Best Worst Movie
Last night I finally got to see the documentary Best Worst Movie. I had been anticipating it since I first read a post from @K80Blog (YouTube, Twitter) about it when the film was accepted by the South by Southwest festival in Austin.
I love Katie. I think she is one of the most honest, engaging and funny vloggers in the world. What I didn’t know, until recently, is that she is a real filmmaker. Not that there aren’t some people with real talent on YouTube, but Katie was director of photography and co-editor of a real movie about the film Troll 2 and the cult phenomenon that has developed around this entertainingly awful movie.
Best Worst Movie is hugely entertaining (but in no way awful). It is directed by Michael Paul Stephenson who starred in Troll 2 as the kid. Featured prominently in the documentary is George Hardy a dentist who played the father in the original film. Most of the other cast members appear in BWM, and most of them know how awful Troll 2 was. The actress who played the mother does not seem to get the irony of the film’s cult success, and that disconnect is poignant.
The director of Troll 2, Claudio Fragrasso, gets a lot of footage in the documentary. He also does not get the irony, but his cluelessness is more comical. Almost a cliche of the European director, he takes himself way too seriously and thinks the actors are all “dogs”. But, as the film implies, Troll 2 would not have been as entertaining if he hadn’t been so earnest about it.
Katie did a great job shooting the film and editing (with Andrew Matthews). Several other YouTubers and Twitterers were in attendance last night at Brooklyn Automotive High School (exhibited by Rooftop Films). We were all very proud of Katie.
The film is touring the festival circuit. Perhaps it will come to a screen near you or will be televised. Eventually there will be a DVD. If you love movies, see it.
Here is the trailer:
