Official synopsis
Paranormal investigator Wallace Peebles (Nesbit) and his incompetent gang of researchers are lured to a New York warehouse to exorcise spirits in exchange for some much-needed cash. But it’s not just ghouls Wallace needs to watch out for… there’s a mole within the group who has their own fiendish plan… steal a collection of long-lost Irish crown jewels hidden in the warehouse. As loyalties are tested, the motley crew must work together to escape the haunted lock-up before evil forces take over.
Review
U.K. comedy-horror mockumentary Wallace Peebles Paranormal Inspectre asks nothing more than for viewers to sit back and be entertained. Despite some humor falling a bit short of the mark — and of course, humor is subjective — the film moves along breezily and boasts solid performances and engaging characters.
British writer-director Steven Nesbit (Gloves Off, A Very British Christmas) makes his acting debut as Peebles, a supernatural investigator so delusional that he thinks his prerecorded vodcasts are live and televised, and so fearful that he attempts to escape at the first sign of a possible actual paranormal event. With his near-penniless scheme about to go under, he is prodded to succeed by right-hand–person and university professorship hopeful Poppy (Jennifer Bryer), camera operator Chet (Michael Flores), and self-proclaimed number one Peebles fan and now sudden reluctant producer Snow (Kristina E. Howard).
The cast is obviously having a great time, as their spirited energy shows, with Bryer standing out in her voice-of-reason role amongst the comedic chaos. Cowriters Nesbit and Karl Hall serve up some funny stuff — there’s a good time to be had with subtitling, to cite one personal favorite example — but for someone for whom one fart joke is already too many, the film uses those gaseous emissions as a running gag.
Wallace Peebles Paranormal Inspectre leans far more heavily into humor than anything horrific, making it a safe watch for viewers not usually interested in scare fare, but having enough supernatural elements to keep seasoned horror movie fans intrigued.
Wallace Peebles Paranormal Inspectre arrived on UK digital 13 October (Miracle Media).
