Europe, 1940. As war rages across the continent, a rag-tag gang of misfits come together to save the galaxy when an extraterrestrial creature crash-lands on the outskirts of their quaint English village. Leading the charge, plucky Arthur Roundtree (Tom Bailey) finds himself manning the thin red line between mankind and total annihilation.
This comedy sci-fi from director Jack McHenry combines Dad’s Army with Predator to create one of the more eccentric war films ever made. Produced through a Kickstarter campaign, the budget is noticeably low, and the film’s rough-around-the-edges performances, special effects and action are all part and parcel of the film’s appeal. To those less enamoured with the world of super independent cinema? Keep calm and carry on, The Doom Busters was never going to be for you.
As such, The Doom Busters commits to the bit, not letting a little thing like no budget get in the way of an alien invasion. Featuring energetic performances from its cast and employing satisfying bursts of bloody violence, it’s an easy film to root for and a hard one to dislike. Cinematography by Rory McHenry makes good use of the English countryside, while Faye McKeever’s costume design really helps to sell the 1940s setting.
The Blitz spirit lives on in Doom Busters – a rip-roaring, Nazi-blasting work of low-budget sci-fi with an infectious sense of enthusiasm.
THE DOOM BUSTERS premiered at FrightFest Glasgow on March 7th, 2025.
