1 - Ghost in a Shell
I don’t see a lot of bad films, so this list usually consists of films that disappointed me for one reason or another. That’s not the case for Ghost in a Shell. Not only is it the worst film I saw this year, but it might just be the worst film I’ve seen this decade. Ghost in a Shell has zero redeeming qualities. It’s dull, lifeless, visually flat and just a complete trainwreck. Even Scarlett Johansson can’t save this one. The film is based on the classic anime of the same name, but this version of the film has left such a bad taste in my mouth that I’m reluctant to watch it. I’m sure I will come around at some point, but it’s going to be a little while before I’m able to wipe this complete failure of a film from my memory.
2 - The Dark Tower
It pains me to do this, it really does, but if I’m being honest, The Dark Tower wasn’t a very good film. I’m such a huge fan of the books that I think I was riding a high after walking out of the theater. I felt there was just enough of the books sprinkled in for me to enjoy myself, but it wasn’t until I really started thinking about things that I realized how much of a wasted opportunity the film was. The most unforgivable part of the film is the fact that it was surprisingly short. The Dark Tower universe is so vast, I find it hard to believe that they couldn’t have added another 30 minutes of character interaction, world building and mythology to the film. The Dark Tower books are masterpieces and they deserve a better big screen adaptation. I’m just not sure we will ever get it.
3 - It Comes at Night
It Comes at Night is a perfect example of how marketing, especially misleading marketing, can determine whether or not someone likes a film. I’ve been trying to stay away from trailers for that very reason, that being said, when the most misleading aspect of your film is the title, then there’s not much you can do. It Comes at Night is a great title, as long as you pay it off in the end. That’s where the failure lies. The title alone causes the audience to ask itself questions. “What comes at Night?” “Who or what is it?” These questions raise expectations and when those expectations aren’t met, that’s when you get disappointed. I did see the trailer once, and that too is very misleading. Without giving too much away, the film is essentially a psychological thriller. The other part of the film that I wasn’t all that impressed with is some of the themes. I’ve seen other films and video games pull it off much better.
4 - Free Fire
Nobody loves a good old gun fight more than me, but even I need a little more than that. Free Fire is literally a non-stop gun fight in a warehouse. There’s not much story anywhere to be found. The worst part is that the editing is so poor, you really don’t get a good sense of space. Many of the shootout scenes are confusing and I often had a hard time following who was shooting at whom. Free Fire features a great cast, recent Oscar winner Brie Larson, Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer and Cillian Murphy, but most of them outside of Copley aren’t asked to really show of their skills. Free Fire is directed by Ben Wheatley, and if I’m being honest, I have yet to be impressed by any of his films.
5 - Snatched
A lot of people dislike Amy Schumer but I’m actually a fan of her work. I thought Trainwreck was one of the funniest films of 2015. Snatched marked the return to the big screen for Goldie Hawn who hadn’t acted in a feature film since 2002’s The Banger Sisters. I thought the combo of Schumer and Hawn was ripe for comedy, but the film ultimately relied on raunchy humor and crude situations, something many modern comedies feel is necessary. Snatched feels a little like Romancing the Stone, but ends up being a fairly forgettable film. If you like Schumer and it’s on cable or Netflix, it’s watchable, but I wouldn’t pay for it.