Best Worst Movie
| Best Worst Movie | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release cover | |
| Directed by | Michael Stephenson |
| Written by | Michael Stephenson |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Katie Graham Carl Indriago |
| Edited by | Katie Graham Andrew Matthews |
| Music by | Bobby Tahouri |
Production company | Magicstone Productions |
| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Best Worst Movie is a 2009 American documentary film about the making of the infamously received 1990 horror film Troll 2 and its subsequent resurgence as a cult film.[1] Directed by Michael Stephenson, the child star of Troll 2, the film was distributed by Magicstone Productions and New Video Group. It was also included in the first 5,000 copies of Scream Factory's Blu-ray double feature of Troll and Troll 2, released on November 17, 2015.[2]
Cast
- Michael Stephenson
- George Hardy
- Lily Hardy
- Pita Ray
- Micki Knox
- Tommy Bice
- Lila Graves
- Laura Gulledge
- Merry Hardy
- Barbara H. Young
- Emily Booth
- Claudio Fragasso
Production
After completing and watching Troll 2, Stephenson became embarrassed by the film; however, thanks to Myspace, he began to realize that the film had gained a cult following and was often listed alongside favorite movies of users on the site.[3] According to Stephenson, the turning point came in April 2006; he stated, "I woke up one morning with a really warm feeling and I was smiling ear to ear. I was next to my wife and I said, 'I am the child star of the worst movie ever made... there's a story here.'"[3]
Not all participants in Troll 2 were eager to revisit the film. Stephenson noted that he had trouble convincing actors Don Packard and Connie Young to be included in the project, although he was eventually able to convince both to appear in it.[3]
Release
The film premiered at the South by Southwest festival in March 2009, and was released on DVD in November 2010.
Reception
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Best Worst Movie received very positive reviews. It holds a 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 67 reviews, with a weighted average of 7.26/10. The website's consensus reads, "Good-natured and mirthful, Best Worst Movie is a sweet deconstruction of how a cinematic folly can become a triumph."[4] It is also rated 61% based on the reviews of 15 critics, placing it under the subcategory "Generally favorable reviews" on Metacritic.[5] Roger Ebert awarded Best Worst Movie three out of four stars.[6] The A.V. Club gave the film a "B" rating.[7]
Accolades
| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Film Critics Society Award | Best Documentary Film | Nominated | |
| Fantasia International Film Festival | Best Documentary | Michael Stephenson | Won |
| Sitges Film Festival | New Visions Award for Non Fiction Motion Picture Diploma | Won | |
| Telly Award | Silver Telly — TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces - Sound/Sound Design | Woody Woodhall | Won |
References
- ^ "Best & Worst of 2009: David Harley Picks His Top 10!". Bloody-disgusting.com. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
- ^ "Troll / Troll 2 [with Best Worst Movie on DVD]". Shout! Factory. Archived from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2015-10-17.
- ^ a b c Hill, Katrina. "How the star of Troll 2 stopped worrying and learned to love being in the worst movie of all time". Io9. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
- ^ Best Worst Movie at Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ Best Worst Movie (2010) at Metacritic
- ^ Ebert, Roger (July 28, 2010). "Best Worst Movie Movie Review (2010)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ Tobias, Scott (April 22, 2010). "Best Worst Movie". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
