Film critics exist primarily to view a film and appraise it based on a number of features, from acting and direction to storyline and development, to scoring and visuals. A lot of the time, this gives them a wide grasp over what makes a film great, and many audiences will trust their judgment. However, there are plenty of times where a critical perspective simply doesn’t match that of an audience or downplays the quality of a film.
We’ve put together a list of films that critics seemed to conclude were simply a bit "meh," but were actually brilliant, well-loved pieces of cinema.
Small Soldiers
The crushing satire of Small Soldiers is something most critics overlooked entirely, palming it off as a rehash of Joe Dante’s Gremlins but with toys instead of actual Gremlins—like a violent Toy Story. It didn’t really get negative reviews, but very few critics ever noted that Small Soldiers is one of the finest modern anti-war films. It satirizing everything from the greed of capitalist companies to the age of consumerism, all while delivering world-class humor and unique characters.
The Perfection
Just a few months after Bird Box had taken the world by storm by appearing on Netflix with a gripping psychological tale, The Perfection did exactly the same thing... but no one really cared. The trailers made sure to keep the mystery of the film’s first half in check, giving absolutely nothing away about that brilliant mid-point twist, while the performances from Allison Williams and Logan Browning were exceptional.
American Psycho
If critics were able to pick up on satire, then it’s quite likely that American Psycho would be considered one of the finest films of all time, rather than a "pretty good" film. Things open out by questioning materialism and greed before we are able to delve into the psyche of Christian Bale’s Patrick Bateman as the film progresses. The final moments add only to the thought-provoking—and strangely humorous—film.
Panic Room
The reason David Fincher’s Panic Room has ended up being considered one of his most average films is because it doesn’t really feel like a Fincher film. We get to the end and rather than a game-changing twist, the film just... ends.
But, that’s okay! Characters are at the heart of both sides of the story, while small-scale action plays out to keep us hooked for an enticing and intense hour and a half.
Saw
The Saw franchise is continually downplayed and hated by those who have never taken the time to absorb themselves into the twisted world of the Jigsaw killer and his apprentices. The first film is a masterpiece of low-budget horror that manages to bring fear into a one-room set, create mystery with an intriguing side-story and blow out heads off with mind-boggling twists. And, yes, there may well be some blood.
Suspiria
Suspiria—in both its 2018 and 1977 renditions—was certainly divisive amongst critics and audiences alike. The strange storyline, centering on a dance school run by witches, combined with the manic visuals of the first and lulled bleakness of the remake makes it a difficult watch film that approaches the themes of matriarchy and evil with poise. It’s a genius film for those with a strong stomach.
Halloween III: Season Of The Witch
The third entry into the Halloween franchise was born with a natural disadvantage. It didn’t have Michael Myers in it, and, after the first two films, Michael Myers was a fan-favorite character. Yes, it might have been too early to release a franchise film without the main baddie in it, but, if you view it without that lens, you get a brilliantly suspenseful, well-paced horror classic.
Cannibal Holocaust
The first thing to say about Cannibal Holocaust is that it has very real scenes of animal murder within. It’s enough to keep most away, and that's fair enough. If you have a strong enough stomach, however, then Cannibal Holocaust is one of the finest horror films ever made. It revolutionized the horror genre and brought found-footage films to the forefront, all while delivering on some of the best gore effects in history. So good, in fact, that Ruggero Deodato was summoned to court over the creation of an alleged snuff film.
The Shining
Nowadays, The Shining is rightly remembered as one of the finest films ever made. Stanley Kubrick perfectly realized the best things about Stephen King’s story, added his own moody atmosphere, and made incredible casting choices.
When it was released, however, critics—and Stephen King himself—thought the film left out the true horror from the original and forced audiences through slow-paced action. Luckily, a few years later they realized their mistakes.
Fight Club
Just like The Shining, Fight Club was released to relatively negative reviews. Seven had impressed audiences four years earlier, so David Fincher’s 1999 effort was seen as sensory overload full of pretentiousness. What it actually was, was a genius piece of action-packed satire with one of the greatest twists in cinematic history. Nowadays, the film is remembered as one of the best ever made.