The Covid-19 lockdown was a critical period for the film industry, where creativity was put to the test and productions had to adapt to health restrictions. In this context, the film starring Ice Cube, a contemporary version of the classic The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, has become a controversial phenomenon, but not for the reasons its creators expected.
A movie that went wrong due to COVID
Filmed in just 15 days during lockdown, the movie was produced without the presence of director Rich Lee or other actors, which, according to Cube, had a negative impact on its quality. In a recent interview, the actor revealed that he recorded his scenes remotely, facing the narration of an alien invasion from his computer screen, using digital platforms like Zoom and WhatsApp. This creative decision has been criticized for its lack of dynamism and for resembling more of an Amazon advertisement than a true film production.
Despite its devastating reviews, which include a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and critiques labeling it as one of the worst movies in history, the film has found an unexpected niche in the “hate-watch” phenomenon. The audience has begun to enjoy the bad, commenting on and sharing absurd scenes on social media. The peculiarity of its style and its atypical approach have attracted viewers looking for entertainment through failure.
Media outlets like Variety have described the film as “largely commercial,” while other publications consider it “progressively ridiculous.” However, the interest it has generated online suggests that, despite the criticism, this work has managed to carve out a space in modern pop culture, becoming a phenomenon of collective discussion about film productions during times of crisis.
