It’s time to reminisce about the films that were truly terrible this year. These are the films which remind you that climate change is at an all-time high, and that the world is going to h*ll in a hand-basket. The worst thing is that these things make it seem as if cinema is going with them; the worst film on this list is truly diabolical, and the only way to deal with having seen these films is by explaining exactly how bad these films are.
10. 'Justice League'
I’m not the world’s biggest superhero film fan as it is, but I can recognise that the superhero genre has a certain appeal - the battle scenes are exciting, the characters embody various social problems, and often they expand on those problems.
Unfortunately, none of that is evident in "Justice League." This is one of the laziest, most uninspiring superhero films to date, and doesn’t at all utilise the talents of the cast. It was an unplanned co-production between Zack Snyder and Joss Whedon, but it seems like neither of them were able to do what they wanted to do. "Justice League" is a real turkey.
9. 'Geostorm'
"Geostorm’s" biggest sin is that it’s completely preposterous. Gerard Butler is in it (because of course he is), and inexplicably he was cast as the smartest scientist in the world. The film is a kind of garbled commentary and humanity’s ability to make climate change an increasingly worrying phenomenon, all wrapped in a frankly ridiculous plot which involves massive space stations, government corruption, and Gerard Butler punching people.
It’s a ridiculous film, and it would be lower on this list if it wasn’t for the fact that its stupidity makes it so entertaining.
8. 'Kidnap'
Halle Berry is back. This film isn’t quite as bad as "Catwoman," but It’s far from a sophisticated piece of work. It’s completely brainless, and most of it is just Halle Berry’s character driving along a freeway, chasing two people who the audience doesn’t care about at all, in a people carrier.
At the end, an important message is shoehorned in about child slavery. However, the film doesn’t really go into any depth, and it feels like an afterthought. "Kidnap" suffered from a phenomenon called ‘development hell,’ and it could have been great under the right supervision - unfortunately it wasn’t.
7. 'Flatliners'
Why was this film made?
Who knows. Ellen Page and Nina Dobrev star in a remake of a film nobody cared about when it came out all those years ago, except it’s far less engaging and in-depth than the original version. The actors did their best, but this is an incredibly flat, uninteresting remake that left the cinemas just as quickly as it entered them, and for good reason: this is one of the dullest films of the year.
6. 'American Assassin'
Every year needs at least a few incredibly dumb, incredibly macho action films. "American Assassin" may not be the biggest, but it is most definitely the stupidest. I don’t understand why, but Michael Keaton has a central role. His talents would have been better served elsewhere. I don’t even know what to say about "American Assassin." It’s not so bad that it’s funny - it’s just bad.
5. 'Jigsaw'
The "Saw" franchise is back, and in my opinion, it’s not welcome. This film makes no sense, it’s stupid, and it’s also completely boring - a cardinal sin for a horror film. This kind of film should make you wince and shy away from the screen in a good way, not in a way that makes you wish you were anywhere else except in a screening for this terrible film. Avoid at all costs.
4. 'Fist Fight'
There was a time when Ice Cube was considered an intelligent public figure, someone who took part in thoughtful, brainy projects - whether those projects were film-based or music-based. Unfortunately, here, he decided to team up with Charlie Day and make one of the most ear-gratingly annoying comedies of the year.
It’s not funny, and it’s idea of “being a man” is senselessly beating up other people. It’s a terrible film, and should be avoided at all costs.
3. 'ChiPs'
We’ve finally reached the films which, frankly, I wish didn’t exist. This film is crass. Misogynistic, ablelist, homophobic, and every other kind of slur you can think of. Kristen Bell is very talented, but her talents are far better served in things like "Bad Moms" and "The Good Place." "ChiPs" is unforgivably bad, and I wish it didn’t exist - unfortunately, it does.
2. 'The Emoji Movie'
Let’s be honest - you knew "The Emoji Movie" would be on this article somewhere. Somehow, it’s not the worst film of the year. But it is just one massive advertisement for Instagram, Twitter, Just Dance, Facebook and Dropbox (Really?
Could they have thought of something more tedious?), and this is something that should be forgotten. Unfortunately, it worked - the film is a hit with today’s kids, and a reminder why exactly we should all hate capitalism.
1. 'The Wolves at the Door'
This film is an atrocity, and I hated it with every fibre of my being. It’s stupid in ways that are barely believable (according to the film-makers, the Summer of Love was in 1969 when it was actually in 1967), and from there it only gets increasingly dumb and offensive. It’s a film that thinks the Manson Murders are something to exploit, and there wasn’t a minute of this awful piece of trash that I enjoyed. Avoid at all costs.
What are your worst films of the year? Do you agree? Let me know.
