Roger Ebert’s Scathing Rejection of a Horror Film He Loathed
Roger Ebert was so appalled by the 2005 horror movie Chaos that he refused to review it, labeling it ugly, nihilistic, and cruel, and strongly advised audiences to steer clear.
When Roger Ebert encountered the 2005 horror film Chaos, he found himself so disturbed that he refused to write a traditional review. Instead, he openly condemned the movie’s very existence, expressing deep regret for ever watching it. Ebert, who was never a huge fan of the horror genre but could appreciate it when done well, was left shaken by what he saw as a pointless exercise in brutality.
From Admiration to Outrage
Chaos, directed by David DeFalco, is essentially an unofficial remake of Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left. While the original film was highly controversial in its time, Ebert had given it a respectable 3.5 stars back in 1972, showing he wasn’t opposed to its story or message. But DeFalco’s version, which changed only the characters’ names and the ending, struck Ebert as deeply offensive. The early 2000s were marked by a wave of so-called “torture porn” horror, but Ebert felt that no amount of gore could hide what he saw as the film’s total lack of merit.
He didn’t mince words, opening his response with,
“Chaos is ugly, nihilistic, and cruel; a film I regret having seen. 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 Review
Rather than offering his own detailed analysis, Ebert pointed to the overwhelmingly negative reactions from his fellow critics and publications. He seemed almost haunted by his experience, stating,
“There are two scenes so gruesome I cannot describe them in a newspaper. No matter what words I use.”
He went on,
“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 came to a review. Instead, he briefly summarized the plot and called out the film’s violence as
“Sadistic, graphic, savage, and heartless.”
He criticized the dialogue as
“Often racist.”
The action, he said,
“Involves the girls weeping and pleading for their lives.”
As for Kevin Gage’s performance as the main villain, Ebert described it as
“Repulsive and cruel.”
Director’s Response and Aftermath
DeFalco didn’t ignore Ebert’s harsh words. He responded by taking out a full-page ad, but Ebert was unmoved. He speculated,
“Your real purpose in making Chaos, I suspect, was not to educate, but to create a scandal that would draw an audience.”
Ebert refused to engage further, making it clear he wanted nothing more to do with the film.