Mockbuster (2025) Review

Welcome to The Asylum and meet once-promising Australian filmmaker Anthony Frith who, having fallen into the mundane world of directing corporate video, decides it’s time to pursue his true ambition… making movies. See what happens in the brand-new hilariously eye-opening and entertaining new feature documentary Mockbuster.

The budding director’s dream collides with chaos and compromise, when he lands a surprise job and is pulled headlong into the weird and wonderful world of The Asylum – the notorious production house who introduced the world to the likes of Sharknado, King of the Ants, Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies, Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus and Titanic II.

Tasked by Hollywood’s B-movie kings with directing a lost-world dinosaur film in suburban Adelaide, on a six-day shoot and shoestring budget, he takes the bull by the horns. But he also decides to turn the camera on himself, filming a behind-the-scenes documentary as the chaos unfolds. Between demanding LA execs, a bewildered cast and his own creeping self-doubt, both productions push their first-time director to the brink.

For those unfamiliar with The Asylum’s output—and there is little reason to seek it out—they have built a business on producing low-budget “mockbusters” that trade on the success of major studio releases. It’s a strategy reminiscent of the Italian exploitation cinema of the 1970s and ’80s, with films such as Cruel Jaws or Zombi 2 shamelessly cashing in on the popularity of Jaws and George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. The Asylum employs much the same tactic, releasing films with titles and poster artwork deliberately designed to evoke better-known productions, often mimicking their typography and visual style. The result is a catalogue of films intended to catch the eye of the less discerning viewer, who may mistake them for the genuine article.

Unfortunately, the deception rarely extends beyond the packaging. I have yet to see a single Asylum production that genuinely works. Their films are not even “so bad they’re good”; they are simply bad. Even the Sharknado series, despite its cult reputation, is more of an endurance test than an entertaining slice of schlock. It is therefore surprising to discover that South Australian filmmaker Anthony Frith secured the opportunity to direct for The Asylum simply by emailing the company and asking for the job.

Despite my complete lack of affection for The Asylum’s films, watching Frith navigate the near-impossible task of making one is utterly fascinating. Armed with little more than a single-page synopsis, virtually no budget, and just six days to shoot, he faces an endless stream of obstacles. Cast members have meltdowns, production problems mount, and constant interference from studio executives—whose last-minute decisions often seem to create more problems than they solve—threatens to derail the entire production.

I have no idea whether Frith’s version of The Land That Time Forgot is any good, although I suspect I can make an educated guess. His documentary, however, is another matter entirely. Mockbuster is an absolute delight. Frith proves to be an engaging and refreshingly candid guide, speaking openly about the frustrations, compromises, and occasional triumphs of low-budget filmmaking. His honesty and self-awareness make him immensely likeable, while his narration is so articulate and personable that you feel as though you are standing beside him on set, experiencing every setback firsthand.

Beautifully assembled and consistently engaging, Mockbuster captures both the absurdity and the harsh reality of working within The Asylum’s production machine. It is as much a portrait of creative perseverance as it is an exposé of the mockbuster business model. If Frith’s The Land That Time Forgot fails to launch his directing career, then Mockbuster should have no such problem. It is a smart, funny, and unexpectedly compelling documentary that deserves to be seen by anyone with an interest in the realities of independent filmmaking.

Trailer

On digital 27 July 2026 from Miracle Media

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Fragilé (2025) Review

If you love wild stories, holiday chaos, or anything that could reasonably be described as “Wait… WHAT?”, this is the perfect documentary for you. FRAGILÉ is a feature length documentary about the true story behind the giant leg lamp in Chickasha, OK, and how the giant tourist attraction nearly tore a small town apart. The outcome is a civic meltdown so intense it makes the Facebook Marketplace Free Section look well-behaved.

