The Absolute Worst Films of All Time!

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

I think people tend to vote with their hearts rather than their heads (this isn't a criticism by the way as it just proves passion) when nominating 'worst' and 'best' is concerned. A lot of the time any technical merit can easily be overlooked if a film doesn't touch you in a way in which you like, and it's difficult to be objective in these cases.

As an example, I think The Birth of a Nation is a truly appalling film, but it is still an important and historical milestone in cinematic history and a technically well made piece of work. Therefore, despite my feelings towards it you'll never see it grace a 'worst of' film list from me.

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by bizarre_eye@Cult Labs

I think people tend to vote with their hearts rather than their heads (this isn't a criticism by the way as it just proves passion) when nominating 'worst' and 'best' is concerned. A lot of the time any technical merit can easily be overlooked if a film doesn't touch you in a way in which you like, and it's difficult to be objective in these cases.

As an example, I think The Birth of a Nation is a truly appalling film, but it is still an important and historical milestone in cinematic history and a technically well made piece of work. Therefore, despite my feelings towards it you'll never see it grace a 'worst of' film list from me.

I would have make two lists: one for films I detest and another for films which are technically inept.

As for The Birth of a Nation, it's a little like The Triumph of the Will in that it is a masterpiece of filmmaking, but has an appalling subject matter.

[JunkMonkey]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu@Cult Labs

I would have make two lists: one for films I detest and another for films which are technically inept.

The fusion of the two is where the fun lies. There are many technically wonderful films that have left me cold - Cloverfield was one which I watched for the first time last night. Technically great but I couldn't care less about the characters. Does that make it a bad film? No. Just a film I didn't like.

Richard Driscoll's The Comic on the other hand is as technically inept piece of movie making as you will find anywhere (like all Driscoll's films) and I didn't care about the characters. It is a BAD film - any one who says otherwise is deluding themselves (and is probably Richard Driscoll) - but I like it.

The only film I can think of that I detest is Jane Campion's In the Cut a film which - apart from from the possible pervy thrill of seeing Meg Ryan's pubes - has nothing to recommend it to anyone who isn't deeply masochistic and likes having their intelligence insulted. Technically competent but assumes the audience is stupid and then pummels them round the head with the obvious for two hours.

[Demoncrat]

Evil Dead reflog. It is just nasty chicken shit filmmaking of the highest order. Would rather watch any amount of psuedo porn/arthouse over that shit any day. Except Trouble Every Day which is, to my mind, self congratulatory garbage....look how shocking I is!!

Wake me up when yr done........

[Nosferatu@Cult Labs]

Although it could be described as a guilty pleasure, this is one of the worst films I've ever seen – it's even too bad to be 'so bad it's good'.

[MacBlayne]

I'm not sure I could pick a "worst" film, but the last film I saw that utterly appalled me was A Good Day to Die Hard. While I understand that being a huge fan of the first three films may colour my judgement of 4.0 and Good Day, but I can admit that the fourth film was made with competence in all the technical departments.

A Good Day to Die Hard has nothing. The script is a disgrace, even when compared to used toilet paper. The pacing is all wrong, the editing is haphazard, the direction is abysmal (camera placement and compositions are just random), the cinematography is disgusting, the sound design is a clunky mess, the music is boring as hell and every single actor is either awful (Radivoje Bukvić), confused (Sebastian Koch), bored (Jai Courtney), or all three (Bruce Willis).

I couldn't believe how rotten this film was. I wasn't expecting greatness since they already announced John Moore as the director but since Max Payne looked rather nice, I assumed the same would be here too.

This and Texas Chainsaw 3D made me fear for the rest of 2013.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by MacBlayne

A Good Day to Die Hard. Texas Chainsaw 3D

Totally agree with you regarding the Die Hard mess. It's worth watching for about half an hour. Once the decent (ish) chase round Moscow ends then you may as well turn it off as it goes downhill faster than a bobsleigh.

I quite enjoyed Texas Chainsaw 3D.

Don't worry...i am the only one here who feels this way.

[Frankenhooker]

The 2007 Hills Have Eyes Part II is pretty terrible. Craven's sequel isn't great, but the recent film makes it seem like The Exorcist or something.

Took me three attempts to get through it. Dire.

[MacBlayne]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Totally agree with you regarding the Die Hard mess. It's worth watching for about half an hour. Once the decent (ish) chase round Moscow ends then you may as well turn it off as it goes downhill faster than a bobsleigh.

I quite enjoyed Texas Chainsaw 3D.

Don't worry...i am the only one here who feels this way.

Ha-ha, I've had a few people tell me they enjoyed Texas Chainsaw 3D. I couldn't get into it at all, I'm afraid. It wasn't trashy enough to enjoy in a Friday the 13th way, nor was it classy / gritty enough in that 70s way. Too middle of the road, which filled me with antipathy.

I will say this, despite the drab visuals, the filmmakers knew how to set up a tripod so the dreaded shakycam was avoided. John Frizzell's score harkened back to the original film without becoming derivative. And I'm sure the catering department did a decent job too.

Oh, yeah, I did find "drive through the gate" bit to be rather funny. Didn't see that coming.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by MacBlayne

And I'm sure the catering department did a decent job too.