Things (film)
| Things | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Andrew Jordan |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Dan Riggs |
| Edited by |
|
| Music by | Jack Procher |
Production company | Left Field Productions |
| Distributed by | Exosphere Motion Pictures |
Release date | September 1989 |
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Things (stylized as THINGS) is a 1989 Canadian independent direct-to-video horror film, directed by Andrew Jordan and written by Jordan and Barry J. Gillis.[1] It is considered by many to be one of the worst films of all time.
Production
Things is reportedly the "first Canadian shot-on-Super 8 gore shocker commercially released on VHS."[2] Shot in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Ontario, the cast consisted of co-writer Barry J. Gillis and pornographic film star Amber Lynn.[3] The plot follows two friends in a remote cabin who "discover a womb of monstrous horror that demands graphic dismemberment".[4]
Release
In 1989, Things was released direct-to-video.[5] It was released on DVD in 2008,[6] and was re-released on home media in 2011.[7] It has also been featured at film festivals.[8]
Critical response
Since its release, Things has gained a reputation as being one of the worst films ever made. Critics from The Beachwood Reporter, Dread Central and Cinema Sewer each described it as being the worst film ever made.[9][6][3] Adam Symchuk of Screen Rant writes: "While films like The Room and Birdemic seem to be constant contenders for the best 'so bad it's good' movie, [Things] is the true unheralded champion among many cinephiles."[10] Likewise, a review from DVD Verdict wrote that the film was "a treasure for those who like to revel in the worst of the worst."[11] Meanwhile, J Hurtado of Screen Anarchy described it as "critically unassailable" and Will Pfeifer opined that "It's so terrible I can’t think of another movie that even comes close."[4][12]
Caelum Vatnsdal, author of They Came From Within: A History of Canadian Horror Cinema, wrote that Things is "the worst Canadian horror film ever made".[13] In his book Spinegrinder: The Movies Most Critics Won't Write About, Clive Davies stated that, while Things was a strong contender for the title of "best worst movie", it is not well known outside of its cult following.[14] Mike Stoklasa and Jay Bauman of Red Letter Media also reviewed Things in an episode of Half in the Bag.[15]
References
- ^ Lentz, Harris M. Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television, McFarland, 2nd edition, 1598 pages, (2000), ISBN 0-7864-0950-9 (for Volume 1); 0-7864-0951-7 (for Volume 2); ISBN 0-7864-0952-5 (for Volume 3)
- ^ Turek, Ryan (June 23, 2011). "DVD: "Canuxploitation" Flick Things on the Way". Comingsoon.net. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ a b Kirschner, Jeff (December 10, 2015). "Things: The Worst Movie Ever Made". Dread Central. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ a b J Hurtado (August 3, 2011). "Things DVD Review". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ J Hurtado (June 23, 2011). "Intervision Picture Corp Warns Of Things & The Secret Life: Jeffrey Dahmer July 12th". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ a b "Things on DVD". Cinema Sewer. September 12, 2008. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Miska, Brad (June 23, 2011). "1989 Cult 'Things' Gets Rerelease". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ "Die Kultmoviegang zeigt "Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare" und "Things" in Bern". Nau.ch (in German). Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ "Things: Perhaps The Worst Movie Ever Made". The Beachwood Reporter. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Symchuk, Adam (September 30, 2020). "It Came From The North: 10 Great Monster Movies From Canada". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Loomis, Daryl (July 22, 2011). "DVD Verdict Review - Things". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- ^ Pfeifer, Will (October 17, 2008). "Will Pfeifer: Monsters, mullets meet for snoozefest". Jackson Newspapers. Archived from the original on September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Vatnsdal, Caelum (2004). They Came From Within: A History of Canadian Horror Cinema. Arbeiter Ring Publishing. ISBN 978-1-894037-21-1.
- ^ Davies, Clive (2015). Spinegrinder: The Movies Most Critics Won't Write About. Headpress. ISBN 978-1909394278.
- ^ "Half in the Bag: Summer Movie Catch Up and Things". Red Letter Media. October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2020.