Linkin Park: Unshatter

by Mike McGranaghan

Linkin Park is undoubtedly one of the most prominent rock bands of the 21st century. Their unique mix of hard rock, hip-hop, and electronic music set them apart from the pack. Tragedy struck in 2017 when one of their two vocalists, Chester Bennington, died by suicide. The musicians were devastated, fans mourned, and the band’s future was uncertain. Linkin Park: Unshatter is an emotional documentary about how, to their own surprise, the group reformed to carry out the next chapter of their career.

Early scenes find Linkin Park members Mike Shinoda, Joseph Hahn, Brad Delson, and Dave Farrell memorializing Bennington. They talk about the impact his passing had on them as bandmates, but more importantly as friends. Reforming Linkin Park was the last thing on anybody’s mind. Nevertheless, Shinoda, Hahn, and Farrell started getting together to, as they put it, “be creative” and support each other during their shared time of grief. Tons of footage is utilized of the trio jamming in Shinoda’s studio, offering a compelling look at people using music to work through pain.

From there, Unshatter details how they grappled with the question of whether to proceed as Linkin Park and how collaborations with a female singer, Emily Armstrong, offered a vision of a way forward. The film similarly deals with concerns about whether the fans would accept Armstrong, given that she would be singing Bennington’s part on catalogue songs in addition to the new material. In Jurassic Park, Jeff Goldblum’s character famously says, “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." Here, Linkin Park debates whether they should, and it’s fascinating to be a fly on the wall.

Interspersed with recording studio footage and interviews are highlights from the band’s triumphant live performance in São Paulo following the release of From Zero, their first record in seven years. The concert material shows they’ve lost none of their ability to put on an energetic, rockin’ show that gets audiences up out of their seats. Zippy camera work, both from onstage camera operators and an ever-present drone, helps to convey the excitement of being there.

This seems like an appropriate time to acknowledge that Linkin Park is one of my favorite bands, so I had a strong interest in Unshatter going in. What I got – and what other fans will get – is a well-made, revealing documentary about how this acclaimed group reinvented itself after Bennington’s passing. The new Linkin Park wasn’t born out of cynicism; it was born out of the healing power of music. The inner workings of a massive rock band have rarely been captured with the forthrightness of this movie. It’s essential viewing for anybody who has ever jammed out to a Linkin Park album.