David Holmes: The Boy Who Livedis anenthralling HBO documentarythat explores the inspiring life of Daniel Radcliffe’s former stuntman. It tackles the incredible highs of David Holmes' time as one of the most talented young stuntpeople of all time, before delving into the horrific and emotional moment that would change the trajectory of Holmes' life forever. The first 30 minutes introduces audiences to the amazing talent of an extraordinary passion for his craft. It’s a whimsical, awe-inspiring, and hopeful first act which is soon crushed by a drastic tonal shift after Holmes' devastating accident. From there, through a painstaking journey of physical therapy, audiences are left with one of the most inspiring journeys through adversary we’ve seen in recent films.
Through its admirable pacing, audiences will become fully immersed in Holmes' story, which gives an abundance of context to the craft and the risks of stuntwork. Intertwining clips from some of David’s best stunts, and going behind-the-scenes of theHarry Potterfilms, fans of theWizarding Worldwill have a lot to take away from this HBO documentary, and fans of underdogs and human resilence will as well.
Former gymnast David Holmes has dreamed of becoming a stunt performer ever since he was a child. But little did he know that his dream was about to become a reality. After having two films under his belt by the age of 14, Holmes was soon offered to double as Daniel Radcliffe’s stuntman. His passion for the craft helped create many of the fantastic stunts seen in theHarry Potterfilms. However, after performing stunts in six of these movies, David would suffer an unfortunate injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
An Inspiring Journey Through Adversary
David Holmes: The Boy Who Lived
Starting his journey as a stuntman, or more appropriately, stunt child in thesci-fi/adventure filmLost in Spaceat the young age of 14, David Holmes' career was about to take off. After starring in a minor role in the hit Harold Raimis comedyBedazzled, Holmes soon got the opportunity of a lifetime, doubling as Daniel Radcliffe’s stuntman on theHarry Potterfilms. Through the use of whimsical music and awe-inspiring stunt videos, the early minutes of the film showcase Holmes' astonishing career trajectory; by the age of 18, he was receiving an annual salary of £60,000. But, as suddenly as David Holmes' accident, the movie takes an immediate tonal shift after Holmes' injury, laying the emotional and hard-hitting groundwork for the rest of the movie.
There haven’t been many stories and people in recent films as inspiring as David Holmes', who, despite his horrific accident, still feels like the most passionate, hilarious, and positive person on the planet. From the many interviews with his closest friends,The Boy Who Livedeffortlessly showcases the infinite kindness of Holmes, whose friends constantly express his incredible tenderness through words of encouragement, small acts of kindness, and his dedication to helping those around him become better stunt people. David Holmes would always put others ahead of himself.
Despite the physical pain from his accident, and the ambivalent trajectory his life was about to take, Holmes suffered more from the guilt of worrying about his family and close friends than his injuries. He wasn’t angry, he was never resentful, and when his mother would ask, “Are you going to take this further?” (as in, are you going to get justice for this accident), Holmes tenderly responded with, “Why mom? My life’s been ruined, why would I want to ruin anyone else’s?” This quote alone sums up a man with one of the purest hearts in the world, making his journey and the film much more impactful and emotional.
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The Endearing Relationship Between David Holmes and Daniel Radcliffe
One of the best aspects of the film is the infectious friendship between Daniel Radcliffe and David Holmes, who became best friends on the set of the very first movie. The two would goof around together two times a week, which would soon form an unbreakable friendship. Through his many interviews, audiences can sense Radcliffe’s admiration for his friend, who he would commonly call his brother. They both share an unbreakable bond, showcased through the clips and recordings of the two having the times of their lives together, both before and after the accident.
David Holmes has some of the best and most dedicated friends in the world. Whether it’s his friends Mark Mailley or Tolga Kenan, two stunt people who David taught himself, or his best friend/caregiver Tommy Wells, the love that Holmes has for his friends and vice versa creates an emotional layer that will have audiences in tears, and admiration.
Contextualizing the World of Stunts
The world ofstunt work is incredibly dangerous. However, we more often than not tend to take the stunts in films for granted. We rarely think about the lives that were put at risk just so we can see a character fly through the air, or get hit by a car, enhancing the impact of the films' action. We appreciate the dedication that anyone on a film set puts into their craft, but stunt people don’t get enough of the credit they absolutely deserve. Thankfully,The Boy Who Livedhelps contextualize the world of stunts, and after watching this documentary, audiences will look at every stunt, not just in theHarry Potterfranchise, with a newfound respect.
While predominantly offering a look at the stunts in theHarry Potterfilms,The Boy Who Livedslightly dives into the history of stunts, largely thanks to Greg Powell. David was introduced to the stunt industry by Powell, a stuntman with a long family history in the business. His father was a stuntman, Greg was a stuntman, and now his daughter is a stuntwoman who starred inWonder Woman.This is a small moment in the film, but it helps give context to the world of stunts, and the dangers and personal impacts it can have on those involved.
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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Fans of theHarry Potterfranchise will get a lot of joy and magic fromThe Boy Who Lived. Through the first 30 minutes specifically, audiences are treated to numerous behind-the-scenes shots ofHarry Potter’sone-eight, with the mystical score ofJohn Williams’Harry Potterthemeplaying in the background.
While none of theotherHarry Pottercastwere understandably present in the interviews (this is a more personal film than that), audiences will be treated to many of the young and old faces of theHarry Pottercast. Whether it’s seeing a young Daniel Radcliffe, a babyfaced Rupert Grint, or Emma Watson as a child, audiences will become enthralled in the making of theHarry Potterfilms, enhancing the films' appeal. One of the more memorable and heartwarming moments of the film is toward its final moments, which took audiences to David Holmes' annual charity cricket event. There, we do see numerous faces of theHarry Pottercast, like Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, and James and Oliver Phelps. It emphasizes just how many lives these films and Holmes' work has impacted.
To hear more about David Holmes and his love for stunts, check out his podcast, “Cunning Stunts.“David Holmes: The Boy Who Livedpremieres November 15 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and will stream on Max.
