have I bought a bad movie that doesn't exist?

[zombie no.one]

...at least not on imdb, or the internet, far as I can tell? it's a DVD I picked up in one of my local charity shops.

film is called BAD TO THE BONE... it is not any of the 3 movies on imdb with that same title, judging by their plot synopses.

this one is some kind of family drama involving some African guys who re-locate to London

the dvd case and disc both seem adequate, not like pirated or home made efforts.  no year of release but watching it I'd guess somewhere between 2003 and 2010?

Madonna's 'Like A Prayer' plays over the title credits, and elsewhere in the movie.

director is 'Chucks Mordi', whose sole directing credit on imdb is a 2013 film called THE RUBICON, which is definitely not this.

top billed actress is Jane Dodd. can't see anything in her 9 imdb acting credits that looks like this movie.

have I found a film that doesn't exist?! 

[zombie no.one]

Berlin - Take My Breath Away and Coldplay - Clocks also get played over 2 scenes... would be amazed if they got clearance for these and the Madge tune

[lester1/2jr]

Years ago, I remember Rev Powell tried to get "Help, Help, the Globolinks"on IMDB and he said it was basically impossible. Maybe the company that made your DVD isn't around anymore and no one has picked up the rights.

[chainsaw midget]

I did some searching and found... well, I didn't find the movie, but I did find some info. 


There was an entire wave of UK-African "immigrant films" in the 2000s between about 2002 and 2012, Nigerian films shot in London, Ghanaian dramas etc.  Lot of them privatley financed or actually financed by churches.  They were often given professional looking DVD released, but mostly sold out of places like markets, churches, hair salons, cultural shops, etc.  There was never an "official" release or airing for most of them and they often used music without licensing. 

[claws]

AI pretty much confirms what chainsaw said

It sounds like somebody stumbled upon a genuine piece of "lost" or ultra-niche media. Based on the director and cast, the film definitely exists, but it belongs to a very specific, prolific, and often undocumented corner of the film industry: UK-based Nollywood.

The Mystery Solved

The director, Chucks Mordi, is a well-known figure in the Nigerian film industry (Nollywood), specifically within the diaspora community in London. He has been active since at least the late 90s (his debut was Mama Sunday in 1998).

Many of these films were produced by and for the West African community in the UK. They were often released directly to DVD and sold in independent shops, markets, or community centers rather than through major retailers like HMV or Amazon. Because they weren't released via traditional Hollywood or British indie distributors, they frequently bypass databases like IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes.

Why It "Doesn't Exist" Online

Low-Budget Nollywood Style: Mordi is known for "Super VHS" and early digital productions. These films focus on the "diaspora experience"—exactly like the "relocating to London" plot described.

Music Licensing: Using Madonna's "Like a Prayer" is a classic hallmark of early-2000s low-budget international filmmaking. Often, these productions didn't officially license global pop hits, which is another reason they never see a wide, legal digital release today—copyright strikes would take them down instantly.

Jane Dodd: While she has 9 credits on IMDb, many actors in this scene worked on dozens of "underground" projects that were never logged by the Screen Actors Guild or industry trackers.

Is It a "Bad" Movie?

In the world of film collecting, somebody actually found something quite cool. A physical artifact of the UK Nollywood movement from the mid-2000s. These films are famous for their raw, melodramatic energy and for documenting the specific cultural vibes of London's immigrant communities during that era.

While it might not be a "lost masterpiece" in the technical sense, it is a rare piece of cultural history that hasn't been digitized.

[zombie no.one]

good work chainsaw and claws, thanks!! 

my google-fu is weak, couldn't find a jot... in fact I did 2 identical google searches for [ "bad to the bone" "chucks mordi" ] an hour apart, and got different (useless) results each time!

google got rid of their 'cache' function in about 2010. they said  no one used it. it was the best thing about the search engine IMO

anyway glad to solve that

[M.10rda]

Congrats! That's a real get!

[Alex]

Just out of curiosity, does it have an age rating on it?

[zombie no.one]

Congrats! That's a real get!

thanks. currently leaping round my living room Hi-5'ing myself as I type this!! (erm no hang on that's impossible...)

Just out of curiosity, does it have an age rating on it?

yes, it's an 18... although didn't notice anything in the film to warrant that? (got to admit I wasn't 100% focused on it all the way through)

[zombie no.one]

fairly amusing plot synopsis on the back:

When a man finds himself in a hole, it is only wise he stops digging further because burying himself is likely to happen. Especially to a desperate man like Simon. He has committed a grave sin. He sold his father's house.