We’re talking:

• City-council showdowns
• Accusations flying like tinsel
• Viral headlines
• A cease-and-desist from Warner Bros. (because of course)
• More small-town drama than a Hallmark movie could ever dream of
  It’s hilarious, heartfelt, and honestly one of the most delightfully chaotic documentaries you’ll watch this holiday season.

Yes, I know, this is a horror movie website so what are we doing reviewing a documentary about a small town’s meltdown over ‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’ inspired 50-foot giant leg lamp. The answer is, you’ve just got to see it!

Toxic masculinity unfortunately wins the day as a small number of boorish, small-minded, middle-aged men decide that a tacky looking 50-foot tarty looking structure is just what’s needed to bring in money to their area. Director Reagan Elkins, a fourth-generation Chickasha resident, has assembled interviews from the key players in this fracas along with footage of the controversial Chickasha Leg Lamp.

Personally, I would be embarrassed to live anywhere near such an oversized eyesore, and I consequently felt for those residents that rightly voiced their dismay about it. I totally get that the idea was to bring money/tourism to the area, but could they have not picked something less tacky and limited in appeal. Apparently not!

FRAGILÉ is now streaming on VOD.

Trailer

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Living With Chucky (2022) Review

Take a deep dive into the family behind one of horror’s most iconic characters in Living With Chucky, a look at growing up alongside the ground-breaking franchise, told from the perspective of Kyra Elise Gardner, filmmaker, and daughter of Chucky puppeteer Tony Gardner.

“A thoughtful study of how filmmaking, especially independent filmmaking, brings people together” (Collider), Living With Chucky goes behind-the-scenes with the people who worked their hearts and souls into the doll, featuring talents including Brad Dourif (the voice of Chucky), Fiona Dourif, Jennifer Tilly (The Bride of Chucky), franchise creator Don Mancini, and cult film legend John Waters (who appears in Seed of Chucky and the Chucky TV series).

LIVING WITH CHUCKY is an affectionate and detailed look behind-the-scenes of the cult CHUCKY/CHILD’S PLAY franchise. Director Kyra Elisa Gardner fondly recounts how life was for her growing up with a horror icon being created by her puppeteer father as well as being part of the collective of families involved with the making of the films. The documentary is split into sections for each movie and there is plenty of anecdotes and information to appease die-hard fans of the doll menace and his onscreen exploits.

The documentary charts how from starting out as a different take on the slasher flicks the series soon took to the Freddie Krueger route of including zingy one-liners and upping the comedy quota. It’s great to see Alex Vincent, all grown up now, who starred as Chucky’s child owner Andy Barclays in the original late Eighties flick and listen to what both horror icon Lin Shaye and the King of Bad Taste John Waters have to say about their experiences and add to the mix. LIVING WITH CHUCKY offers a different and more personal perspective than most documentaries on horror franchises but never forgets to cram in as much behind-the-scenes detail to please fans of the franchise.

Living With Chucky is available to stream on ARROW now!

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Chain Reactions (2024) Review

Fifty years after Tobe Hooper’s THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE shocked the world, this feature-length documentary charts the film’s profound impact and lasting influence on five great artists – Patton Oswalt, Takashi Miike, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Stephen King, and Karyn Kusama.

Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe (LYNCH/OZ, THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN), the doc had its World premiere at Venice Film Festival last year, before screening at a string of international festivals – including BFI (London), Night Visions (Finland), Sitges (Spain) and MIFF (Australia).

I was thrilled when the press screener link for CHAIN REACTIONS landed in my inbox for reviewing. As a die-hard fan of the Hooper’s THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE and having been impressed by director Alexandre O. Philippe’s THE ORIGINS OF ALIEN (covering yet another favourite movie of mine) CHAIN REACTIONS looked set to deliver an essential documentary of an all-time horror classic.

What we have are five twenty-minute segments each featuring one of the artists listed above as they tell us about the profound impact the now fifty-year-old genre classic had upon them and their thoughts about it now in a world almost as chaotic and nightmarish as the subject matter. Connections are made such as the film’s referencing to the sun, which made sense to me, and how the film is bloodless despite what its title might imply, leaning more towards making the viewer feel the victim’s pain and panic rather than squander its value on cheap thrills.

