Red and Black

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Could you drop some reviews? It helps to get this fic a rating.

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In contrast to journalists who tend to sensationalize, professional film critics approached the movie "Wrong Turn" with a more earnest demeanor.

"I initially considered it a well-crafted thriller on my first viewing. The director skillfully established a sense of horror and maintained the film's pacing, while the actors' performances were commendable. If I were to offer an initial assessment, it would be quite positive."

Film critic Kenneth Turan, known for his critique of commercial films, appeared to take a keen interest in "Wrong Turn" due to previous experiences with Alan's work, leading her to promptly share her thoughts following its release.

"After revisiting it, I must admit, it exceeded my expectations. I concur with Dr. Cooper; this might be a serendipitous masterpiece. It could be a photographer's accidental revelation during shooting or even a stroke of cinematic genius. We should catch this film while the magic still lingers."

"Kenneth Turan gave it a remarkably high rating" Charlize mused, reading the film reviews in the newspaper.

"His fee must have been substantial," Christian remarked disapprovingly.

"According to Westwood, not only did he receive a check, but he also acquired some rare bottles of wine he's never tried before."

"Is he essentially buying favorable reviews?"

Charlize found the situation surprising.

She wasn't oblivious to the darker side of Hollywood but had previously viewed it more from an actor's perspective. This level of behind-the-scenes trading was new to her.

"Buying positive reviews isn't a smart strategy," Christian explained calmly, without being overly cynical or dismissive. "For these film critics, it's just business as usual. If the film doesn't do well upon release, they'll criticize it without taking the money. If the response is favorable, they'll offer some more praise and earn a nice tip."

"So they get the rewards without any risks?"

Charlize felt a bit indignant, but Christian wasn't bothered.

"This is the privilege of wielding influence. If given the chance, you might do the same. Rather than wasting your energy on indignation, you could focus on other reviews. For example, this one..."

Christian handed a newspaper to Charlize, who couldn't help but smile.

"Charlize Theron's performance in 'Wrong Turn' is remarkable. Despite the typical horror movie screams, her portrayal exceeded expectations. After a second viewing, her micro-expressions subtly align with the underlying plot..."

"Richard Manson always focuses on actors' performances. Looks like he's quite impressed with your work."

"Really?" Charlize responded with some reservations.

"You do know that some of my performance..."

"Alexis?" Christian interrupted.

Charlize nodded.

"Doesn't this provide you with a clear direction for improvement?"

Christian comforted Charlize and continued to read another film review.

"Christian Booth is intense, and Charlize Theron is as beautiful and captivating as Venus emerging from the sea foam. However, under his lens, this Venus is confined to a life of disgraceful running..."

"This is Bonnie Clyde, a pseudonymous critic with a penchant for scrutinizing actors' appearances more than the film's quality."

As Christian mentioned this, he made air quotes with his fingers around her ears.

"According to her, you appear to be 'tainted' by me."

Charlize's reaction was to kick Christian directly, but her foot was intercepted, and her exposed slender leg was held by Christian.

"Has Roger Albert, a.k.a. the 'Thumb Man,' reviewed 'Wrong Turn' yet?"

While Christian caressed her leg and Charlize blushed, she expressed concern about another matter.

Roger Albert had a reputation for using a simple thumbs-up system to evaluate films, earning him the nickname "Thumb Man" from Charlize.

This film critic, a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1975, wields considerable influence within the American film critic community. Even though Charlize doesn't frequently read film reviews, she's familiar with his name. If he were to deliver a negative review, it could deal a significant blow to the box office performance of "Wrong Turn."

"He hasn't commented yet. That old man is always a bit slow," Christian remarked casually.

Roger Albert's name was well-known to Christian, but unlike Charlize, he wasn't particularly concerned about this issue.

"Truth be told, we don't need to fret too much about the assessments from these film critics. While audiences might depend on film critics for discerning between complex literary films or dazzling action films, when it comes to horror films with a dedicated fan base, the impact of film critics is somewhat limited."

"For fans of horror movies, they often don't require film critics' guidance. Most film critics tend not to favor horror films. Since Hitchcock, they've seldom given high ratings to horror and thriller movies. Even Kubrick's 'The Shining' is no exception."

"So you're saying film critics aren't too keen on horror films, and those who enjoy the horror genre don't place much importance on their reviews?" Charlize found this somewhat incredulous.

However, Christian, who had experienced the internet era in the future, knew that over the next decade, the authority of film critics would gradually decline. There would even be instances where film critics would give low ratings, yet the films would perform well at the box office. Currently, in the realm of horror films, a genre often disliked by film critics, signs of this shift appear to be emerging.

"At present, 'Wrong Turn' has already garnered a strong reputation among the audience. Combined with the series of incidents in the Vinales Valley, the film's box office should perform reasonably well. What we should truly be concerned about later are a few of our competitors."

"Competitors!?"

"Yes, some formidable competitors"