SXSW Review: Michael Bay's We Are Storror is an Impressive, Gravity-Defying Documentary Premiere

      Allegedly submitted to SXSW without its director’s name included, Michael Bay’s feature-length documentary debut, We Are Storror, is an exhilarating film that should be experienced on the largest screen available. The documentary centers on a tightly-knit group of seven free-running parkour athletes (including two sets of brothers) who perform death-defying stunts that challenge both gravity and logic, resulting in injuries while amassing an audience of 11 million followers on YouTube.

      The film features original footage attributed to Storror complemented by newly staged stunts where Bay spares no effort, utilizing multiple drones as the team undertakes challenges in abandoned luxury resorts in Bulgaria and navigates a Portuguese sand mine in a meticulously practiced zigzag. To quote Woody from Toy Story, “That wasn’t flying. That was falling with style!”

      Opening with heart-stopping scenes of the group appearing to leap between skyscrapers in Hong Kong (captured with GoPro cameras), which isn’t for the faint-hearted, their narrative develops into a occasionally reflective coming-of-age story as they confront personal relationships. In one segment, they reminisce about their childhood in England and the self-discovery that came through play. Parkour provides similar chances, albeit with lethal risks: the film does not shy away from the near-misses and the grim consequences of misjudging a railing's placement or the stability of a crumbling concrete balcony at a deserted resort.

      We Are Storror examines the outcomes and victories of taking risks and going bold. Much like Bay's narrative films, this documentary prioritizes action, and he presents it with the rapid editing style we associate with him. There is much to learn about the preparation involved when this group can meticulously plan a stunt with formal choreography, guided by leader Drew Taylor, who is credited as a producer on the film. At times, a maneuver simply feels wrong: the film reveals a more vulnerable aspect of Callum, one of the members, who struggles to execute a jump that seems overly dangerous. Others within the group express how Storror, forming a sort of brotherhood, has impacted their lives outside the collective, complicating their romantic relationships due to their constant travel for their craft.

      Bay has created an entertaining documentary that could have thrived with deeper character exploration. For Storror enthusiasts, it feels essential. Newcomers to the group will find it a suitable introduction to a practice that blends art and sport, showcasing a gravity-defying ballet where the members nearly miss one another while elegantly navigating down a steep staircase. It’s astonishing they remain alive and out of jail, despite encounters with security and police—there's likely a reason they choose to perform in countries with universal healthcare.

      We Are Storror made its premiere at SXSW 2025.