Tag: Documentary

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Movie Review

The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan (2025) FrightFest 2025 Movie Review

The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan – FrightFest 2025 Movie Review

The documentary "The Degenerate" explores Andy Milligan's controversial filmmaking career, highlighting his impact on cult cinema in the 60s and 70s.

First Reaction – The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan gives us an interesting dive into a cult favourite.

Director: Grayson Tyler Johnson, Josh Johnson

Plot: NYC filmmaker Andy Milligan made low-budget shock films in the 60s-70s before dying of AIDS. The documentary reveals his complex life and fierce directing style.

Runtime: 1 Hour 49 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan

Recap

The movie follows the life and career of NYC filmmaker Andy Milligan. It follows his style of cinema which pushed the barriers of what was acceptable at the time. This showed his shock films during the 60s-70s which have further gather a reputation over the years.

Best Parts

Any documentary about a cult filmmaker is interesting seeing how they did something to push the audience. This is no different, it showed how he pushed audience in different directions and caused them to get a reputation in the business. We get a host of different stories which go through the career, from the big moments and the more troublesome moments.

Worst Parts

This does feel like more of a documentary targeted at the fans of the director, it doesn’t feel like anyone would watch to check out the movies.

Final Thoughts – The Degenerate: The Life and Films of Andy Milligan is an interesting journey into cult cinema.

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Movie Review

The Truth About Jussie Smollett? (2025) Movie Review

The Truth About Jussie Smollett? – Movie Review

The documentary examines Jussie Smollett's case, presenting various perspectives but ultimately fails to provide clear answers.

First Reaction – The Truth About Jussie Smollett? Explores the case, but never really gives us any answers.

Watch The Truth About Jussie Smollett? On Netflix now.

Director: Gagan Rehill

Plot: Features Smollett interview plus talks with police, lawyers and investigators claiming new case evidence. Viewers can judge who’s telling the truth about the Jussie Smollett case.

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on The Truth About Jussie Smollett?

Recap

The documentary explores the incident where Jussie Smollett reports a hate crime on a snowy Chicago night. However, not everything added up in the police report and people question the original story. The documentary follows the case, how the police tackle the case and how Jussie maintained his story.

Best Parts

This documentary shows the interesting case about a gay black actor who claimed to be a victim of a hate crime. It follows his story, the police investigation and the tension raised because of the claim. This explores the racial tension, incidents and problems when trying to solve a case. It shows the complicated moments around the crime, different reactions to the events.

Worst Parts

The biggest problem is we have never learnt the truth, everyone involved has their own account they believe to be true. Meanwhile, the biggest question mark is left over how people see the image of suspects.

Final Thoughts – The Truth About Jussie Smollett? Is interesting, but remains unsolved.

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Movie Review

Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 (2025) Movie Review

Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 – Movie Review

Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 illustrates societal naivety regarding viral events, showcasing how memes can spark chaos and meaningless endeavors online.

First Reaction – Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 reflects the naïve society wanting to cause problems.

Watch Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 on Netflix now.

Director: Jack Macinnes

Plot: A viral Facebook event to storm Area 51 draws millions of signups, prompting military warnings. As memes spread about Naruto-running past bullets, UFO hunters and internet personalities converge for what could be a desert party or clash.

Runtime: 49 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Trainwreck: Storm Area 51

Recap

The documentary follows a bored young man who made a joke post about storming Area 51. He made an event, and it went viral with people wanting to attend the event with endless memes and viral people wanting to get involved. It shows how quickly something can low up online and become the chaotic series of events.

Best Parts

This does show the dangers of viral jokes going wild and how dumb society can be when it comes to believing anything on the internet.

Worst Parts

This feels more like a reaction series to memes rather than actually showing anything happening. It reflects society not having a clue on anything in the world. In the end if shows a bigger frustration with how people can cause bigger and wasteful problems with viral momnets.

Final Thoughts – Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 reflects societies need to be a viral sensation.

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Movie Review

Dogspiracy (2025) Movie Review

Dogspiracy – Movie Review

Dogspiracy, directed by Paul Crompton, reveals the shocking realities of puppy mills and advocates for legislative change to protect dogs.

