Rhys Frake-Waterfield
Birth datec. 1992
Alma materUniversity of Essex
OccupationDirector · producer · writer · editor
Notable works

Rhys Frake-Waterfield (born c. 1992)[1] is an English filmmaker who became known for his 2023 independent horror film Winnie-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 company Jagged Edge Productions.

Early life

Frake-Waterfield is from Essex, where he also studied at the University of Essex.[2]

Career

In 2021, Frake-Waterfield left his corporate strategy job at EDF Energy to create low-budget horror films, all released direct-to-video.[3] After entering the film industry, he produced 36 feature films in two years.[4] Though Frake-Waterfield started out as a visual effects artist, over time, he got into directing.[5] The first film he directed was The Area 51 Incident, following a group of survviors at Area 51 who take shelter underground following an incident involving aliens emerging from a wormhole.[6]

On 1 January 2022, the 1926 Winnie-the-Pooh book entered the public domain in the United States.[7] 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. Though the film was originally intended for a direct-to-video release in October 2022, it developed an increased popularity on the internet which eventually led to the film receiving a theatrical release.[8] 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[9] and petitions calling for the film to be cancelled,[10] but the film was released in cinemas in the United States on 15 February 2023, receiving very poor reviews. The film made over US$7.7 million[11][12] on a budget reported to be less than US$50,000.[13] Afterwards, Frake-Waterfield created a sequel with a budget five times greater,[13] along with a cinematic universe called The Twisted Childhood Universe with horror films based on Bambi, a Life in the Woods, Peter Pan and The Adventures of Pinocchio.[14][15][16] He has also expressed interest in making films about Thor, as well as copyrighted franchises such as Teletubbies, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls in the future.[17][18]

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).[19] 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.[20]

Selected filmography

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerEditorNotesRef.
2021Bloody Mary[21]
Easter Killing
2022The Area 51 IncidentAlso composer[22]
The Killing TreeAlso decorations
2023FirenadoCo-directed with Scott Jeffrey
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey
2024Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2[23]
2026Pinocchio Unstrung[24]

Producer only

YearTitleRef.
2021Dinosaur Hotel[21]
Dragon Fury
The Legend of Jack and Jill[22]
Monsters of War
Spider in the Attic
2022H.P. Lovecraft's Monster Portal
Looks Can Kill
Wrath of Van Helsing
Croc![21]
Shockwaves[22]
Kingdom of the Dinosaurs[21]
Jack Frost[22]
Pterodactyl
Dinosaur Hotel 2
Dragon Fury: Wrath of Fire
Krampus: The Return
Bloody Mary Returns
Mega Lightning
Easter Bunny Massacre: The Bloody Trail
2025Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare[25][26]
Bambi: The Reckoning[27]

Awards

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef.
2024Golden Raspberry AwardsWorst PictureWinnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honeyrowspan="3"[28]
Worst Director
Worst Screenplay

References

  1. ^ Collis, Clark (February 9, 2023). "'We were in hysterics': The behind-the-scenes story of viral sensation Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey". Entertainment Weekly. Archived 28 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Yossman, KJ (7 February 2023). "'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey': Inside the Viral Micro-Budget Slasher Hoping to Slay the Box Office (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  3. ^ Nemiroff, Perri (2023-02-18). "'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey' Director Explains Why He Passed on Studio Distribution Offers". Collider. Archived 23 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  4. ^ "About Us". Jagged Edge Productions. Archived 15 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  5. ^ "WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY 2 - Rhys Frake-Waterfield & Scott Chambers Interview". Spreaker. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  6. ^ The BCC Club (2024-04-10). 61: Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 | The BCC Club Podcast. Retrieved 2026-05-22. – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Cavna, Michael (2022-01-12). "‘Winnie-the-Pooh’ just entered the public domain. Here’s what that means for fans.". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived 8 January 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  8. ^ Ritman, Alex (2022-11-04). "How an Online Frenzy Lit a Fuse Under Microbudget Slasher ‘Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey’". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  9. ^ "'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey' director says he's received death threats over horror film". Fox 5 DC. 2023-02-16. Archived 2 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  10. ^ "How the Winnie-the-Pooh Horror Movie Came to Be". Time. 2023-02-16. Archived 15 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
  11. ^ "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey". Box Office Mojo. 19623240. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023) - Financial Information". Winnie-The-Pooh-Blood-and-Honey-(2023-United-Kingdom). Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  13. ^ Clark Collis (February 16, 2023). "'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey' director says sequel will have at least 5 times the budget". Entertainment Weekly. Archived 18 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  14. ^ Squires, John (2022-12-02). "'Bambi: The Reckoning' – Bambi Becomes a "Vicious Killing Machine" in Upcoming Horror Movie". Bloody Disgusting. Archived 21 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  15. ^ Squires, John (2022-11-01). "'Peter Pan: Neverland Nightmare' in the Works from 'Winnie the Pooh' Horror Movie Team". Bloody Disgusting. Archived 10 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  16. ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (2024-01-18). "'Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2' Director Offers First Peek at 'Pinocchio: Unstrung'". Collider. Retrieved 2026-05-22.
  17. ^ Perry, Spencer. "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey Director Teases Horror Versions of Peter Pan, Thor". ComicBook.com. Archived 19 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  18. ^ Phillips, Terry (2023-02-18). "Blood & Honey Director Wants To Make TMNT & Teletubbies Horror Movies". Screen Rant. Archived 20 February 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  19. ^ "DARK ABYSS PRODUCTIONS LTD overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Archived 15 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  20. ^ "Tyler-James | Producer, Director, Writer". IMDb. Archived 15 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  21. ^ "Rhys Frake-Waterfield - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Archived 29 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  22. ^ "Films produced by Rhys Frake-Waterfield". letterboxd.com. Archived 29 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  23. ^ Vejvoda, Jim (2024-02-05). "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 Exclusive Trailer and Poster". IGN. Archived 5 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
  24. ^ Ritman, Alex (May 16, 2024). "Pinocchio Horror in 'Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey' Universe Unveils R-Rated Details: Skin Suits, High Kill Counts and Lots of Gore (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  25. ^ Ritman, Alex (May 18, 2024). "'Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey' Makers Unveil 'Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare' First Look (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  26. ^ Kay, Jeremy. "Premiere Entertainment Group reports strong pre-sales on Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Archived 15 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  27. ^ Squires, John (2023-12-15). "Bambi: The Reckoning Exclusive Update: Cast and Director Announced for Bambi Horror Movie". Bloody Disgusting. Archived 15 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
  28. ^ "AND THE 44TH A RAZZIE WINNERS ARE ...". Golden Raspberry Awards. March 9, 2024. Archived 1 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 9, 2024.