Chapter 180: Utterly Cliché

Seeing the top two negative reviews, Daisy scratched her head. She remembered that when "Saw" was released, there were hardly any bad reviews on IMDb in the first few days, and even in the following week, there were hardly any low ratings. This didn't seem like a good sign.

Daisy didn't dwell on the two negative reviews and continued reading. The reviews below were more positive, with the majority praising the film.

"One might think the brain-dead plot, vulgar dialogue, and overly graphic and violent content, when put together by Murphy-Stanton, would be a disaster. Surprisingly, it turns out to be a very thrilling film, truly enjoyable and exhilarating!" This reviewer gave it an 8 out of 10.

"Concise dialogue, gory visuals, melodramatic plot, along with the performances of the handsome men and beautiful women, have made this cult film a super eye-catcher! It satisfies both the sleazy fantasies of men and the independent and romantic desires of women. Murphy-Stanton is a genius!" This person seemed to prefer the taste of heavy B-movies and gave it a 9!

"The film plays with cult cinema in an unbridled way. Murphy-Stanton shamelessly showcases his talent, with sharp editing, seductive imagery, and ingenious ideas like attaching machine guns to amputated legs, as well as the sultry performance of the female lead. It can be said to be both sexy and thrilling!"

Daisy admitted that many scenes in the film were more likely to please a male audience.

"What a glorious film. Murphy-Stanton handles the zombie genre with such finesse, incorporating imaginative scenes of bloodshed and dismemberment. Both leads are delightful, with Robert Downey Jr. looking incredibly cool. I was moved to tears by the end, yet laughed out loud at the female lead's spectacular ascend."

Scores above 8 indicated that most viewers who had seen "Planet Terror" enjoyed it.

However, among the positive reviews, there were also occasional bad ones.

"This is one of the worst and most disgusting films I've ever seen. The theme is clear, but it's a mess, completely plotless, and absurd."

These reviews lowered the film's overall rating.

The division in public opinion seemed quite severe. Daisy scrolled back to the top, noting that the film's rating was now 8.2. For a new release, this wasn't low but wasn't high either.

She thought for a moment, then typed out her review.

"'Planet Terror' is utterly cliché, even more so than 'Saw'! Murphy-Stanton has once again brought his twisted ideas to the big screen! But, his twisted ideas are exactly why I adore him because, in truth, I am quite cliché myself."

"I must say, Murphy-Stanton's 'Planet Terror' is incredibly graphic and violent, yet incredibly powerful. It's just too good! Murphy is a psychopath, able to create films about castrating lolitas as well as cult pieces that reek of hormones and rotten blood. I must admit, I love the graphic and violent Murphy-Stanton the most."

"To use a popular phrase, Murphy-Stanton never plays weak games. For directors like him, films are meant to be played with freely. If you want a massacre, you need hordes of zombies. If you want a burst of hormones, you need a sexy woman and a cool guy with guns, engaging in a love affair that's both sexual and romantic. If you want to mock and be indecent, then you have to be vulgar and do disgusting things. Elegance and decency can go play elsewhere!"

"I guess filming such twisted movies must be a lot of fun. Murphy-Stanton tormenting handsome guys like Robert Downey Jr. to death with random gunfire is quite powerful."

"In short, watching such CULT films is really exhilarating, making someone like me, who usually leads a boring and monotonous office life, feel perfect all day."

"For Murphy, film is a toy, a real utopia. Utopia, for people like him, isn't just about being pure and beautiful; it can also be presented in a completely destructive form. All his love for cinema is poured into such films, personal to him, yet loved by others."

"Also, for CULT films, those who know, know; those who don't, don't need to. Elegance is an attitude, and so is this kind of vulgarity with technique, depth, and entertainment. It's an era that demands your attitude, and also one that needs you to show your true self. The scariest part is, some people always pretend to have an attitude, but they don't have one at all."

