Doodle Disaster

The problem with age restricting films like Evil Dead is that kids grow up not knowing that they shouldn't mess with sinister books. In this playful and inventive spoof horror film, a girl gets more than she bargained for after drawing a big version of a picture in a book and opening the door within it with a magic key.

Though the three leads in this film are a bit stilted in places, they have plenty of energy, and there's believable tension between the girl and her mischievous brother. The monster they encounter is a delightful throwback to the likes of early Doctor Who, and works on the same level - it doesn't need to look realistic because it's the idea that matters. What the film lacks in production values it makes up for with inventive plotting, and there are some great twists and turns that match the best of horror comedy.

The central ideas about fantasy and imagination here will appeal to younger viewers and there's plenty of fun for adults too, with a great ending. Doodle Disaster is very much an amateur film but it's still well worth a look.