Roger Ebert’s Most Hated Film: The Horror He Refused to Review
Roger Ebert was so appalled by the 2005 horror film Chaos that he refused to review it, describing it as ugly, nihilistic, and cruel, and warning viewers to steer clear.
When it comes to horror, Roger Ebert was never the most enthusiastic punter, but he could still give credit where it was due. So, when a 2005 flick came along that riffed on a classic he’d once rated highly, you might’ve thought he’d at least give it a fair go. Instead, Ebert was so put off by Chaos that he didn’t even bother with a proper review. He went as far as to say he wished he’d never laid eyes on it, and urged everyone else to do the same.
From Classic to Catastrophe
David DeFalco’s Chaos is, for all intents and purposes, a rehash of Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left. Back in 1972, Ebert gave the original a solid 3.5 stars, despite its reputation for controversy. Clearly, he wasn’t against the story itself. But DeFalco’s version, with only a few tweaks to names and the ending, left Ebert completely cold. The early 2000s were awash with so-called ‘torture porn’, but for Ebert, no amount of blood and guts could hide what he saw as a total lack of merit. He found the film not just lacking, but downright offensive to anyone who watched it.
He didn’t mince words:
“Chaos is ugly, nihilistic, and cruel; a film I regret having seen,”
he wrote, giving it a rare and emphatic thumbs down.
“I urge you to avoid it. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s ‘only’ a horror film, or a slasher film. It is an exercise in heartless cruelty, and it ends with careless brutality. The movie denies not only the value of life, but the possibility of hope.”
Refusing to Play Along
Rather than dissecting the film in detail, Ebert pointed out that plenty of his fellow critics and publications had already torn it to shreds. He sounded genuinely rattled by what he’d seen, admitting,
“There are two scenes so gruesome I cannot describe them in a newspaper. No matter what words I use.”
He added,
“Having seen it, I cannot ignore it, nor can I deny that it affected me strongly. I recoiled during some of the most cruel moments, and when the film was over, I was filled with sadness and disquiet.”
That was about as close as he got to a review. Instead, he rattled off a quick summary: the violence was
“Sadistic, graphic, savage, and heartless.”
The dialogue?
“Often racist.”
The action?
“Involves the girls weeping and pleading for their lives.”
As for Kevin Gage’s turn as the main villain, Ebert called it
“Repulsive and cruel.”
Backlash and Blunt Replies
Anyone hoping for a proper critique would’ve been left wanting. DeFalco, the bloke behind Chaos, didn’t take the criticism lying down. He even splashed out on a full-page ad to fire back at Ebert’s scathing remarks. But Ebert wasn’t fussed. He reckoned the real aim behind Chaos wasn’t to make a point, but to stir up controversy and pull in a crowd. In the end, he didn’t take the bait, leaving his harsh words to stand on their own.