Shuffle Review: Sobering Documentary on Corrupt Addiction Services is a Maddening Experience

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When the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010 under President Obama, it unintentionally created opportunities for businesses to profit from addiction recovery. Thomas McLellan, then a key advisor on drug policy, helped create the system for covering addiction treatment under health insurance. While seemingly beneficial for a more complete approach to healthcare, McLellan didn’t disclose his own financial stake in a system that some argue profits from keeping people dependent on treatment rather than helping them fully recover. It’s important to note that addiction treatment facilities currently operate with very little oversight or regulation.

Director Benjamin Flaherty, drawing from his own experiences with alcohol recovery, investigates the exploitative world of recovery homes, particularly in South Florida – a hub for addiction treatment. His film, Shuffle, offers a personal, though sometimes lengthy, look at how vulnerable people seeking help are taken advantage of for profit. Through the stories of individuals who have spent years cycling through numerous sober living facilities, Flaherty reveals the dark side of a healthcare system already known for its issues.

Shuffle is an Overdose of Subject Matter, Much of Which Could’ve Used More Attention

I have to say, Flaherty’s debut feature documentary, Shuffle, feels incredibly personal. While he’d previously honed his skills as an editor on projects with artists like Lou Reed, this film marks a real turning point – he tells me it came after a period of intense struggle and a decision to get sober. What’s fascinating is how he tells the story. It’s not just a straightforward doc; he throws everything at it. We get intimate, ‘in the car’ footage, classic interview segments, but then it swerves into these incredibly creative choices – think quirky stop-motion animation, old news clips, and even repurposed stock footage. It’s a really unique blend, and it feels like he’s not just documenting his own life, but also taking a look at the industry around him – and its flaws.

Despite having years of footage and working with co-editors Robin Schwartz and Jacquie Soohen, the documentary feels surprisingly thin. The film jumps between different approaches – like the fast-paced, graphic explanations used in The Big Short and personal interviews with Nicole, a woman who cycled through dozens of sober homes – and these shifts can feel abrupt. It’s clear the filmmaker has a lot to say and deeply cares about exposing the problems within this industry, but it sometimes feels like they’re trying to cover too much ground.

The film gives all three central figures a chance to speak for themselves, which is admirable. However, this also keeps us at a distance from truly knowing them. Even Cory, who we see the most of – and who has a surprisingly engaging, direct way of looking at the flawed healthcare system – remains somewhat mysterious. Because the subjects’ lives tend to repeat patterns, the film reflects that structure. While this cyclical approach is effective, the 82-minute runtime feels a little short, and it would have been good to include more insights from experts to provide additional context.

Shuffle effectively introduces a complex topic, but Flaherty’s perspective, while thought-provoking, highlights the significant changes this area desperately needs.

There are people who want to speak up, but they’re understandably afraid of facing consequences if they do. One example is a former trafficker – someone who exploited vulnerable individuals. A major problem is that the system rewards those who find people with addictions and encourages those addictions for financial gain from insurance companies. Many employees are initially drawn in by the idea of helping others, but end up participating in a deeply harmful part of the American economy, hiding their actions behind a facade of good intentions.

Flaherty’s documentary, Shuffle, offers a good starting point for understanding a very complex issue, but it also highlights how frustrating it is to address a system desperately needing change. It’s ironic that increased access to mental health care sometimes leads to more addiction, making stronger regulation of the industry crucial. Fixing this is a massive undertaking – where do you even start? Should we focus on universal healthcare, affordable housing, or even consider more fundamental changes to the economic system? It’s understandable why Flaherty tried to cover so much ground, given the overwhelming problems within the American healthcare system.

Shuffle opens at DCTV in New York on January 16th, 2026.

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2026-01-12 18:58