B Movies Blog

Hello, Movie Mavens! Welcome back to the B Movies Blog. Today, we’re popping the Bad Ben franchise into the ol’ VCR. 

Friends, there are times in my extensive media consumption where I find low budget gems like Super Hot. Additionally, there are times I find micro budget gems that are too endearing to ignore. 

Today, I would like to submit for your approval: the Bad Ben series. 

Directed by and starring Nigel Bach (the pseudonym of Tom Fanslau), the Bad Ben series is centered around Tom Riley, a man simply looking to enjoy his new home. Throughout the series, we gather pieces to the lore of the house on Steelmanville Road, follow Tom through the multiverse, and join him as he decides to try his hand at driving for a rideshare company. 

Tom’s crotchety demeanor is hysterical and gives big dad and/or Tom Anderson energy, and, at times, is honestly relatable. Additionally, the plot of Bad Ben is entertaining as hell. 

Video source: Nigel Bach 

The series currently sits at 11 films. As of this writing, I can vouch for the first 7 because Tommy boy releases 1-2 films a year, and I somehow missed that four more had been released. 

The Bad Ben series is so charming because you can tell how much fun everyone involved has. From the fan clips in Bad Ben: Pandemic to the ghost hunters in Badder Ben, everyone seems like they’re having a blast. 

It’s like the horror movie I once made at a sleepover. I was killed in the corner of a shower but had to reposition myself to be easily discovered, and when one of our friends is revealed to be the murderer and is asked why she has a knife, she responds “I was cutting grapes.” (P.S. Gina or Jac, if you ever see this, LYLAS. And, Kara, I know you will, so thank you for being my best friend for over 20 years) 

Video source: Nigel Bach

It brings back such fond memories of making little horror movies with my friends in high school, as well as watching B-F horror movies on the weekends. 

I have a soft spot for movies like the Bad Ben franchise, and I think it’s time to expand the following. 

P.S. If you’ve ever wondered what high school girls do at sleepovers, I can assure you that they’re making low-budget horror movies.