"So, on a leisurely weekday morning, watching such a film, enjoying the heavy taste, watching cool guys, watching ******** firing guns, seeing various styles of beauties showing off their chests, legs, and waists, watching zombies being blown to pieces, feeling the thrill of vulgar jokes and indecencies, watching blood and tomato sauce being splattered without reservation, watching a film-loving, self-indulgent, and twisted director entertain himself... Well, work and everything else can wait. A planet that terrifies yet delights is never the cruel reality."

After writing this, Daisy felt it wasn't enough and boldly gave it a perfect score!

Then, she returned to Murphy-Stanton's section on IMDb, staring blankly at his picture.

How twisted could this director's ideas be? She suddenly wanted to communicate with him directly.

Opening Google, Daisy typed in Murphy-Stanton's name but couldn't find any contact information, frustratingly scratching her long brown hair as she continued searching. After a while, she finally found that his agency was CAA.

Daisy took out a pen and paper, pondered for a moment, and decided to write a letter to the twisted director.

"Dear Director Stanton, I am a fan of yours, a devout follower of your twisted ideas. Since 'Hard Candy,' I have been a fan of your graphic and violent films, especially the violent and bloody scenes…"

After sealing the letter in an envelope, Daisy wrote CAA's mailing address on it, planning to mail it out the next day when she went to work.

The thought of the twisted director communicating with her was exhilarating.

"Based on current statistics, 'Planet Terror' is polarizing in terms of public opinion."

In the Burbank office of Miramax, Jones-Butler placed a report on Harvey Weinstein's desk. "Media and audience opinions probably can't match 'Saw'."

Harvey Weinstein nodded, not surprised. From the day he decided to invest in this project, he knew 'Planet Terror' was more of a B-movie, often loved or completely disregarded by viewers.

He asked, "What about the occupancy rate?"

"This morning and afternoon," Jones-Butler, new to the marketing department and still getting familiar with the work, looked at the data, "averaged about 30 viewers per screening."

"Not bad," Weinstein said calmly, "It's about what we expected."

The film was expected to perform as anticipated.

He and Miramax didn't expect 'Planet Terror' to be a 'Saw', a film with such a high return on investment that Hollywood rarely produces. If Murphy-Stanton could achieve that with every film, he wouldn't just be a promising director; he'd be a godsend.

'Planet Terror' had already made a profit; now it was just a matter of how much.

Weinstein gestured for Jones-Butler to leave, then leaned back in his chair, letting time pass as if waiting for the first day's data to be finalized.

Returning to Los Angeles from Cannes, Murphy had no time to adjust before diving into the promotion of 'Planet Terror', following Miramax's plan. As the director, he had also signed a North American box office revenue sharing agreement with Miramax, meaning the higher the box office, the more he would earn.

"Director Stanton, it's said the film has a high level of gore."

Exiting an interview, Murphy was approached by reporters asking loudly, "Will such graphic content negatively affect viewers?"

Murphy opened the car door and, before getting in, said, "Let me clarify, this is a black comedy! As for the graphic scenes, the MPAA rated it R!"

After getting into the car and closing the door, Bill Roskis signaled the driver to leave, escaping the circle of reporters and heading towards Century City.

Bill Roskis glanced back at the entertainment reporters, "Your fame is growing. If this film succeeds, you'll be a well-known director in North America."

"Just this crowd," Murphy chuckled, "And I'm already struggling."

"Afraid of them?" Bill Roskis turned back, looking through the rear window at the reporters, "I heard from Cara Feist that you were a pretty formidable freelance journalist back in the day."

"Also without morals or boundaries," Murphy joked about himself.

Bill Roskis laughed, then shared, "Good news, today's occupancy rate wasn't bad."

Murphy nodded, asking, "What about audience opinion?"

"Mixed with some other voices among the praise," Bill Roskis didn't hide it, "Some polarization."

"And the professional opinion in North America?"

While audience opinion directly reflects a film's market response, everyone knows media can influence the public. The professional media's review of a film can somewhat affect its box office.

Bill Roskis shook his head, "Print media is slow to react; we'll have to wait until tomorrow."

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