I've often said that indie horror saved my life. As a survivor of childhood abuse, as I grew into my young adult years I found a safe space within the world of indie horror - both the films and those who made them. 

I thought about this often while watching Ry Levey's feature doc Boutique: To Preserve and Collect, a 75-minute love letter to cinema and the boutique collector label renaissance set for its world premiere on Saturday, August 24th, as part of the Pigeon Shrine Frightfest UK in London. Boutique explores the history of home entertainment and celebrates the importance of physical media in protecting cinema in all its forms. 

For those of us, myself included, who are devotees of physical media, Boutique is a nostalgic blast. Levey engagingly explores the role of boutique labels in film restoration and preservation. It's difficult to adequately describe the history that has been preserved by the likes of labels like Vinegar Syndrome, Criterion, Something Weird, Media, Severin, and many more. Levey talks to filmmakers whose works have been preserved, historians who understand the importance, and label execs who've dedicated themselves and their companies to this important and occasionally offbeat work. 

Yes, there's an abundance of indie horror here along with grindhouse, erotica, familiar cult titles, and historical wonders. Everytime I spied a new cover, I found myself mumbling "I've seen that!" or "I've got to see that!" 

Indeed. 

While Boutique is nostalgic for sure, it's also incredibly informative and remarkably entertaining. There's so much to enjoy from beginning to end that you'll likely find yourself wanting to watch it all over again. 

Given the presence of low-budget indie horror clips, it's perhaps important to note that the film does have a few graphic scenes that may shake the timid a bit. However, for those for whom physical media a must and boutique labels are the way to go, Boutique is an absolute blast. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic