Anti-Trump Horror Film ‘History of Evil’ Crushed by Critics
Shudder original can't sway liberal reviewers, dubbed 'a pandering mess'
Liberal film critics judge progressive movies through a sympathetic lens.
That’s not just a conservative film critic saying that. Richard Roeper said his peers reviewed 2016’s “Ghostbusters” flop “on a curve” due to its feminist bona fides.
Michael Moore movies get raves, for the most part. Director Rob Reiner’s recent anti-Trump screed “God and Country” earned a 92 percent “fresh” rating earlier this month. For context, the once-mighty Reiner hasn’t directed a successful film since 2007’s “The Bucket List.”
Film critics, a group that leans aggressively to the Left, still couldn’t stomach a new horror film with an overtly anti-Trump agenda.
“History of Evil,” which debuted on Shudder Feb. 23, is the latest horror yarn steeped in social commentary.
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS:
In the near future, war and corruption have plagued America and turned it into a theocratic police state. Against the oppression, ordinary citizens have formed a group called The Resistance. One such member, Alegre Dyer, breaks out of political prison and reunites with her husband Ron and daughter Daria. On the run from the militia, the family takes shelter in a remote safe house. But their journey is far from over, as the house’s dark past begins to eat away at Ron, and his earnest desire to keep his family safe is overtaken by something much more sinister.
The film currently boasts a 29 percent “rotten” rating at the review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes.
MovieWeb’s headline says it all. “Anti-Trump Horror Film Is a Pandering Mess”
And as a political allegory, History of Evil is just blatantly unsubtle. From an organized militia being named ‘The J-6 Authority’ in an obvious nod to Jan. 6th, 2021, to idiotic radio ads selling steroids with lines like, “Don’t be a cuck, power up,” this film spells out its agenda in bright all-caps lettering.
The heroes in the film are even dubbed “The Resistance.” It’s like 2017 all over again.
Exclusive Clip from Shudder's 'History of Evil' Reveals Something Sinister Lurking in the Closet https://t.co/IjADzfVzdB pic.twitter.com/KrUKLCwraf
— GoreCulture (@gore_culture) February 21, 2024
The Review Geek’s critique is equally withering. “A terrible snoozefest that lowballs viewers’ expectations of horror,” reads the headline.
The far-Left Roger-Ebert.com gave “History of Evil” one star.
One really has to dig into the surface of “History of Evil” to find the kernel of an idea that could have worked, and it’s quite bluntly just not even remotely worth the effort.
‘History of Evil’ Buried By Liberal Critics
Paste Magazine nods along to the film’s warped thesis but instinctively knows the story can’t ignite the progressive premise.
History of Evil feels sickeningly prescient in 2024’s revving election hellscape, yet underwhelming as an act of protest. Mirhosseni’s feature debut runs on condemnation and rage, infuriated by the bigotry that right-wing extremists have allowed to resurface, but paints in broad exploitation strokes prioritizing conceptual importance over quality execution.
Collider is similarly smitten with the concept but can’t support what’s seen on screen.
[Director Bo] Mirhosseni had noble intentions in making this film, having said in a statement that History of Evil is “inspired by his parent’s experiences during the Iranian revolution.” Through the film he hopes that “audiences understand the fear that minorities face in this country with the constant shifting of extremism,” and while that’s always an important reality to shed some light on, the execution feels like a huge misfire in this case.
Now, imagine if the team behind “History of Evil” had cast progressives as the authoritarians who separate people by race, demonize an entire demographic based on skin color and snuff out dissent.
That 29 percent rating would be significantly lower.
Trump will invoke executive orders to force his will upon us. Oh, wait, he didn’t do that the first time, but Biden has. Trump will support the enemies of the United States. Oh wait, he didn’t do that the first time, but Biden did. Trump was in bed with the Russians, Chinese, Ukrainians, and Iran…. nope, that is Biden too. Trump tried to steal an election with Covid, Ballot harvesting, Mail in Voting, Big Tech committing freedom of speech violations…. no, that was Biden too. Whenever you want to know what the Left is doing, just listen to what they are accusing the Right of and that’s what they are doing themselves.
Comes as no surprise that they are deranged and make trash like this movie. They are desperate to keep people misinformed.
Sounds like a movie about Biden’s DOJ.
Hmmm? Trump is not referred to in any way, shape or form in the entire movie, unless one makes a huge logic leap to conclude that every Trump voter is a Klansman (which would certainly be false and insulting to Trump voters). I’ve watched it, and its main problem is that it reads better than it plays, plus it isn’t all that scary.
White man bad. White man very, very bad.
Only thing badder than white man be Orange Man. Orange man be very, very, VERY bad.
I love how these kinds of movies act like we’re perpetually on the verge of a theocracy in this country. Yet pretty much every single President we’ve had since the nation was founded has been a Christian, and our society gets more secular all the time. Gotta keep that fearmongering alive by all means, I guess.
Who wants to bet first time director, Bo Mirhosseni, supports the World Economic Forum?