The family frames this as a necessary historical correction, presenting Ken Russell not just as a provocateur, but as an overlooked artistic genius finally getting his due via a 4K restoration and a definitive documentary portrait.
Insiders say the doc is a tragicomic journey to discover who his enigmatic father really was, framed as a forensic investigation rather than a simple tribute, utilizing unseen home movies where Ken literally cast his four-year-old son.
Verified facts: The 4K re-release of 'The Devils' is handled by Warner Bros. imprint Clockwork, 55 years after its debut. The doc 'Mad Dad' features contributions from Guillermo del Toro, Pete Townshend, and Oliver Stone, and utilizes footage from Ken’s autobiographical docudrama 'A British Picture.'
If you thought Ken Russell’s career was over, think again. His son is turning family archives into high-profile cinema, proving the 'Mad Dad' legacy is far from dead.
The tea is scalding hot, folks, and it’s being served in 4K. Warner Bros. imprint Clockwork has just unleashed the uncensored, uncut re-release of Ken Russell’s *The Devils*, fifty-five years after it first scandalized the world. This isn’t just a nostalgic trip; the director’s cut premiered at Cannes and the London Film Festival this year, reintroducing Russell’s graphic, blasphemous, and sexually provocative imagery to a new generation that likely only knows him as the 'wild man' of British cinema history.
But while the film shocks audiences, the real drama is brewing behind the scenes with the director’s own offspring. Enter Rupert Russell, Ken’s son and a filmmaker in his own right, who has unveiled *Mad Dad*, a feature documentary touted as the "definitive portrait" of his legendary, controversial father. While the release is timed to the current 4K launch, the BFI’s retrospective of Ken’s work is not until next year, distinguishing the immediate cinematic event from the future institutional tribute.
Rupert sets out on a tragicomic journey to discover who his enigmatic father really was: the dad and the director, the art and the artist, the myth and the man, the accolades and the absurdity. The production team is stacked, with Anna Hashmi of The Corner Shop producing alongside Andy Starke and Sam Cryer, while Daniel Bergmann of Stink Films serves as executive producer. What makes this doc a must-watch for gossip hounds?
The receipts are literal. The film delves into unseen family archives containing hundreds of personal letters, thousands of photographs, and rare home movies. The kicker?
Ken Russell’s own autobiographical docudrama, *A British Picture*, in which the elder Russell played his own antagonists, while a tiny four-year-old Rupert played the young Ken. It’s a meta-narrative of narcissism and parenting that only a son could pull off without getting sued. The doc also features never-before-seen interviews with family members who have previously kept their silence.
And the celebrity pull? Absolute star power. Rupert has secured contributions from Hollywood heavyweights who clearly hold a candle for his father’s chaos.
We’re talking Guillermo del Toro, Steven Soderbergh, Kathleen Turner, Pete Townshend, Oliver Stone, Twiggy, and Ann-Margret. These aren’t just cameos; they are legends analyzing the legacy of a man who pushed boundaries until they broke. With Rupert’s previous work like *Freedom for the Wolf* winning at Slamdance and *The Last Sacrifice* landing on Shudder in 2025, he knows how to package drama.
The Corner Shop is expanding rapidly, recently securing BFI funding for another project with Oscar-nominated director Tamara Kotevska. The Russell dynasty is back, and they’re not asking for permission.
