A look at 8 films dismissed as bad movies upon release that have since become cult favorites
“I urge you to look at bad films, they are so often sublime.”– Ado Kyrou
The above quote, from Greek writer, filmmaker and cineaste Ado Kyrou, is a vital dose of movie culture philosophy. Case in point, the recent release of Suicide Squad and the tumultuous, flaming internet apocalypse that has followed in its wake. Many critics and fans are calling the movie “bad.” But what does bad mean when it comes to assessing art, even bloated art-as-product like this?
What gives a film its value? Because someone loves it or hates it?
Who invented the rules in which we are to absorb cinema?
Because for every person that loudly derided Suicide Squad, there are handfuls of others that loved it.
Actress Barbara Crampton tweeted her passion for the picture recently. And transgressive film icon John Waters deemed it a masterpiece of camp and eccentricity.
And yet still, many insist – despite its defenders and staggering box office haul – that this film is a “bad” movie. A failure.
History has been filled with these sorts of pictures, movies that were maybe out of step with their times, that betrayed audience expectations, that were marketed wrong or that – by design or happy accident – were a bit…messy?
RELATED: Read Our Review of Suicide Squad
And in almost every instance, the film’s cited as trash today, become tomorrow’s cult treasures.
Because once the cultural zeitgeist evaporates, when the years pass and trends change, we can look at the films for what they are, not what we wanted them to be.
And then the fan-base grows. And grows. And then the film becomes immortal.
And the movies that the critics love now? By and large, sadly, time often forgets them.
But no one forgets the “bad” movies.
Today, we pluck out 8 films that were lazily dismissed as “bad” upon release but, upon deeper evaluation and gazed at via the distance of time, can now be appreciated anew.
Sure, these pictures are far from perfect. But all of them are ripe with energy and even vision. And perfection is an illusion, anyway.
See if you agree…
Bad Movies
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Plan 9 From Outer Space (1959)
The fish-in-a-barrel favorite that has been lauded/derided by legions of smug cinephiles for decades, Plan 9 is easy to scoff at. But, as Tim Burton's charming docufantasy helped prove, writer/director Ed Wood had a specific vision, clouded as it may have been, making him the auteur of independent '50s sci-fi/horror. And Plan 9 is his Citizen Kane. Working with no money and ineptly trying to cheat his limitations, beneath it all Plan 9 boasts some solid atmosphere and interesting ideas. An ambitious failure but there's nothing quite like it.
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The Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
The reason everyone hates The Exorcist II is because it's not The Exorcist. In fact, the film would have been even better if it dispensed with trying to repeat any of the first film's beats entirely (a fate that also befell Jaws 2). When The Exorcist II is focused on Richard Burton and his supernatural investigation, it's mesmerizing and the movie (which was re-cut several times over the years) boasts one of Ennio Morricone's greatest scores.
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Caligula (1979)
How many international big budget porno films have you seen that star Helen Mirren? Not many, I'd guess. Tinto Brass' Caligula has to be seen to be believed, an eccentric, lush, over-the-top costume drama/shagfest with Malcolm McDowell chewing scenery (and other things) as the Emporor and Mirren looking scorching in her revealing outfits. Penthouse founder Bob Guccione famously added hardcore footage in post, much to Brass' dismay. In any cut, the film is the apex of '70s decadence and is a must see.
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Mommie Dearest (1982)
Anyone who laughs at Mommie Dearest deserves a punch in the arm. The malevolent adaptation of Joan Crawford's adopted daughter's memoir, this is in fact a hidden horror movie, with Faye Dunnaway's turn as Crawford ad force of shrieking, spitting Gorgon-like nature. "No wire hangers!" indeed. A draining, melodramatic masterpiece of maternal madness.
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Howling II: Your Sister is a Werewolf (1985)
Yes, Phillipe Mora's Howling II is pretty bad. But it's gloriously bad, maniacal in its tone, bizarre and slipshod in its special effects (the wolf suits were famously actually ape suits!) and edited with a switchblade. But man, it stands alone. Sybil Danning delivers the ultimate Sybil Danning turn as the Werewolf Queen Stirba and Christopher Lee goes undercover at a punk club wearing wraparound new wave shades. Great electro-punk music too. Love it!
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Howard the Duck (1986)
It's great to live in a world now where Howard the Duck has more lovers than haters. We've loved it since the day it came out. Taking the crabby alien duck from the beloved cult Marvel Comics series and amplifying it with rock and roll and endless special effects, Howard was accused of being (producer) George Lucas-fied with its excesses. But at its core, husband and wife team Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz nailed the caustic tone of the comic, the cast is a delight (Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins and Lea Thompson are clearly having a blast) and the movie is beyond eccentric. Critics decimated this upon release. But it's really, really fun and addictive. Great Thomas Dolby songs too...
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Ishtar (1987)
Infamous vanity project misfire starring Hollywood royals Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty, Ishtar was universally derrided and was a huge bomb. But it is NOT a bad movie. In fact, this buddy action flick is really amusing and weird. And hey, Isabelle Adjani is in it, looking lovelier than ever. And the desert locations are great.
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Showgirls (1995)
Another Golden Raspberry favorite and the film that derailed both director Paul Verhoeven and writer Joe Esterhasz's careers. Showgirls is as tawdry and lurid as it both claimed to be and is reputed to be but that works in its favor. The lurid sex and sleaze is essential to the story and underneath that lurks a compelling Wizard of Oz-like fable of a girl lost in a netherworld and trying to find herself. This is not a bad movie. It's a very, very good exploitation picture.
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The Wicker Man (2006)
An easy movie to hate, considering the 1973 original is one of the most shattering films of all time and that Cage's histrionic performance is the stuff of YouTube legend. But Neil LaBute's Americanization of the source is actually ample weird and surreal, with Cage in fine form and the supporting cast - including Ellen Burstyn - adding weight to the lunacy. As a remake it's not good. As a midnight movie, it's fantastic.
