In 2017, I reviewed a film titled “B.C. Butcher.” It was the directorial debut for Kansas Bowling, a teenager who pulled together a tiny budget and called on the thespian power of Kato Kaelin to help to bring to life a tribute to juvenile and monster cinema of the 1950s and ’60s. Bowling kept the endeavor short (52 minutes) and campy, out to create a fun time for those brave enough to sit through it. 2022’s “Cuddly Toys” brings Bowling back to screens, only any sense of humor has been fully removed from her filmmaking interests. Instead of another goof, the helmer gets sobering with “Cuddly Toys,” which tries to revive underground cinema interests as Bowling turns her attention to the mistreatment of women and the predatory ways of men. She has a Big Idea to inspect here, but Bowling delivers a meandering, intentionally abrasive viewing experience, severely limiting the impact of whatever message she’s trying to offer. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com
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