Sam Campbell, known for his anarchic turns on Taskmaster and Last One Laughing, has delivered what may be the funniest television show of the year with his new mockumentary Make That Movie. The series, which airs on Channel 4 in the UK and HBO Max in Australia, is a high-concept comedy that revels in its own absurdity.
A Love Letter to Bad Cinema
Campbell's show feels like a tribute to films like Birdemic: Shock and Terror, a notoriously inept movie that became a cult classic for all the wrong reasons. Make That Movie shares that same spirit of outsider art, celebrating the joy of creating something truly bizarre.
In the series, Campbell plays a fictionalised version of himself, a former big-shot movie director who now drives around in a van topped with a giant model camera, helping people make low-budget films based on their wild ideas. Each episode introduces a new character with a strange concept, follows the production, and then presents the finished product—all within 23 minutes.
Absurd Premises and Delightful Chaos
In the first episode, a couple wants a Da Vinci Code-style thriller where they both turn into snakes—but not at the same time, and one must always remain a snake. Another episode features pensioners making a Lawnmower Man-style cyber-thriller where they enter computers by singing and plugging USB cables into their mouths. There are also CGI snakes, animated feet, and an AI chatbot called Superbreast.
The show is packed with ideas, sometimes leaving little room to breathe, but that may be intentional. Campbell's comedy is unapologetically silly, free from the trauma-driven subplots that have plagued many recent comedies.
A Unique Comic Voice
Campbell, who is Australian, often seems baffled by English culture, which adds another layer of humour. In one episode, he is confused by a children's book character that blends Paddington and the Gruffalo, and he struggles to understand the British fascination with football hooliganism films. When these worlds collide, the result is gleefully inexplicable.
Make That Movie is a celebration of comedy for its own sake. It is so ostentatiously silly that it deserves to be paraded through the streets. While the show's format could risk becoming formulaic if it runs too long, it is a hopeful sign that Campbell's uncomprehending face and unique brand of humour will become a fixture on television for years to come.
