The Dark Wizard

An undeniably detailed look at a complicated figure. ... The recollections from friends and family, combined with an avalanche of footage both of Potter in action and in his own talking-head reflections, paint a portrait that feels worth seeing whether you care about climbing or not.

The Dark Wizard profiles an interesting, somewhat mysterious character in rock climber and thrill-seeker Dean Potter. Where did his tremendous, death-defying skill end and his zen and the art of climber’s mental maintenance begin?

Potter craved recognition. It makes series like this one a discomfiting watch – both part of the solution as well as part of the problem.