Film Review: Best Worst Movie

Fig. 1 Best Worst Movie poster

A 2009 documentary directed by Michael Stephenson, Best Worst Movie dives into the world of the 1990 film Troll 2, a horror B-movie directed by Italian director Claudio Fragasso, which starred an all amateur cast from Utah, USA. Troll 2 has come to be one of cinematographies most notorious films, labeled by many film critics as the worst film ever and receiving terrible ratings and reviews.

Best Worst Movie explores the aftermath of Troll 2, diving into the world of its large cult following that has amassed 20 years after its release in 1990 and how it has affected the lives of the cast. Through a series of interviews, cult gatherings and screenings, Michael Stephenson shows just how far Troll 2's fanbase stretches. 

"Troll 2 star Michael Stephenson steps behind the camera to explore the phenomenon behind the low-budget Italian-produced horror sequel that young movie fanatics have christened "the Rocky Horror of our generation" in this documentary which proves that just because a movie is awful doesn't mean it won't find an audience." (Rotten Tomatoes, 2009)

Fig. 2 Interview with George Hardy

To its cult following Troll 2 has become iconic, a legend within the history of film. What was once considered a blemish on the face of cinema has now risen to become something highly celebrated by a generation of film fanatics. But what makes it such a hit after years of abject failure? Simply put, the film is 'so bad that it's good'. 

"Sure to be embraced by moviegoers even more fascinated by blazing failure than by success..." (Frank Scheck, 2010)

Terrible acting from an inexperienced cast, poor plot; curtesy of a director who didn't speak english and very low budget costumes, add on top of that the fact the the film featured now trolls whatsoever, Troll 2 became something in which was not intended: a comedy. The fact that the film was intended to be a real horror though is the icing on the cake, as Stephenson put it:

"With Troll 2, we thought we were making a great horror film, and that's what causes people to smile and to laugh." (Hubbard, 2010)     

Fig. 3 Scene from Troll 2

"But there's no denying that it is often outrageous fun, and the news that Fragasso and Drudi are working on a script for "Troll 2: Part 2" is but the icing on a very nasty cake." (Frank Scheck, 2010)

List of Illustrations

Figure 1. Best Worst Movie (2009) Best Worst Movie Poster. 

At: http://collider.com/best-worst-movie-review/25618/ (Accessed on 05/10/11)

Figure 2. Best Worst Movie (2009) Interview with George Hardy.

At: http://uk.dvd.ign.com/dor/objects/86667/best-worst-movie/images/best-worst-movie-20101117033910429.html (Accessed on 05/10/11)

Figure 3. Best Worst Movie (2009) Scene from Troll 2. 

At: http://eternalsunshineofthelogicalmind.blogspot.com/2009/05/best-worst-movie.html 

(Accessed on 05/10/11)

Bibliography

Rotten Tomatoes (2009) Best Worst Movie 

At: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/best_worst_movie/ (Accessed on 05/10/11)

Scheck, Frank (2009) Best Worst Movie - Film Review 

At: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/best-worst-movie-film-review-29583 

(Accessed on 05/10/11)

Hubbard, Jeremy (2010) Fan Base Forms Around Worst Movie Ever

At: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/cult-fan-base-forms-troll-worst-movie/story?id=10565306

Synopsis v1.0

In 1982 a young woman arrives at the Hotel Del Coronado where she intends to stay until her lover arrives several days later. During her stay she frequents the hotel bar. As the days pass, the likelihood of the woman's lover arriving lessens and with each night she returns to the bar for comfort. On the fifth night, as the woman returns to her room from the bar, she is followed by an obscured figure. As she closes the door the figure stops her and walks into the room. Moments later the woman is raped and as she tries to escape, is then murdered by the obscure figure, the audience seeing only the shadows on the wall and ending with a gunshot. The following day the woman is found in her room with the scene staged to look like suicide.

Every seven years on the day of the apparent suicide, a mysterious death occurs, the victims being men who stay in the room of the murder. The deaths were not common knowledge, but several years following the death of the last victim, a news article is published about it. A detective reads the article about the series of strange deaths and takes the opportunity to investigate them, requesting to stay in the same room as the victims. Although advised by several members of hotel staff, the manager included, he insists that his stay is within this particular room. Throughout the detective's stay, he experiences several odd phenomenon that eventually draws him into the world of the woman who was murdered all those years before. The detective learns the truth behind the strange deaths of men who stayed in the room and begins to learn the truth behind the woman appearances. After some thorough investigation and the events of the phenomenon to aid him, the detective manages to identify the woman's killer.

