Midnight Peepshow is a horror anthology with segments written and directed by Andy Edwards, Airell Anthony Hayles, and Jake West, with Ludovica Musumeci also directing a segment. The film follows lonely Graham (Richard Cotton) as he heads into a neon-bathed Soho sex club. As he enters the club, the businessman soon discovers the rooms are far more horrifying than sexy, as each plays out a terrifying fantasy.
Stories range from a home invasion fantasy gone wrong to flashbacks to Graham and his wife’s rocky relationship, both bookending the most literal game of Screw, Marry, Kill you will ever see. Each tale connects to “Black Rabbit,” a dark web company seeking to fulfill the most twisted request and exploiting flesh for cash at every turn. Influences from Black Mirror, Squid Game, and Hostel are all focused through an Alice in Wonderland-esque lens, creating an indie horror as trippy as it is violent.
“…the businessman soon discovers the rooms are far more horrifying than sexy…”
Midnight Peepshow offers plenty of thrills, often thriving on style and premise over substance. Each story gives a unique look at a familiar premise or takes an unhinged premise but grounds it with classic horror tropes. The film shines most when it steers into the Gothic Grindhouse meets technological dread ethos, creating a cohesive terror throughout. Screw, Marry, Kill is the most engaging of the chapters, relying on a clever plot design and stomach-churning Saw inspiration. Black Rabbit gives the whole affair consistency. The performances lend themselves to the material, making this an engaging piece of horror. You will never lose interest or feel the urge to check your phone.
Coming from a variety of directors and making the most of its budget, Midnight Peepshow is almost destined for the cult cinema section of Tubi. As with many anthologies primed for indie horror enthusiasts, some stories are uneven or outshine others. Yet, using Black Rabbit and Graham’s experiences as the connective tissue gives each chapter an eerie presence and enough real-world dread to sell. Outside the core audience, the film may find little life, but within its potential fanbase, this will entertain plenty of patrons.
"…will entertain plenty of patrons."
