Newmarket Films is set to release the controversial faux investigative documentary "Death of a President" six weeks after acquiring the movie at the Toronto International Film Festival last month.
Several major theater chains are refusing to play the film, which mixes real news footage with dramatized segments depicting the fictional 2007 death of President Bush.
Newmarket plans to open the film October 27, just before the November 7 election. Democrats may be feeling that politically the timing couldn't be worse.
"Yes, it's controversial," Newmarket co-founder Chris Ball said. "It's quite a compelling political thriller. In many ways it is sympathetic to George Bush. It talks about a rush to judgment. In no way is it a call for violence."
But the country's largest theater chain, Regal Entertainment Group, has passed on playing the film, citing the subject matter as the primary reason. Texas-based Cinemark USA also has declined to play the indie film.
But with the Republicans imploding in House races across the country, this may turn into the type of hot button life-preserver the Republicans need to hold their base.
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