Quoted from Andrew In recent times, I'd say a bedfellow to this would be Cabin in the Woods. Where that movie was - at least to memory - largely savaged, this one is celebrated, but I realised the majority of the criticisms I've given this could easily be levelled at Cabin in the Woods, which I adored. Sometimes the chemistry is just not there.

Cabin in the Woods received almost universal praise. Deservedly so, if I do say so myself. Haven't seen Us yet, but hopefully will get a chance this weekend.

Quoted from Zack Cabin in the Woods received almost universal praise. Deservedly so, if I do say so myself. Haven't seen Us yet, but hopefully will get a chance this weekend.

You're quite right. Not sure what I was remembering, then. Although I've just had a look at RT, and there's a disparity between critics and audience reviews, so maybe that's what I'm remembering (friends not liking it). It also contradicts my earlier point about audiences knowing best, but hey ho.

Quoted from Andrew You're quite right. Not sure what I was remembering, then. Although I've just had a look at RT, and there's a disparity between critics and audience reviews, so maybe that's what I'm remembering (friends not liking it). It also contradicts my earlier point about audiences knowing best, but hey ho.

Yeah, I saw it with a group of friends and most of them HATED it. It definitely seemed to split audience members more so than mainstream critics.

I definitely hated Cabin in the Woods. It's been a long time since I've seen it, but I have the same reservations now that I did back then. Namely, I felt like it was made by people who don't like horror and fixated on deconstructing uninteresting tropes that make horror movies bad. I also can't stand meta horror or Josh Whedon in general. There were scenes I liked, and craft-wise, it could be pretty sound for all I know (I don't remember). Overall, though, it struck me as super snarky, pretentious, and disingenuous.

That said, I can understand why people like it. I can even understand why it's still popular today. I think where it's polarizing, it comes down to the essence of what the filmmakers intended to achieve, not flaws that may or may not have arisen on the way there.

Quoted from Zack Yeah, I saw it with a group of friends and most of them HATED it. It definitely seemed to split audience members more so than mainstream critics.

I think this often happens with movies like Cabin and Us, especially in the Rotten Tomatoes era -- ambition and originality are enough for pretty much every critic to give at least a mild, qualified thumbs up, which then leads to a high rating in aggregate (which, of course, is why aggregated ratings are stupid, but anyway). When you critique films for a living and you come to Us after a parade of Conjuring spinoff sequels and movies called "The Haunting/Taking/Exorcism of Some Lady," it just makes you happy to see something different and unexpected. Of course that new/fresh experience is something you want more of, so you'll give an at least mildly positive review. For a lot of regular audiences, who pick and choose a small number of movies a year, the point isn't whether a movie is ambitious or fresh so much as that it delivers a fun, engrossing, complete experience that justifies the enormous ticket cost and the half hour of advertisements you sat through.

Critics are there for a job; seeing an ambitious failure costs them nothing. Not so for audiences.

Quoted from James McClung I definitely hated Cabin in the Woods. It's been a long time since I've seen it, but I have the same reservations now that I did back then. Namely, I felt like it was made by people who don't like horror and fixated on deconstructing uninteresting tropes that make horror movies bad. I also can't stand meta horror or Josh Whedon in general. There were scenes I liked, and craft-wise, it could be pretty sound for all I know (I don't remember). Overall, though, it struck me as super snarky, pretentious, and disingenuous. That said, I can understand why people like it. I can even understand why it's still popular today. I think where it's polarizing, it comes down to the essence of what the filmmakers intended to achieve, not flaws that may or may not have arisen on the way there.

Finally, someone who agrees with me that Cabin in the Woods was not a great film, and that Joss Whedon shouldn't be a screenwriter/director/whatever. That movie was marketed as a horror film when in actuality it was marketed as a comedy making fun of horror movies, and not like in a "Scary Movie" way. More of like a "Hey, horror isn't good and let's point out all of the reasons why!" kind of way. But, of course, that's just all my opinion  

Anyway, I saw US last night. I fell asleep during it. Probably didn't help that I had a couple drinks in me, but from what I remember seeing, it was nothing groundbreaking. I should watch it again, but I can't guarantee that I'll like it anymore than the first round. Jordan Peele needs to stop calling his films horror and just stick with the term thriller, because there's nothing scary about this film nor Get Out.

Oh good, I'm not alone in being unimpressed with this.

This was utter trash, I can't believe I paid to see it at the cinema.

Finally got around to seeing this, and I'm completely stumped and baffled at the positive reviews, the praise, and the WWBO of $255 Million.

O.......M.......G!!!!!!!!

This was absolutely terrible.  This was absolutely ludicrous.  Just shockingly weak on every single level.

The amazing thing is how so many peeps, including Peele, himself, take this so seriously.  I'm still shaking my head in disbelief at how utterly stupid this story and plot are.

I could seriously go on for literally hours about all the redorkulous plot points, but fuck it, I'm not going to waste my time, as they should be so damn apparent.

Grade - F

Lots of negativity towards this movie on here. Surprising. I actually liked it quite a lot, even though it did feel as though it was quite a ways up its own ass on occasion. Not sure if I'd change my mind on it had I paid to see it in the cinema though (I borrowed it from the library.) It's as mainstream and clean as the genre gets, but that's not necessarily a bad thing for me.

Why did the dopplegangers wear masks to begin with? Never seen this and not going to. I hate those stupid masks.

Absolute trash.

I couldn't believe what I was watching.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Absolute trash. I couldn't believe what I was watching.

I ditto that.

I was really with this for the first two thirds...then it completely falls off a cliff when we get the "explanation" for what's really going. It just doesn't hold up at all. Too many questions and "Wait, what?" moments.

Having said that, there is some good ideas in here and undeniable craft. I would never call total garbage.

Nice to see Tim Heidecker get a substantial role in a big film too.

I give this: 3 regular bags of popcorn, 2 large cokes and 1 rubber figurine of Tim that expands when you put it in water.

Haven't seen this, but I did read the screenplay -- reluctantly. I thought it'd be stupid so I stayed away, but when I finally did come back to it I thought it was actually pretty decent, story-wise, that is. I expect horror to be ridiculous any way it's presented, so I kinda let that fly here. Interesting premise, creepy and good action towards the end. Did not jibe with the explanation of who the dopplegangers were, but hey, that's horror for ya.