by Martin Unsworth

A filmed version of the acclaimed one-man autobiographical show from actor/writer Nicholas Vince, I Am Monsters! is a deeply personal and emotional look at the man who has helped bring to the screen some of the most iconic creatures in modern cinema.

Told in his own words, Vince takes us through his early life, how he got involved in acting, and how he got to know Clive Barker and got the role of Chatterer in Hellraiser. There are plenty of amusing stories about playing the various monsters, but it’s the much more serious topics that hit home the most. Vince tells us about incidents during his life – some of which are very harrowing, such as his surgery at a young age – that have informed his outlook and is brutally honest about everything. As well as playing monsters in film, he is a monster, he tells us.

Partly shot during a live performance of his show, with many sections filmed separately, this is an incredibly intimate movie, with Vince often directing his monologues to the camera as if he were talking to us one-on-one. A few cute animations (from Borley Rectory’s Ashley Thorpe) illustrate some moments of his life in a lovely fashion. There are also a number of readings from classic works of fiction, such as Dracula and The Island of Dr Moreau, that highlight Vince’s dramatic flair. The transitions between some of the scenes could have been smoother, but generally, this is a fantastic reproduction of the show and never less than enthralling.

I Am Monsters had its world premiere at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest on August 28th.