First Reaction – Dogspiracy is eye opening, disturbing and important documentary.

Where to Watch

Dogspiracy will be available in UK Cinemas from 1st August.

Director: Paul Crompton

Plot: Follow vet Dr Marc Abraham OBE, as he seeks to stop the cruel puppy mill industry, put an end to puppy smuggling, and help ban US pet stores from selling puppies.

Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Dogspiracy

Recap

The documentary follows Dr Marc Abraham as he explores the cruelty in puppy mill industry. He has got a law put through the UK, but it has only turned things into a more illegal activity. Marc meets the others working to save dogs and see how America is still letting things pass by. We follow Marc’s journey through some of the states with no laws and learning the horrors the animals are kept in.

Best Parts

This is an eye-opening documentary which puts a firm spotlight on the horrors dogs are placed through in breeding farms. It shows the early changes in some countries and states. However, where it gets the most out of the documentary, is showing the uncomfortable horrors and stories from what people have witnessed. It needs to be hard hitting so we want the change. Elsewhere, it highlights the governments who want passed a simple bill to give dogs a better life.

Worst Parts

The worst part is not bad from the filmmaker, it is difficult for any dog lover to watch and not get angry. I get this is part of the concept of the documentary, but our closes pet friends getting threated like this is outrageous, and simply put, you wouldn’t put a human in the same position for babies, why do it for dogs?

Final Thoughts – Dogspiracy is hard-hitting, shocking and disturbing.

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Movie Review

Trainwreck: P.I. Moms (2025) Movie Review

Trainwreck P.I. Moms – Movie Review

Trainwreck P.I. Moms is a forgettable documentary about soccer mom PIs, struggling with corruption and lack of engaging content.

First Reaction – Trainwreck P.I. Moms is a dull documentary which has very little happening to a forgettable story.

Watch Trainwreck P.I. Moms on Netflix.

Director: Phil Bowman

Plot: A 2010 Lifetime reality show about soccer mom PIs unravels when investigations fail and sabotage is suspected. The agency head faces accusations of running drugs with a corrupt officer’s help.

Runtime: 45 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Trainwreck P.I. Moms

Recap

The documentary follows the cycle of a reality show follow a PI company using moms to solve mysteries. However, the show struggled to take off as the owner of the company has shadier series of events in their life. It spirals out of control leaving everyone else to solve the real mystery.

Best Parts

This exposes the curtain behind corruption with ‘reality’ TV shows and how desperate people are to make money.

Worst Parts

This is the first episode which feels like a massive stretch to make something out of nothing. There is nothing about how big the show was, could have been or why it was appealing. It shows a horrible case for fame without anything more coming from it. This is easily the least interesting one and one which could have had a lot more to what we learn.

Final Thoughts – Trainwreck P.I. Moms is a largely dull documentary.

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Movie Review

W: A Return to Oz (2025) Movie Review

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W: A Return to Oz – Movie Review

W: A Return to Oz is a documentary exploring rave culture's rise and decline, focusing on The Warehouse's significance in South West clubland.
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First Reaction – W: A Return to Oz is an interesting journey into a boom in music.

Director: Daniel Howard-Baker

Plot: Locked and loaded with film tape, an amateur filmmaker explores an abandoned rave house, once known as The Warehouse, that was once the beating heart of the South West’s clubland.

Runtime: 34 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on W: A Return to Oz

Recap

The documentary follows a filmmaker exploring the boom in rave houses and the now abandoned locations. With the main focus on ‘The Warehouse’ which once the beating heart of the Southwest clubland. It follows the stories of the nights out and the dangers around it too. The trip down memory lane shows the decline of the scene and questions why it fell apart.

Best Parts

This does a great job of showing us the boom of the clubland and what it meant to the partygoers. It shows how things rose and fell causing the changes in the area and losing the biggest impact for the locals. This highlights the theories of what changed things and how people will see the booms in different industry and interests.

Worst Parts

This does a great job of highlighting the good and favourable times behind the clubs rise. However, it doesn’t address enough of the negatives around why it fell apart. It mentions other businesses, but almost laughs of the more criminal activities around what happened within the walls.

