunder.
In 2003, Townsend had an idea to make the mall his new Fort Thunder. He wanted to see if he could secretly make a home inside the Providence Place Mall. By studying the construction of the building, Townsend knew where he could potentially build a residence. With the help of Adriana Valdez-Young, Andrew Oesch, and Jay Zehngebot, Townsend successfully spent one week in the mall undetected.
Eventually, the group recruited four more artists to join their crusade, which led to the construction of a new home: a 750-square-foot space in a hidden part of the structure. Townsend and company brought in furniture, a gaming system, photos, and shelves to make it resemble a real apartment. The artists even built a wall with cinder blocks, which led to a run-in with security. The group spent four years hanging out in this apartment before Townsend was caught in 2007.
Secret Mall Apartment was more about making a statement than finding a home
Credit: Michael Townsend/Wheelhouse Creative
What Townsend and the other artists did with the secret apartment was very impressive. It sounds a lot like Roofman, a movie where Channing Tatum’s character lives inside Toys “R” Us undetected. However, it’s more than just a cool story. Secret Mall Apartment is a response to gentrification, where these eight people protested against the system through their art.
Directed by Jeremy Workman and produced by Jesse Eisenberg, Secret Mall Apartment includes uncovered footage inside the mall apartment along with interviews featuring the artists who built it. This documentary is for anyone who still believes art can make a profound impact on the world.
Release Date
March 8, 2024
Runtime
91 Minutes
Director
Jeremy Workman
Producers
Jesse Eisenberg
If you’re looking for more Netflix movies, check out these climbing documentaries, especially if you loved Skyscraper Live. Also, check out Alex Honnold’s Free Solo to witness an amazing achievement in human resiliency.
