Watch the Lights (2024)
Director: Alex Ayre
Alex Ayre’s documentary Watch the Lights offers an intimate, humane portrait of a small but ambitious British professional wrestling promotion and the people who bring it to life. At its core the film is about dreaming, resilience and the collaborative work required to transform a local passion into something that can captivate a wider audience. Through observant camerawork and direct interviews, the film follows NORTH Wrestling — an independent company based in Newcastle upon Tyne — as it attempts to scale up a beloved regular show from a 350-capacity brewery venue to the much larger Walker Activity Dome for a one-off event called Thunderstruck. Running alongside that organizational story is the personal journey of Leon Slater, a rising performer preparing to challenge for the NORTH title on the promotion’s biggest night yet.
Ayre structures the film around these two interlocking narratives: an underdog promotion striving to prove itself as a sustainable enterprise, and a working-class performer whose path from a childhood living room to the main event reflects the sacrifices, mentorship and friendships that underpin the sport. Scenes of promoters and wrestlers building the ring, placing chairs, and assembling extreme props are intercut with quieter moments at home and in training. These contrasts reveal both the spectacle and the ordinary labour that make local wrestling possible. The documentary invites viewers to care for the people backstage as much as the characters in the ring.
One of the film’s strengths is how it shows collaboration as the beating heart of the enterprise. NORTH is depicted not as an individual’s vanity project but as a community effort: performers, trainers, announcers, technical crew and volunteers all contribute. There are moving shots of long-time contributors with tears in their eyes at the prospect of seeing the show grow, and candid interviews that explain the practical and emotional investments each person makes. Ayre emphasizes that, at the regional level, professional wrestling functions much like community theatre — a collective act of creation meant to entertain and sustain a local audience. In an era when public spaces and shared cultural experiences feel increasingly scarce, that communal energy feels especially valuable.
Leon Slater’s storyline is handled with sensitivity. The film uses interviews with his mother, peers and mentors to show how his rise was bolstered by others’ faith in him. A particularly telling moment comes when Leon records a blistering in-character promo and then turns to discover that his mentor, Liam Slater — the reigning NORTH champion and a respected figure in UK wrestling — is quietly directing him. Liam’s guidance clarifies the distinction between character and person and illustrates the nurturing relationships behind the scenes. This exchange highlights a central message: even in a profession built on one-on-one competition, the best work is forged through cooperation and mutual support.
Beyond celebrating personalities, the film also engages with the larger social context. The United Kingdom is navigating a cost-of-living crisis and communities feel the strain of shrinking resources and fewer shared cultural spaces. Against that backdrop, the documentary’s depiction of people who invest time, money and emotion into a common dream feels quietly heroic. The subjects are not presented as celebrities but as ordinary people creating meaning and joy for others; their dedication underscores how important grassroots cultural institutions can be when more formal avenues of entertainment become inaccessible.
Technically, the documentary performs well. The cinematography captures both the grit and beauty of the venues and the warm intimacy of interviews, while the editing balances two narratives without confusion. These craft elements are not showy for their own sake; they serve the story, clarifying stakes and deepening empathy. Ayre’s film refrains from sensationalism and instead privileges honest observation, letting small gestures and personal revelations accumulate into a powerful portrait of perseverance.
For wrestling fans the film offers enjoyable behind-the-scenes detail and memorable moments with established names who appear to support emerging talent. For viewers outside the wrestling world, the documentary provides an accessible, emotionally grounded story about people working together to sustain a dream. Ultimately, Watch the Lights is a film about connection — to teammates, mentors, audiences and communities. It shows that winning is not only about championship belts but about building experiences that bring people together.
The final impression the film leaves is one of hope. It roots for NORTH, for Leon Slater, and for the broader idea that grassroots culture still has the power to unite and inspire. Whether you are already a wrestling fan or simply someone who appreciates stories of underdogs and community, this documentary offers an uplifting and heartfelt glimpse behind the curtain.
Score: 20/24
Rating: 4 out of 5.