The Premiere (2025)

It's a real compliment to the cast and crew of The Premiere that when I discussed it with others immediately after seeing it last weekend I couldn't figure out how much of it was improvised and how much of it was scripted. There are a number of strands running throughout, and a proper arc for the main character, but every interaction and moment feels absolutely natural and realistic.

Sam Pezzullo plays Sam, a man who has a dream. That dream revolves around staging a musical adaptation of the movie Scream. He just needs the right cast. And he needs to be able to collaborate with others. And money is an issue. Oh, he'll also need to ensure that all of the legal issues and permissions are in order. Sam doesn't care about any of that though. He knows that he has a vision, and nothing will stop that vision being shared with others.

With Pezzullo also co-writing and co-directing with Christopher Bouckoms, it's clear that he's the real heart of this film, just as it is clear that both of these creators have a perfect sense for mining the comedy of the premise. Things get silly and ridiculous, but they're also grounded in something that feels absolutely plausible. My only complaint is that I wish we'd had even more of the songs, and seen them more completely staged and choreographed, but the more I thought about The Premiere after it ended, the more I came to realise that I'd absolutely loved it.

All of the performances are perfect. I'll namecheck Christina Brown, Alan Ceppos, Wendy Federman, Lisa Gallo, Jacqueline Murphy, and Marissa Ruben (most of the other main cast members listed online), and it was a pleasant surprise to see them all working at the same level as Pezzullo, when it comes to displaying that mix of authenticity and on-camera awkwardness you get in many documentaries. Pezzullo may steal the entire film, and his character is the focus for almost every minute of the runtime, but he also doesn't overshadow anyone else, with each supporting character getting at least one or two opportunities to really shine.

A knowledge of Scream is preferred, of course, but those who dislike slasher movies could always read a very brief plot summary as a primer for this. That film is a starting point, but things soon grow and develop as we get to know the various characters, see the tensions rising, and appreciate the many brilliant set-ups, punchlines, and running gags. The end result is one of the best mockumentaries I have seen in years, absolutely fantastic stuff on a par with the comedy gold standard set by Christopher Guest and co.

*note - Sam Pezzullo tried to file an injunction to stop any reviews mentioning the tension and problems arising from his attempt to stage a musical of an IP he had no permission to adapt. His request was denied.

9/10

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