“Bad” is pretty loose terminology. One person’s “Bad” is another’s “Good,” even “Terrific.” But many films out there have truly earned the consensus they have working for (or against) them.Movie 43is bad, flat-out. It’s earned its negative reputation just asCasablancaandThe Exorcisthave earned theirs on the opposite side of the coin.
Then there’s the stuff that falls in-between, which is infinitely harder to pinpoint, quality-wise. This isn’t in reference to, say, a strictly average film, but rather movies that weren’t even trying to be objectively “Good.” Yet, if a film crew istryingto create something “Bad” yet entertaining, and they succeed with flying colors, does that not make the resulting product “Good?” Many would argue yes, especially devotees of the following fan favorites.
10Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978)
Of all the films unlikely to inspire a franchise,Attack of the Killer Tomatoesranks pretty darn high. But, with four films (including the second installment, 1988’sReturn of the Killer Tomatoes, which features an early performance from George Clooney), it did just that, even though it didn’t exactly soar at the box office.
There’s an argument to be made thatAttack of the Killer Tomatoesisn’t intentionally poor, but rather an outright poor attempt at being intentionally poor. In other words, it’s noAirplane!But there is merit toKiller Tomatoes, provided the individual watching it is under the influence of a substance or three.
9Slumber Party Massacre II (1987)
The originalSlumber Party Massacreis a well-paced, often chilling slasher with some memorable moments (the body in the refrigerator) and even more memorable kills (that poor pizza boy). Yet, it was originally intended to be a comedy, an analysis and deconstruction of the stabby subgenre. Written and directed by women, it also managed to be unique, not that it lead to any surge in female directors/writers/producers for genre films of the time. It should have, though, just as shouldSlumber Party Massacre II, which wasn’t just intended to be a comedy at first, it stayed that way all throughout production.
This leads to two different, yet ultimately equal viewing experiences. It’s just that, whereasSlumber Party Massacreis moreHalloween,Slumber Party Massacre IIis moreA Nightmare on Elm Street. Why? BecauseIItakes the original film’s drill-wielding human antagonist, who very much died in the first film, and reincarnates him as a guitar wielding greaser. Naturally, that guitar is adorned with drilling capability. Of course, when you have an otherworldly antagonist who breaks out into musical numbers or outright addresses the audience, the fear factor is going to be diminished. ButSlumber Party Massacre IIhas no concern with being frightening, it just wants to be its own thing, and that it is.
8Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)
The Chiodo Brothers have worked on the special effects for movies likeRoboCop,UHF,Critters 3and4, andTeam America: World Police, butKiller Klowns from Outer Spacewas and remains the only time they’ve put out a movie that’s all theirs. This is surprising, because of all the bizarre pseudo-slashers released in the mid to late ’80s, as the subgenre had been done to death and then some,Killer Klownsis quite possibly the best.
It was also a pretty substantial box office success, netting $43 million on a budget less than $2 million. With inventive kill scenes (the shadow hand puppet comes to mind) and a tongue planted firmly in cheek, it’s a blast and deserves every fan it’s accumulated.
7Mars Attacks! (1996)
Packed with some of thescariest moments in a Tim Burton film(Michael J. Fox’s death scene and the White House infiltration come to mind),Mars Attacks!is a fun throwback to both the Topps trading card series and 1950s alien invasion flicks. One of the most star-studded movies of its decade,Mars Attacks!features such formidable A-list talent as Jack Nicholson (in a dual role), boxer Jim Brown, Danny DeVito, Pam Grier, Martin Short, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Pierce Brosnan, all of whom appear to be having the time of their lives.
The cast, and the film itself, never shy from embracing the script’s absurdity, and it’s one of the few times a bunch of legendary actors have seemed so on the same page about something so silly. It’s just a silly vision audiences weren’t too interested in at the time. Unfortunately, it’s debatable whether the movie has gone on to gain the audience it deserves.
6Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
The widely-reviledFreddy Got Fingeredis the brainchild of controversial early aughts pop culture figure Tom Green. And, suffice it to say, there’s nothing else quite like it.
Outside of being labeled a comedy and a film about daddy issues,Freddy Got Fingeredis difficult to define. One thing it isn’t is predictable, because no film where a man strings sausages to his piano as well as a ceiling and sings “Daddy do you want some sausage” ever could be.
5Kung Pow! Enter the Fist (2002)
Amartial arts movie with a sense of humor,Kung Pow! Enter the Fistis the creation of Steve Oedekerk, originator of the “Thumbmation” shorts that parodied such hit films asFrankensteinandTitanic.Kung Pow!goes a step further by not just emulating these classics, but by having Oedekerk dive right into one.
Specifically, Oedekerk (as The Chosen One) is placed in 1976’sTiger & Crane Fists, with some new scenes added to alter the plot. It’s all very juvenile and is one of a litany of films to apeThe Matrixshortly after it introduced audiences to “Bullet Time,” but it’s hysterical nonetheless.
4Snakes on a Plane (2006)
The late David R. Ellis only directed seven movies throughout his brief career, and two of them were creature features.Snakes on a Planeis far and away the better one, even ifShark Nightalso tried to be a fast-paced, fun, and cheekily self-aware horror comedy.
Snakes on a Planeis a movie that knows precisely what to give its audience, most of whom didn’t show up when it counted anyway. Which is odd, considering their online chatter was enough to get the movie some reshoots, hence the R rating andSamuel L. Jackson’s iconic"I’ve had it" outburst. Regardless,Snakes on a Planewill always have an audience; The combination of the title and Jackson practically guarantees it.
3Grindhouse (2007)
EvenQuentin Tarantino has come to recognizethatGrindhousehad limited potential when it came to finding a big audience in 2007. At over three hours, it was always going to turn away many audience members, even those who are already fans of Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. Then, if the runtime wasn’t enough, the graphic content would.
Then there’s the simple fact that, while Rodriguez and Tarantino grew up enjoying grimy grindhouse flicks, most modern audience members did not. People aren’t going to buy a ticket to something they don’t understand, and they didn’t understand the double feature that isGrindhouse. But, especially for fans of the two directors, it’s a stone cold treat. Even still, while the average film fan would be forgiven for immediately assuming Tarantino’sDeath Proofwould be the better of the two movies, they’d be way off. Rodriguez’sPlanet Terroris the real winner, not just because it’s the more well-paced installment, but also because it features standout performances from Tom Savini, Michael Biehn, Jeff Fahey, Josh Brolin, and especially Marley Shelton (whose Dr. Dakota Block is put through the ringer more than just about any film character) and lead Rose McGowan.
2Machete (2010)
With humble beginnings as the first fake trailer in front ofGrindhouse,Macheteis something of a small miracle. It’s every bit as action-packed and darkly hysterical asPlanet TerrorandDeath Proofand finally gives Danny Trejo his time to shine.
It also managed to outgrossGrindhouseat the box office, though by a negligible amount. Some movies earn the moniker of niche, and the goryMacheteis one of them. But, any wide-release movie that gives Jeff Fahey a major role is a winner, as is any movie that finally makes Steven Seagal poke some fun at himself.
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1Sharknado (2013)
LikeSnakes on a PlaneorCocaine Bear,Sharknadowas a creature feature that started getting some hype working for it beforehand. UnlikeSnakes on a Planebut likeCocaine Bear, it was hype that paid off.
Certainly the most successful film to ever grace the airwaves of the SYFY Channel, the 2013 schlockfest went on to inspirefive sequels of increasing absurdity. Tara Reid and Ian Ziering led the charge each time, but besides the soaring sharks, the appeal has always been the guest stars. TheSharknadosaga has never really shorted its fanbase on what they want, and even if it continued for another dozen films it probably never would, because whatSharknadofans want is just absurd, andSharknadois absurd.
