ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN VAMPYROTIC WEB MAGAZINE
“‘So bad, it’s good.’
We hear that a lot. But what does it mean? Usually, we say it about a movie that tries but fails, with accidentally hilarious results. The makers really want to put together a good movie, but their brainchildren come out more like brainfarts. Laughably stilted dialog weaves a threadbare plot against a backdrop of makeshift sets, awkward staging, and cheezy effects. Yet, we love these movies anyway because, deep down where it counts, they have heart.
So, what happens when filmmakers, like the people behind Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter, try to change the rules by setting out to make a bad movie?
In JCVH, the dialog, story, and action are just as bad as the worst exploitation flick, but it feels different viewed through the lens of the filmmakers’ intent. I’m not sure whether to be charmed or offended. I feel, honestly, like the butt of a joke.”