I have heard of plants used for healing for decades, and since then, all kinds of items have been used for medicinal purposes instead of Western medicine. I do not turn to convenience store shelves for products to self-medicate, especially one with little to no mention of what ingredients are in it. I am not stating this as a judgment of other people who do, but as part of why I am so unfamiliar with the word “kratom” – a common term for the plant Mitragyna Speciosa, a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. I am very glad to have this film recommended to me, and it raised my awareness of this product and how some families are dealing with the loss of their loved ones after consuming kratom products.
Kratom: Side Effects May Include is a 2025 documentary from twin filmmakers Jamie and Jason Neese. The 78‑minute investigative film premiered in the U.S. in January 2026 at the Dances with Films/NY film festival and has since screened at other festivals, most recently earlier this month at the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival. The Texas premiere was offered on October 29, on the Opening Night of the Austin Film Festival.
The film investigates kratom, sold in gas stations/convenience stores, smoke shops, and its documented deaths. I cannot avoid stating I was crying each time a mother expressed her grief over the loss of a child, no matter what age. They were trying to heal themselves.
The 2025 documentary Kratom: Side Effects May Include is a 78‑minute investigative film by Jamie and Jason Neese that examines the lethal risks, regulatory gaps, and public debate over kratom, blending victim testimonies, expert insight, and advocacy perspectives.
The following is the press release description for the film. “The documentary examines the human impact and ongoing regulatory debate surrounding kratom, a plant-derived substance widely sold across the United States. Through the experiences of grieving families, people affected by dependency, current users, experts, lawmakers, and advocates, the film explores both the substance’s potential risks and perceived benefits, bringing a range of perspectives to a conversation that continues to raise questions about public awareness, access, and safety.”
The film features interviews with victims’ families, advocates, scientists, and lawmakers, and highlights the tension between those warning of dangers and supporters citing benefits. An article by Caitlen Keith for DeseretNews.com gives details about a family who lost their son. “Patti Wheeler’s son, Wyatt, died of a kratom overdose. Wyatt decided to start using kratom in 2022 as a way to help him stop drinking alcohol, when he was a student at TCU. His twin brother Gannon found him in the bathroom and called 911. After Wyatt died, Patti Wheeler began a journey of advocating for those lost to kratom and spreading awareness of the drug and its dangers.” Ms. Wheeler is an executive producer of the documentary. “The documentary was created for awareness. It was created to hopefully promote proper awareness, labeling, and transparency. We wanted to bring light to the subject of kratom and what it’s all about, the dangers,” Wheeler said.
“Kratom is available for purchase online, at gas stations and nutrition stores and is marketed as an herbal remedy for pain and anxiety.[Source: A Beautiful Life Stolen.com]
Looking up more information online reveals much more about this product and how it has become questionable. The documentary shows efforts to reach “the company” for comment, with no success. I recommend seeing the next screening of the film at the festival here in Austin, or as soon as it’s available to view through VOD.
The film will be released on VOD November 6 through Magenta Edge Films, a distribution label of Bob Yari’s Magenta Light Studios. Runtime: 118 minutes
Source: Austin Film Festival, Magenta Light Studios/Edge Films