Compiling his evidence, the detective confronts the manager of the hotel over the woman's death, explaining that he was the son of the previous manager and inheritor of the hotel. Before he was able to take charge of the hotel, he was made to learn the business from the ground up, working as the hotel bartender when the woman stayed in the hotel. As he was in a position of power (being the son of the manager) he forced himself upon the woman and as she tried to escape he shot her and staged the murder as a suicide. In the years after, he covered up the deaths so as not to tarnish the hotels name and ruin his business. 

The manager tries to keep the murder a secret by disposing of the detective but he is lured to the room as the detective escapes. A fight ensues with the manager getting the upper hand but suddenly stops. The manager falls to the floor lifeless, the ghost of the woman having killed him. The woman, having finally got her revenge, is able to rest in peace and pass on to the other side. The detective picks himself, and walks to the door of the room. He turns back for one last look at the room before departing.

Influence Map: Late 19th Century Furniture

Film Review: Ed Wood

Fig. 1 Ed Wood poster

A 1994 film directed by Tim Burton, Ed Wood is a biopic (biographical film) that explores the career of one of the most notorious film makers in cinema, Edward D. Wood Jnr. Wood produced his fair share of films throughout his career, none of which reaching success. However some of his most well known works such as "Plan 9 From Outer Space" quickly became cult classics following his death in 1978. The film follows Ed Wood (Johnny Depp) from the off set of his career, directing the film "Glen Or Glenda", finishing with the premiere of "Plan 9 From Outer Space". 

Tim Burton strives for authenticity in Ed Wood. In his recreation of Wood's career, Burton has the film remakes including "Glen Or Glenda" and "Plan 9 From Outer Space", mimic the originals down to each detail, making sure that everything Wood put into the originals was in his own. This included things from characters and cast to sets and costumes. Even the mishaps from Wood's films are incorporated into Burton's remakes. Below are two shots from the same moment in "Glen Or Glenda", first Ed Wood's original and then Tim Burton's remake:

Fig. 2 Glen or Glenda (Ed Wood)

Fig. 3 Glen Or Glenda (Tim Burton)

"If you are interested in this movie because you have seen Plan 9 from Outer Space, you'll love the last part of this film, which focuses on the making and release of Plan 9. What's neat about it is how the scene doesn't use footage from the original Plan 9 film. Rather, it features the actors in this 1994 film playing the original Plan 9 cast and reenacting scenes from the sci-fi film. I was quite impressed by how the reenactment of Plan 9 looks so much like the original Plan 9. This is a great example of authenticity in the portrayal of actual events." (AFR, -) 

On top of the authenticity that Burton achieves in Ed Wood he also brings in his fascination with 1950's B-movies. Burton chose to film the Ed Wood in black and white as his attempt to revive a filmic style that he enjoys. And due to the nature of the film it fits quite nicely; wood made low budget B-movies and Burton, in his biopic has used a part of that style to bring the feel of the film full circle.

"Filming in black and white helped-it became a sort of unifying character. Production design and music, too-all of those elements you treat as characters; you listen and look as you would with an actor." (Burton, -)

"Part of the decision to do Ed Wood in black and white came when we were doing makeup tests with Rick Baker. Rick said, "What color were Bela's eyes?" and we realized none of us had seen Bela Lugosi in color. And since we were portraying him as he hadn't really been seen, kind of out of it, we realized we didn't want to be asking those kinds of questions." (Burton, -)

List of Illustrations

Figure 1. Ed Wood (1994) Ed Wood Poster. 

At: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Wood_(film) (Accessed on 21/09/11)

Figure 2. Glen or Glenda (1953) Glen or Glenda (Ed Wood).

At: http://fredrikfyhriallmanhet.wordpress.com/arkiv-och-lager/recensioner-och-dylikt/engelska-recensioner/glen-or-glenda/ (Accessed on 21/09/11)

Figure 3. Ed Wood (1994) Glen Or Glenda (Tim Burton). 

At: http://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2009/12/16/the-sixth-viewing-deconstructing-burton 

(Accessed on 21/09/11)

Bibliography

AFR (-) Ed Wood 

At: http://www.anthonysfilmreview.com/Film/E/Ed_Wood.htm (Accessed on 21/09/11)

Minadream (-) Tim Burton Interviewed By Gavin Smith 

At: http://minadream.com/timburton/EdWoodInterview.htm (Accessed on 21/09/11)