Shiver Me Timbers (2025 film)

Shiver Me Timbers is a 2025 British splatter comedy horror film^[2] written and directed by Paul Stephen Mann in his directorial debut. It stars Murdo Adams, Stephen Corrall, Tony Greer, Yu Heng Li and Amy Mackie.^[3][4][5] The film serves as a horror retelling of E. C. Segar's Popeye.^[6][7] It was released on April 1, 2025, by Gravitas Ventures to negative reviews.

Shiver Me Timbers
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Paul Stephen Mann
Written by	Paul Stephen Mann
Based on	Popeye by E. C. Segar
Produced by	Paul Stephen Mann Keith Montgomery Alastair Statham
Starring	Murdo Adams Stephen Corrall Tony Greer Yu Heng Li Amy Mackie
Cinematography	Andrew Begg
Edited by	Paul Stephen Mann
Music by	Ryan Kerr
Production companies	Alpake Entertainment Edinburgh Film Productions
Distributed by	Trinity Creative Partnership[1]
Release dates	February 28, 2025 (2025-02-28) (HORRHIFFIC) April 1, 2025 (2025-04-01)
Running time	74 minutes[1]
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The film is one of three live-action horror films featuring Popeye that were released in 2025 after the character became public domain in the United States: the other two are Popeye's Revenge and Popeye the Slayer Man.

Plot

Set in the summer of 1986, Olive Oyl and her brother Castor, venture into Northern California for a camping trip to witness the rare Halley’s Comet meteor shower.

A reclusive fisherman named Popeye is fishing in solitude when a fragment of the comet crashes nearby, lodging itself in his corncob pipe. transforming Popeye into a grotesque, superhuman killer.

As the teens settle in the forest, Popeye kills a punk named Spike, causing his friend Skits to run away. In a secluded outhouse, Popeye sneaks up on Stevie, ripping his head off in a gruesome act before defecating on his body. He then skews Trent with a baseball bat and decapitates Lizzy. Olive, Castor, and Cyla scramble to formulate an escape plan.

Castor nearly escapes but is caught by Popeye, and douses him in toxic waste. Olive then discovers Lt. Lang, who tries to intervene, only to be bludgeoned to death by Popeye.

Just as Popeye is about to murder Cyla, Skits returns, blinding Popeye in one eye before Popeye crushes his skull beneath his boot. Olive grabs the comet fragment lodged in Popeye’s pipe (losing her hand in the process) and uses it to power a giant buzz saw she finds in Lt. Lang's cabin.

Olive and Popeye fight, ending with Olive slashing into Popeye’s torso, killing him.

Back at home, Olive builds herself a robotic hand.

Cast

• Murdo Adams as Skits
• Stephen Corrall as Lt. Lang
• Tony Greer as Popeye (post-transformation)
  • David Hallows as Popeye (pre-transformation)
• Ross Dillon as Trent
• Yu Heng Li as Monique
• Seb Lord as Spike
• Amy Mackie as Olive Oyl
• Keith Hewitt as Detective Montgomery
• Paul Dewdney as Homeless George
• Paul Stephen Mann as Detective Zanaletto
• Donnamarie McCusker as Mother
• Joel McDade as Stevie
• Brendan Nelson as Castor Oyl
• Niamh Parrington as Cylinda
• Leona Roberts as Lizzy
• John Ryder as DJ Bruce/Narrator
• Alastair Statham as Detective Holmes
• Alexa Wright as Little Girl

Production

The film was shot and wrapped in Edinburgh.^[8]

Popeye was portrayed using a live actor for his body, while his head and face were created with CGI. The climactic scene between Olive and Popeye was animated entirely in CGI as well."

Release

The film was premiered in Romford Horror Film Festival on February 28, 2025,^[9][10] and was released on April 1, 2025, under Gravitas Ventures.^[11][12][13]

The film received largely negative reviews, with many critics criticizing the CGI and accusing the production of attempting to capitalize on Popeye's entry into the public domain, as well as making horror out of a children's property in a manner similar to Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, The Mean One, and The Mouse Trap.