[Film Review] The Puppet Asylum (2023)

It would be incredibly unfair to review the documentary Otto Baxter: Not a F***ing Horror Story without also looking at the short horror created by the titular man himself, The Puppet Asylum. Otto has proven himself to be a thoughtful and effective storyteller in this compelling and effortlessly funny horror tale of his own birth, and the constant battle against the sinister Master (Paul Kaye), a metaphor for the consistent persecution that Otto has faced throughout his own life.

Featuring Ottos of various ages going through scenes of horrific torture and unfair treatment, The Puppet Asylum opens the eyes of audiences to the mistreatment of people with Down’s Syndrome through a horror lens. Starting as a demonic baby and growing to be a monstrous man (played by the real-life Otto Baxter) who is finally able to take control of his own destiny, The Puppet Asylum is dark yet humorous through its use of toe tapping songs and well thought out scenes of key moments in a young man’s life. The tone is kept light enough to prevent audiences dipping into despair, this is helped by the comic relief of the foul-mouthed Jamie (Kiran Shah), a rotting ventriloquist dummy that looks like a distant relative of Annabelle.

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This is the type of film that shouldn’t be over-explained before audiences see it, as it feels like everyone can take away their own interpretation. Whatever is conjured to the mind as the credits roll, it’s a guarantee that The Puppet Asylum will make people think a little more seriously about disability representation in all aspects of film, and the way that these stories are often told by people who have not lived them. On occasions when a disabled creator is writing about their own experience, the films are often released in the shadows and not given the space in conversation that they truly deserve. For this film, the hope would be that this is not the case, it deserves to be seen and talked about in all spaces as it leaves the audience with an excited buzz of anticipation for what Otto Baxter will make next. This is certainly the beginning of a successful career for him.

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