As comedian/actor Patton Oswalt states “everyone watches a movie differently” citing how his then-girlfriend’s mother, upon commenting about the film they had just watched, another classic THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, also based on real-life serial killer Ed Gein, was more shocked by Buffalo Bill having a pierced nipple than by any of the film’s cannibalism or having someone wearing a suit made from the flesh of his victims. I take THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE for what I see it as, a grimy, relentless killing machine of a movie but now in having watched this documentary I am embracing other ways of savouring it.

Viewing the film as a home invasion flick whereby the character Leatherface is both fraught and panicked at the sudden influx of young people popping by unannounced at his family home, as one of the commentators suggests, is another theory that I feel also holds water and again afforded me with another way to both view and appreciate a film that I like so much already. This documentary’s approach is like that of 2012’s ROOM 237 which featured talking head interviews interspersed with footage from the Kubrick’s THE SHINING and afforded folks a platform to spout forth their interpretation of what they thought the classic 1980 movie was about.

Like ROOM 237, CHAIN REACTIONS makes for a dry, occasionally interesting watch but a watch that is dependent on whether you buy into what each talking head interview theorizes and puts forward. Sometimes it works, sometimes you zone out, much like you would if you felt your mate down the pub was talking nonsense about a subject matter that you held dear. Is it worth watching, overall, yes, but as stated, it will depend on whether you concur with the suggestions about what THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE is about or whether you consider their views are to be embraced or dismissed.

Chain Reactions will be available on Digital and Blu-ray from 27th October.

Watch trailer here:

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Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror (2025) Review

In this SXSW hit, the cult phenomenon of ROCKY HORROR is explored in depth like never before with an extraordinary cast of contributors.

From humble origins as a London fringe theatre play to its meteoric rise as the biggest cult film of all time, this is the definitive story of the ROCKY HORROR SHOW. With intimate access to its creator Richard O’Brien and other major players such as Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Lou Adler, the documentary explores what makes the play and film so singular: Its groundbreaking and transgressive themes, iconic performances and epic songs that took over popular culture.

Adding an extra personal layer to this film, STRANGE JOURNEY is directed by Linus O’Brien, son of the legendary Richard O’Brien, creator of the cult phenomenon.

The documentary features revelatory interviews from the film’s original cast including Tim Curry (CLUE, IT), Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (THELMA & LOUISE, DEAD MAN WALKING), Barry Bostwick (MEGAFORCE, SPIN CITY), Patricia Quinn (MONTY PYTHON’S THE MEANING OF LIFE, THE LORDS OF SALEM), and Nell Campbell (GREAT EXPECTATIONS, SHOCK TREATMENT).

Celebrity fans such as Jack Black (A MINECRAFT MOVIE, SCHOOL OF ROCK) and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Trixie Mattel also appear, sharing deeply personal reflections on ROCKY HORROR’s cultural impact.

Both the stage and film versions of ROCKY HORROR hold a massive place in my heart and within seconds of STRANGE JOURNEY I was reminded why. Like the documentary’s subject matter director Linus O’Brien has produced both a positive and vibrant experience that leaves one feeling giddy and nostalgic for a time when entertainment could be subversive, transgressive, and terrific fun too.

Before watching STRANGE JOURNEY, I was aware that the original show was a fringe theatrical sensation in London back in the Seventies before transferring to Los Angeles where it became an instant smash hit. I knew too that the film version bombed upon its original release before finding a well-deserved audience on the midnight movie circuit and thus developing a cult following. STRANGE JOURNEY fleshes out what fans already know with archive footage, talking head interviews that makes the experience feel as fresh and as vibrant as if one was discovering it all for the first time. For something I love so much already I found myself loving and appreciating ROCKY HORROR more.

Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror will be in UK & Irish Cinemas from 3rd October.

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The Dark Fantastic (2025) Raindance Film Festival Review

THE DARK FANTASTIC is a psychedelic dive into the mind and work of renowned film composer Simon Boswell. This immersive journey explores Boswell’s innovative approach to music and his impact on cinema.

Directed by Lg White, who is also features as a vocalist and percussionist in Boswell’s band this part live concert, part documentary features special appearances from Iggy Pop, Dolly Parton, Ewan McGregor, Dave Rowntree, Glen Matlock and many more!

Visually this film’s aesthetic (deliberately) resembles the Velvet Underground’s hallucinatory vibe, with edited footage from the associated movies playing out in the background as cult composer Simon Boswell and his band play live excerpts from his back cannon of work.

Before each live concert segment Boswell talks to camera about how he first became involved in the associated film and there is often also interview footage from that same film’s director singing the composer’s praises.

THE DARK FANTASTIC highlights how eclectic and varied Boswell’s compositions are and serves as a reminder of a time when cinema was far more exciting and innovative than it is now. It makes one think back fondly on the likes of Michael Soavi’s STAGEFRIGHT (1987), Richard Stanley’s HARDWARE (1990) and Alejandro Jodorowsky’s SANTA SANGRE (1989)

The film was part of the 2025 Ravenheart International Film Festival’s Official Selection and has recently been chosen as part of Raindance Film Festival’s Official Selection. Director Lg White has also been nominated for the ‘Best Director In a UK Feature’ prize at Raindance Film Festival.

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The Darkside of Society (2023) Review

When SOCIETY first hit screens in 1989, its surreal and grotesque portrayal of elite depravity stunned audiences and secured its place as a horror essential. But while the film’s infamous “shunting” scene left an indelible mark on genre fans, its writer — then known as Woody Keith — was enduring a very real psychological unravelling behind the scenes.

Today, he is Zeph E. Daniel, and for the first time, he shares his chilling truth. Far from a nostalgic celebration, The Darkside of Society explores Daniel’s revelation that the film’s twisted plot was more autobiographical than he ever intended — a subconscious manifestation of repressed childhood trauma.

Directed by Larry Wade Carrell — Daniel’s producing partner at Crazed House — the documentary is a raw, unfiltered examination of art, memory, and the dark corners of the creative process. Carrell and Daniel previously collaborated on the award-winning thriller GIRL NEXT and the recently released THE QUANTUM DEVIL, instalments of their ongoing “QUANTUM QUARTET” film series.

THE DARKSIDE OF SOCIETY had its world premiere at the prestigious Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival in 2023 and went on to screen at FrightFest, captivating festival audiences with its raw, deeply personal exploration of horror history. THE DARKSIDE OF SOCIETY features never-before-heard accounts from Daniel, rare behind-the-scenes insights, and a haunting new perspective on a film that shocked the world.

Narrated by the late Julian Sands documentary THE DARKSIDE OF SOCIETY starts off promisingly by factoring in the likes of film critic and FrightFest founder Alan Jones and director Richard Stanley detailing how the film SOCIETY was a welcome break upon its release from the glut of sequels that had a chokehold on the genre in the Eighties. It also details how the film’s climatic ‘shunting’ was inspired by the art of Salvador Dali and was a conscious effort to appease the censors by excluding gore.

Zeph E. Daniel then takes centre stage recounting in detail the personal events that led to him producing a flick that includes incest, copious amounts of paranoia and has the rich literally feeding off the poor. He recounts how the abuse he experienced and how his family participated in the abuse saying that what appears onscreen, aside from the ‘shunting,’ is based on fact. We only have his word for it though as the documentary fails to substantiate this. Instead, there’s a section that covers the Satanic occults, that were big tabloid news Stateside in the Eighties, which were later debunked and therefore are insufficient as evidence.

