• Director(s)

    Bruce Fletcher Peter Beard

  • Production Year

    2022

  • Release date

    01/09/2023

  • Genre(s)

    Documentary

  • Approx. running minutes

    84m

Film

Otto Baxter: Not A Fucking Horror Story

strong language, discrimination, nudity, bloody images

Addressing challenging themes with empathy and humour, this documentary follows Otto Baxter, a first-time filmmaker with Down's Syndrome, behind the scenes of his autobiographical horror-musical-comedy THE PUPPET ASYLUM.…

Addressing challenging themes with empathy and humour, this documentary follows Otto Baxter, a first-time filmmaker with Down's Syndrome, behind the scenes of his autobiographical horror-musical-comedy THE PUPPET ASYLUM.

Content Advice(May contain spoilers)

threat and horror

language

sex

discrimination

sexual violence and sexual threat

suicide

injury detail

nudity

  • Director(s)

    Bruce Fletcher Peter Beard

  • Production Year

    2022

  • Release date

    01/09/2023

  • Genre(s)

    Documentary

  • Approx. running minutes

    84m

strong language, discrimination, nudity, bloody images
Classified Date:
20/07/2023
Version:
2D
Use:
Cinema
Distributor:
MetFilm Distribution
threat and horror
Behind-the-scenes footage of the production of a horror film features moderate horror effects including fake blood and prop corpses. A film character screams while giving birth in a sinister laboratory, and is menaced by a villainous doctor brandishing a needle. It is implied that another character is stabbed, though the visual detail is minimal.
language
There is use of strong language (‘f**k’). Milder terms include ‘twat’, ‘knob’, ‘shit’, ‘bastard’, ‘pillock’, ‘dickhead’ and ‘moron’, in addition to use of the ‘middle finger’ gesture.
sex
There are occasional moderate sex references, including ones to pornography, sex work and masturbation.
discrimination
References to disableism occur throughout the film, but discrimination is clearly criticised. Historical archive footage shows people expressing prejudiced views about people with learning disabilities, and using outdated terms such as ‘retarded’, ‘mongol’ and ‘handicapped’. Otto himself speaks about being rejected and discriminated against because of his disability. He uses his film to work through these experiences, telling the story of a ‘monstrous’ child who is rejected by his birth mother, sent to a ‘freak show’, and cruelly persecuted and taunted by villains.
sexual violence and sexual threat
Otto is shown flirting on set with female coworkers who do not return his advances. His friends explain to him that he should avoid flirting and ‘sex talk’ in the workplace so that he does not make other people feel uncomfortable.
suicide
A man speaks briefly and without detail about his father’s suicide.
injury detail
There is behind-the-scenes footage of a blood-splattered film set.
nudity
We see brief footage of a topless dancer performing a lap dance.
rude humour
A man shares a childhood anecdote about another child slapping him with his 'willy'. Very mild rude humour includes burping and fart jokes.
theme
The film deals with upsetting themes, including death and bereavement. However, these subjects are handled in a sensitive manner.
Classified Date:
09/08/2023
Version:
2D
Use:
Cinema
Distributor:
MetFilm Distribution

  • Classified date

    20/07/2023

  • Language

    English