Mad Props (2024) Review: A Flawed, Yet Sincere Foray Into Hollywood Nostalgia & Prop Preservation

Every piece of art begins with an idea, a vision that is an amalgamation of varying aspects, where its value often boils down to the little things that contribute to the grander picture. Any scene from a movie that is rendered iconic is embedded in the tangible, visual props that bring such fantastical worlds to life — for instance, the Xenomorph head for the “Alien” franchise is emblematic of something larger than life, as it pinpoints the exact emotions evoked when we experience these films time and again. Every prop, massive or minuscule, is effectively solidified into movie-making history, as they are cultural remnants of something that makes us feel seen or like we belong. 

Juan Pablo Reinoso zooms in on this oft-overlooked aspect of movie-making, albeit from a purely American lens, where these memorabilia — often coveted and rare — serve to bring people together and preserve slivers of art that were painstakingly crafted by hundreds of prop-makers, artists, and sculptors. The result is “Mad Props,” a documentary that follows lawyer-turned-banker Tom Biolchini, who explores his passion for prop collecting and finds a way to connect with fellow collectors, professional curators, and artists who are an integral part of the process. The focus is on the impetus behind the need to collect props of various degrees of artistry, be it a small, almost forgotten knife or a massive home prop that has been refurbished and turned into a nexus for cinephiles and film enthusiasts to treasure and connect with. 

The nostalgic drive behind Biolchini’s passion for prop collection is obviously on display here, reflected in the shared sense of excitement and contentment between himself and the people he interviews. However, one cannot help but feel that the documentary deliberately chooses to ignore a seminal aspect of the process: buying these rare and sought-after pieces of art is a luxury very few can afford. Whenever we follow Biolchini spending an inordinate amount of money to procure, say, the Holy Grail from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, it is clear that his passion can only be realized because it is made possible by a certain sense of affluence, one that is not all-inclusive or accommodating as the documentary affirms it to be. Although the intent is sincere, and undoubtedly rooted in a genuine passion for cinema, the lens and scope of this emotion is a limited and distorted one. 

Moreover, the repeated line of questioning that Biolchini loves to present, where he asks, “What does your wife think?” when interviewing fellow collectors, feels distasteful, reinforcing the stereotype that prop collection is somewhat of a gendered passion stemming from traditional perspectives of “nerd culture” that feel outdated and paint only half a picture. Most of the artists, collectors, and curators featured here are male, and while these perspectives are valuable and deserve a spotlight, “Mad Props” mostly sidelines female SFX artists or collectors — a decision that could very well be an unconscious blind spot, but one that desperately needs to be corrected. 

However, there is a sense of authentic sincerity in the making of this documentary, especially when the focus shifts to the artists themselves, who guide us deeper into the world of prosthetics, creature effects, and the painstaking efforts to make a prop mobile or functional. The tour of Alec Gillis’ workshop, in the presence of Robert Englund and Lance Henriksen, is perhaps the most eye-opening aspect of the feature, as it provides a glimpse into the amount of artistry that goes into translating an idea into tangible reality. Gillis talks about his work on James Cameron’s “Aliens” while touching upon other props that helm intriguing stories, such as the animatronic rattlesnake in “Prey” or the fleshy, massive finger gloves featured in “Smile.”

Even when Biolchini marvels at the treasured props procured by other collectors — the original sword in “Blade,” Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber from the sequel trilogy, or the intricate props from “Perfume” — there are reasons to tap into the nostalgia connected with these items, especially if the films have a special place in your heart. “Mad Props” would have benefited from a more streamlined focus on artists themselves and their relationship with the ever-popular movement of prop collection, but these moments lay the groundwork for much-needed appreciation for artists whose works deserve to be lauded and preserved, whether on a more micro level or when displayed as a part of museum curation.

It is also impossible to ignore the rather myopic appreciation of cinema or art here, as this uniting passion is extremely Hollywood-adjacent, talked about in universal terms when it is hyper-specific to one strand of an ever-evolving global phenomenon. When reduced to this cultural hyper-specificity, “Mad Props” is a fun, exciting journey made exclusively for film enthusiasts who can identify and resonate with the subject matter while deepening their appreciation of the unsung creatives who contribute to the beautiful, precious memories associated with art that goes on to nourish and define us. 

Mad Props Information

External Link: Rotten Tomatoes
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Director: Juan Pablo Reinoso
Producer: Keli Price, Juan Pablo Reinoso, Melanie Brooke Sweeney
Writer: Juan Pablo Reinoso
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 23, 2024 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 26, 2024
Runtime: 1h 30m
Distributor: Virgil Films

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