Final Thoughts –W: A Return to Oz is an interesting documentary for fans of a booming music scene.

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Movie Review

Apocalypse in the Tropics (2024) Movie Review

Apocalypse in the Tropics – Movie Review

"Apocalypse in the Tropics" explores Brazil's evangelical movement, its political influence, and the risks of a potential national theocracy.

First Reaction – Apocalypse in the Tropics is an interesting journey through a country with big following to evangelical movement and political involvement.

Watch Apocalypse in the Tropics on Netflix now.

Director: Petra Costa

Plot: Focuses on how the evangelical movement paved the way for the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro and poses the threat of a national theocracy in Brazil.

Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Apocalypse in the Tropics

Recap

The documentary follows the political biggest names who push beliefs on the people on Brazil. It has caused a ripple effect which has taken effect on the people of the country. This has controlled them and causes devastating effects to worldwide problems.

Best Parts

The movie highlights the problems in Brazil with the evangelical movement that has captured a large number of the population. It shows how the people will follow the leader who supports these thoughts, rather than who would be best for the country. This opens the eyes of anyone who doesn’t believe how manipulated the political world is. Elsewhere, it shows how region doesn’t have a place in the political movement.

Worst Parts

This tends to put more negative light on the Christian following in the country. While the documentary is about understand the problems with it, an argument to show the positives to the people is also important.

Final Thoughts – Apocalypse in the Tropics shows the dangers of politics and religion.

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Movie Review

Last Breath (2019) Movie Review

Last Breath – Movie Review

Last Breath is an intense documentary about a diver's miraculous survival after being stranded on the seabed with limited oxygen.

First Reaction – Last Breath is an intense documentary.

Watch Last Breath Here

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JustWatch

ABC Film Challenge – Disaster Movie – L

Director: Richard da Costa, Alex Parkinson

Plot: A deep sea diver is stranded on the seabed with 5 minutes of oxygen and no hope of rescue. With access to amazing archive this is the story of one man’s impossible fight for survival.

Runtime: 1 Hour 30 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Last Breath

Recap

The documentary follows the crew of a deep-sea diving team. They are on a routine mission in the North Sea when disaster strikes and one of the divers becomes standard on the seabed. He has lost his tether and only has 5 minutes of oxygen. The crew comes together to bring about a rescue mission, and against all the odds, he survives for over 30 minutes in the depths of the ocean.

Best Parts

The movie shows how even experts can face impossible odds and find a way to overcome challenges. It is a remarkable story of survival against everything science has suggested. There is an education to improve and prevent the same risks, despite not anyone being at fault. Most importantly it shows the skills of everyone involved who would do anything to save their team members.

Final Thoughts – Last Breath is an incredible story of survival.

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Movie Review

Beyond Limits (2025) Movie Review

Beyond Limits – Movie Review

Beyond Limits is an inspiring documentary highlighting diverse individuals preparing for the Ironman, emphasizing community support and personal growth.

First Reaction – Beyond Limits inspires people to achieving in fitness.

Watch Beyond Limits on Prime now.

Director: Raymond Mouzon

Plot: Follows the inspiring journey of ten individuals as they prepare for the gruelling Ironman triathlon. Each participant comes from diverse backgrounds, facing unique challenges and personal struggles.

Runtime: 1 Hour 33 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Beyond Limits

Recap

The documentary follows a group of individuals who prepare for the Ironman triathlon. Each member of the group comes from a different background and has different motivation for stepping up to the challenge. This follows their journey to support each other and help improve when it comes to every race they take on.

Best Parts

This does a great job of showing how people can come together to support each other in achieving bigger goals in fitness. It shows how it doesn’t matter what level the people are, the group supports, motivates and inspires each other. The amount of friendly competitions the team take part in, giving up personal times, family time and finding to take place in each race.

Worst Parts

There are moments which show banter which could be seen as too harsh in my opinion. Elsewhere, it doesn’t give us enough details how people truly prepare from scratch to consider these type of races, despite having inexperienced team members.

Final Thoughts –Beyond Limits is a lovely documentary about friendship and bond in fitness.