The 2016 film Patriots Day is a docudrama based on the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent manhunt. It factually chronicles the terrorist attack that occurred on April 15, 2013, and the four-day investigation and search for the perpetrators, brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev. The narrative is constructed from extensive research, news reports, and the non-fiction book Boston Strong: A City's Triumph over Tragedy by Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge.
While the film accurately depicts the established timeline and key historical events, it utilizes a common cinematic technique of employing both real and composite characters. Many figures in the film, such as Police Commissioner Ed Davis, FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers, and Watertown Police Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese, are direct portrayals of their real-life counterparts. However, the central protagonist, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders (played by Mark Wahlberg), is a composite character. He was created for the screenplay to serve as a narrative anchor, representing the collective experiences and perspectives of multiple Boston Police Department officers who were involved in different aspects of the crisis. This allows the film to connect various parallel events through a single, relatable viewpoint.
The film's commitment to authenticity is further reinforced by its integration of actual archival footage, including surveillance videos and news broadcasts from the time of the events. This blending of dramatized reenactments with real-world media serves to ground the cinematic narrative in the historical record. Therefore, while artistic license is taken, particularly with the creation of the main character, the film is fundamentally a faithful retelling of the real events and is widely regarded for its procedural accuracy and respectful portrayal of the victims, first responders, and investigators.
