Know Your Terms

It's probably worth getting into just what a 'bad' movie is to me, since it is a highly subjective term under the best of times.  Even more so when one is applying the word to movies I sometimes love.

Of course, there's the obvious usage of it.  A movie that's just plain bad.  Everyone can pick those out.  It has no redeeming value whatsoever, and isn't even worth going near.  First movie that comes to mind of that type, that's not even entertaining in a bad way, would be Scifi Channel's The Fallen Ones.  Oh man that was awful.  I couldn't turn away, it just kept getting worse.

And usually it's easy to spot a good movie.  Quality of directing, acting, cinematography, writing, etc.  These are two extremes that everyone can usually point to and agree with.  Although there's always someone who will love or hate anything, going against the usual opinion.

But then there's that really odd space, and that's where this website is going to reside.  A movie that is badly acted, isn't shot very well, has amazing shoddy special effects, or is written with the most absurd plot holes or outlandish plot devices.  And yet...they have a charm.  A joy to them.  Something that makes them fun and makes you want to watch them, even knowing just how bad they are.

Sometimes, that can be deliberate.  A bad movie, but knowingly bad, being done tongue in cheek, with everyone being in on the joke and welcoming the audience in on it as well, so everyone can just have a good laugh.  Slither is my favourite example of this.  It's goofy and silly, and everyone knows it, and can enjoy it on that level.

Other times, it is a complete accident, and probably not the intention of the creators that it was going to turn out bad.  Sometimes, things just happen.  It doesn't have the budget, or the actors, to sustain an otherwise ok script.  But I digress.  There are other films that you love just because they're so awful, and people in it take themselves way too seriously.

In short, even I'm not sure what will end up being considered a 'bad movie' for this site.  I know I want to review even a few good movies, just to keep my sanity, and to highlight stuff that is an example of this genre done right.  Even then, not everything will be horror.  There's surely some thriller movies, some bad action films, and even some scifi films that I'd love to add to the site.  A friend mentioned I Come In Peace, and that would be perfect here.

So yeah, I just spent all these words clearing up absolutely nothing!  But I think we have a general idea.

J