Zeph E. Daniel recounts too how he was ‘brainwashed 100%’ to forget everything that happened to him which curiously does not impede his ability to describe what he was meant to have forgotten it in detail. Also, many of the people named and shamed in his telling of his abuse happen to be dead and can therefore not be called upon to either validate or debunk his claims which is a shame as it essentially leaves a big question mark over what he is saying happened.

In summary fans of the film SOCIETY will find some tasty nuggets scattered throughout this short documentary – such as how it was held up for four years released Stateside before it received its release, due to the prudish American attitude towards sex onscreen – but otherwise there’s an abuse story that the makers have failed to validate or substantiate effectively.

Uncork’d will release The Darkside of Society on digital and on demand platforms starting May 13, 2025.

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Like Tears in Rain (2024) Review

All his life, charismatic and mysterious actor Rutger Hauer kept the outside world at arm’s length. Through private, never-before-seen footage, his goddaughter Sanna Fabery de Jonge helms a fascinating new feature documentary that reveals his life behind the scenes.

The legacy of actor Rutger Hauer, who died in 2019, is undisputed. Despite his iconic roles in BLADE RUNNER and THE HITCHER, and with more than 170 acting credits to his name, including ESCAPE FROM SOBIBOR, BATMAN BEGINS and SIN CITY, there is only a very small group of people who truly knew the Dutch actor. Sanna Fabery de Jonge delves into Hauer’s personal archive to reveal the real person behind the world-famous actor.

Hauer documented his entire life on film, resulting in countless videos shot in Friesland, on his boat and in his campervan, as well as behind-the-scenes on movie sets, where we witness his unconditional love for his wife Ineke and his friends. Through conversations with his family, friends and collaborators including Whoopi Goldberg, Paul Verhoeven, Vincent D’Onofrio, Miranda Richardson, Robert Rodriguez, Mickey Rourke and Anton Corbijn, we see the person behind Rutger Hauer’s charismatic yet elusive character.

LIKE TEARS IN RAIN is an amiable documentary that maintains an affectionate warm and fuzzy vibe throughout. It paints a picture of the late Rutger Hauer as being an intensely private man who enjoyed his alone time as much as he enjoyed any time spent with loved ones.

Hauer’s defining cinematic moment came with the release of Ridley Scott’s 1982 classic BLADE RUNNER and from that point on he was often typecast as the villain, most notably in 1985’s THE HITCHER. Hauer attempted to break from type by playing the romantic lead in director Richard Donner’s LADYHAWKE however as much as he welcomed the opportunity to play a good guy alas it was not to be and Hauer was soon back to playing the bad guy.

There’s arguably not much here that is fresh but what there is makes for a heartfelt and effective love letter to an actor who had screen presence in abundance and was much loved by film fans and his fellow actors alike.

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Like Tears in Rain premieres on 10 March exclusively on Viaplay available in the UK as an Amazon Prime Video Channels add on

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Nosferatu – The Real Story (2024) Review

Sink your teeth into the untold story behind the iconic ground-breaking horror film that will never die in NOSFERATU – THE REAL STORY.

With Robert Eggers’ highly anticipated NOSFERATU about to arrive in cinemas, a gripping new documentary reveals the dark history and lasting legacy of the original film that’s haunted film fans for more than a century. From acclaimed director Robin Bextor (TWISTERS: THE REAL STORY, THE EXORCIST UNTOLD), this must-see documentary hits UK digital on 16 December 2024, courtesy of Reel 2 Reel Films.

In 1921, FW Murnau began shooting a silent black and white film, NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR, an unauthorised adaptation of DRACULA. Shortly after its release, the film was almost wiped from existence due to a copyright lawsuit filed by Bram Stoker’s widow, Florence Balcombe, who demanded all copies be destroyed. But like its nightmarish villain, Nosferatu refused to die.

A century later, it still stands as a cornerstone of horror cinema, shaping generations of monster movies and inspiring countless remakes. In this fascinating documentary, Bextor explores the film’s tumultuous past and long-lasting influence, with insights from historians and experts, all leading up to the 2024 reimagining.

