Perverse appeal of intentionally bad flicks
MANY MOVIES are produced with the best of intentions—but end up as really lousy flicks, some of which even end up on annual lists of the worst films of the year!
But, what about movies that are intentionally produced to stink up a storm at the box office—and end up as “horrible hits?”
These thoughts come pungently to mind, because the Hollywood film scene is currently agog over the screening of a new “Sharknado” flick—which fully aims to be even more intentionally execrable than its (sleeper hit) original!
In the first film, sharks of all kinds, sizes, dispositions and dental splendor literally rained down on everybody’s parade—and the movie’s makers laughed dementedly all the way to the box office (“crazy”—like a fox)!
This time around, anything and everything and everyone—including the US president!—is fair game for all those toothy terrorists from the briny deep—and a (terribly) fun time is again had by all!
Article continues after this advertisementIs the “Sharknado” phenomenon a savvy exception to the more reasonable rule governing US films? Uh, not so fast—remember “Snakes On A Plane” some seasons ago? That was pretty shlocky too, right?
Article continues after this advertisementIn fact, some Hollywood denizens really aren’t all that averse to making porky pigs’ asses of themselves—as long as there’s money to be made!
Film buffs
Less intentionally now, these are some of the lousiest flicks of 2014, as unmirthfully judged by pimply and nerdy bad film buffs—(did you have to suffer through any of them?):
“Septic Man” (a septic worker mutates into a horrendous avenger). “The Legend of Hercules” (“a joyless slog featuring far too many muscle men with shaved armpits”). “A Million Ways To Die In The West” (“a comedy that pokes fun at cowboys with lethal humorlessness”). “Miss Meadows” (Katie Holmes plays a teacher who packs a pistol and blows scumbags away—no way to make a successful screen comeback). “Hector And The Search For Happiness” (Simon Pegg “on a nauseating tour of his character’s oblivious narcissism.”)
Now, what about the worst movies of all time? We all have our despised and derided candidates, but the “experts” agree that these are some of the worst—and thus most contrarily deserving: “Waterworld,” “Mortal Kombat,” “Ishtar,” “Barbarella,” “Heaven’s Gate,” “Lost in Space,” “Stop or My Mom Will Shoot,” “Thunderbirds,” “Swept Away,” “Revolver,” “Showgirls,” “Town and Country,” “Soul Plane,” “Coyote Ugly,” “Howard The Duck.” —What’s your contribution to this listless list of losers?