Mr Doodle's Drawing Obsession Explored in New Documentary

A new documentary titled "The Trouble With Mr Doodle" delves into the life of Sam Cox, known as Mr Doodle, the influencer-illustrator who gained fame for covering an entire villa in graffiti. Directed by Jaimie D'Cruz and Ed Perkins, the 90-minute film examines Cox's uncontrollable creativity and his obsessive need to doodle, which began as soon as he could hold a pen. The documentary features Cox himself, along with his family and wife, who describes life with him as a journey to Fantasyland "where anything is possible." The film reveals that his global fame, million-dollar contracts with international brands, and status as a sought-after artist stem from an obsession that threatens to overwhelm him. The synopsis calls it "the story of an extraordinary boy born into a normal family and a cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for." Cox's condition is identified as hypergraphia, a behavioral disorder characterized by an intense urge to write or draw, often associated with temporal lobe alterations in epilepsy and Geschwind syndrome. The documentary also notes that Vincent Van Gogh may have suffered from the same condition. The film premiered in 2024.