Rhys Frake-Waterfield (born 1991 or 1992)[1] is a British filmmaker who became known for his 2023
independenthorror filmWinnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and its 2024
sequel. It was the first theatrical film of his career, as well as the first for his production company, Jagged Edge Productions.
Career
In 2021, Frake-Waterfield left his job at
EDF Energy to create low-budget horror films.[2] After entering the film industry, he produced 36 feature films in two years.[3]
On 1 January 2022, the
1926 Winnie-the-Pooh book entered the
public domain in the United States.[4] Shortly after this, Jagged Edge Productions announced a Winnie-the-Pooh-based
slasher film called Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, with Frake-Waterfield serving as the director, writer, and co-producer with Scott Jeffrey. There was much controversy among both the general public and Winnie-the-Pooh fans, with Frake-Waterfield claiming that he and the other members on the film's production received death threats[5] and petitions calling for the film to be cancelled,[6] but the film was released in cinemas in the United States on 15 February 2023, receiving very poor reviews. The film made over $US5 million[7][8] on a budget reported to be less than $US100,000.[9] Afterwards, Frake-Waterfield announced a sequel to Blood and Honey with a budget five times greater,[9] along with a cinematic universe called
The Twisted Childhood Universe with horror films based on Bambi, a Life in the Woods and Peter Pan.[10][11] He has also expressed interest in making films about
Thor, the Teletubbies, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in the future.[12][13]
Frake-Waterfield is also the owner of Dark Abyss Productions, where he writes, directs and produces films under the name Tyler James (with Scott Jeffrey).[14] Films he has directed under this banner include The Loch Ness Horror, Sky Monster, Dinosaur Prison, Deadly Waters and Monsternado. Films he has produced under this banner include Three Blind Mice, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Snake Hotel, Alien Invasion, Return of Punch and Judy, and Medusa's Venom.[15]
Steve Baker,
Ricky Blitt, Will Carlough, Tobias Carlson, Jacob Fleisher, Patrik Forsberg, Will Graham,
James Gunn, Claes Kjellstrom, Jack Kukoda,
Bob Odenkirk, Bill O'Malley, Matthew Alec Portenoy,
Greg Pritikin, Rocky Russo,
Olle Sarri, Elizabeth Wright Shapiro,
Jeremy Sosenko, Jonathan van Tulleken, and Jonas Wittenmark – Movie 43 (2013)