NR | 1h 33m | Documentary | 2025
The term “antisemitism” was coined by the haters themselves, to give their bigotry a false sheen of scientistic respectability. In contrast, filmmaker and conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza argues that it’s the oldest and most fundamentally evil form of hatred.
In “The Dragon’s Prophecy,” D’Souza says that antisemitism knowingly and deliberately targets God’s “Chosen People,” the people of Israel. Of course, there is ample documentation of Jewish persecution in the Bible at the hands of the Egyptians, the Philistines, the Romans, and others.
Yet D’Souza and Jonathan Cahn dive deeper. They connect the 10/7 Hamas terrorist atrocities to the Book of Revelation and Israel’s ancient enemies.
The film’s readings of history and Scripture might be controversial, but the empathy for victims of 10/7 is genuine and heartfelt. D’Souza co-directed, co-wrote, and co-produced the documentary with Debbie D’Souza and Bruce Schooley. Prior to its digital release, the film will screen in theaters in recognition of the anniversary of the genocidal attacks on Israel.
Although D’Souza’s documentary takes its name from Cahn’s book and prominently features the messianic rabbi, his blend of Judaism and Christian teachings is considered more closely akin to evangelical Christianity by most Judaic authorities.
The 10/7 Attacks
D’Souza starts by confronting the brutality of 10/7 head-on. Viewers should be forewarned that D’Souza refuses to censor the sadistic violence that Hamas took such pride in live-streaming. In less than a minute, the audience will be bombarded with the images of dozens of murders. It’s rough but honest.
However, D’Souza also pays tribute to the victims of the Nova music festival by an interview with a survivor, Brazilian Rafaela Treistman. Her testimony is chilling, but it’s also powerful to hear her explain why she wants to keep living and dancing to honor the memory of those who were murdered.
“The Dragon’s Prophecy” also overlaps with Barry Avrich’s recently released documentary, “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” with D’Souza interviews of Lishay Miran-Lavi, a survivor of the attack on the Nahal Oz kibbutz. Sadly, her ordeal continues because her husband, Omri Miran, remains a hostage in Gaza.
Biblical Perspective
It’s somewhat unclear whether their interpretation of the Red Dragon of Revelation 12:3 is allegorical or a physical manifestation, as the better-than-you-might-expect digital animated segments would suggest. But Cahn and D’Souza both identify antisemitism as the rocket fuel that supercharges it.
They use the Book of Revelation as a prism through which to analyze recent tragic events. This will inevitably limit the documentary’s appeal to Jewish audiences, despite D’Souza’s conscientious efforts to be respectful and supportive.
Nevertheless, those intrigued by the relevant theology should enjoy some of the provocative connections that D’Souza and Cahn make between past and present.
For instance, it seems disconcertingly apt that the word “Armageddon” is derived from the ancient ruined city of Megiddo in Israel. Throughout history, it has been the site of battles, including during World War I and the Yom Kippur War. It will also be the site of the final battle according to the Book of Revelation, featuring the very same “Red Dragon.”
King David
D’ Souza also explores several archaeological excavations currently underway in Israel that carry geopolitical significance, as well scientific value. Perhaps the most relevant example is the discovery formally known as “Large Stone Structure.”
This is widely believed to be King David’s palace. If King David’s palace exists, it would imply that King David and the Kingdom of David (meaning Israel) also truly existed sometime in the 9th or 10th centuries B.C. Not all archaeologists accept this conclusion, but the structure itself is a hard stone fact.
Arguably, no other filmmaker has received as many bad reviews from critics who’ve never watched his films as has D’Souza. Much of this animosity stems from his work defending President Donald Trump. However, “The Dragon’s Prophecy” entirely disregards American domestic political controversies.
In fact, Trump is only mentioned in passing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refers to him as a great friend of Israel. Yet the mere presence of the prime minister will be more than sufficient to induce conniption fits among some critics.
On the other hand, calmer viewers should be curious to hear Netnyahu’s perspective on 10/7, as well as Israel’s wider conflict with Hamas’s patrons, particularly the Iranian regime.
Honestly, viewers don’t need to believe in the “End Times” to appreciate the informative lessons on Middle Eastern history and archaeology. More importantly, D’Souza’s segments with the 10/7 survivors, Treistman and Miran-Lavi, really ought to be seen by general audiences far and wide.
For receptive viewers, D’Souza makes a reasonably cogent case for Cahn’s biblical perspective on the 10/7 terror attacks and the related explosion of Islamist terrorism.
Recommended more for the highly timely and visceral survivors’ testimony than for its overarching vision.
“The Dragon’s Prophecy” screens in Ganjing World.
‘The Dragon’s Prophecy’
Directors: Dinesh D’Souza, Debbie D’Souza, Bruce Schooley
Documentary
Not Rated
Running Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes
Release Date: Oct. 6, 2025
Rated: 3 stars out of 5
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