This is an improvement on director Robin Bextor’s other named documentaries – TWISTERS: THE REAL STORY (which relied too much on showing the same stock footage) and THE EXORCIST UNTOLD (arguably there is not a lot that HAS been untold about Friedkin’s horror blockbuster classic) as I learned much more about the original Nosferatu that I had known previously.

I already knew about the legal issues raised as to the similarities to Bram Stoker’s vampire classic whereas the involvement of early 20^th Century Aleister Crowley in FW Murnau’s NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR was news to me. With a handful of talking heads imparting generous dollops of information along with their opinions of the 1922 classic Bextor’s documentary is a welcome appetiser for the forthcoming Robert Eggers’ version, as well as a welcome prompt to revisit both the 1922 original and director Werner Herzog’s excellent 1979 version NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE.

On UK digital 16 December from Reel 2 Reel Films

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I Am Monsters! (2023) Review

A special 500 limited edition Blu-Ray of I AM MONSTERS! can be pre-ordered now and purchased from October 31^st, 2024. Only available from the Dark Rift Horror website:

https://darkrifthorror.com/shop

Actor/director Nicholas Vince is one of the UK’s shining beacons in the queer horror scene, most well-known for his debut role as the Chatterer in Clive Barker’s HELLRAISER, and Kinski (Moon Face) in the cult shocker NIGHTBREED, Vince took to the stage in 2019 with his autobiographical one-man-show I AM MONSTERS! Both a resoundingly nostalgic and relatable tale of growing up in love with horror, and an essential discourse on the turmoil of ‘growing up gay’ under draconian Thatcherian rule where the closet was always safest, his superb movie adaptation, had its World premiere at FrightFest in 2023.

I AM MONSTERS! charts Vince’s life from a monster-obsessed child, born undershot, through to an out of the closet actor, propelled to fame by Clive Barker’s ground-breaking films. He speaks openly about being a bullied outsider, the life-threatening operation to reconstruct his face, his battle with being gay in Thatcher’s Britain and reveals what it takes to be a Monster.

The Blu Ray extras will include four postcards, slipcover designed by celebrated graphic artist Gra-ham Humphreys, four short films written / directed by Nick, a four-page booklet. and an exclusive interview, hosted by Emmerdale star and Horror director / devotee, Dominic Brunt (BAIT, WOLF MAN-OR).

It will only be available from the Dark Rift Horror website https://darkrifthorror.com/ and will go on sale from October 31st. available in the UK, US and Canada. Price is £25 + shipping. For £30 there is also the option of a personalised dedication of the buyer’s choice. Plus, there is a QR code that enables buyers to download, for free, even more extras, such as the shooting script, and a 10 min documentary on the making of THE NIGHT WHISPERED.

Written and directed by Nicholas Vince I AM MONSTERS is an adaptation of his autobiographical one-man show. Short and to the point there’s no unnecessary flab here as Vince recounts key moments in his life to date, from his wince-inducing childhood skull surgery, to being gay in Thatcher’s draconian Britain and of course, working with author/director Clive Barker.

Vince’s telling is both measured in its delivery and precise with the detail. Presented in chapters I AM MONSTERS takes filmed footage from his live show and intersperses it with the occasional animated segment and to-camera narration so that it remains lively rather than potentially static. It’s a wise choice.

For most of you I imagine that his anecdotes about working with Clive Barker on HELLRAISER and NIGHTBREED will be of most interest and Vince does not disappoint with the tales that he wished to tell. On a personal note, like Vince, I too felt like I did not fit in with society’s norm when coming of age in Eighties Britain. I was ashamed to be ‘out’, and I was afraid to admit to myself and others that I was a homosexual for fear of being ostracised. Hearing Nicholas recount this brought it all flooding back making my viewing of I AM MONSTERS more poignant in the process.

https://www.nicholasvince.com

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