Ask Pappy #6: You can tell the truth without tearing down the screen.

Reader Letter:

Do you ever feel bad giving a bad review? I started writing little movie reviews online, and when I don’t like something, I feel guilty posting it. Like I’m letting someone down. Do you ever shake that feeling, or is that just part of caring? — @CineScripted

Oh kid, you just poked a sore reel.

Do I feel bad? Sometimes I feel worse than the movie I just roasted. Other times, not so much — depends how much the film insulted my popcorn.

See, when I first started out, I thought being a critic meant being clever. You know, the sharp one in the room who could turn a bad flick into a punchline. And for a while, that worked. Folks love a zinger. It’s easy to dunk on a movie that missed the mark — it makes you feel like you’re above it, smarter than the folks who made it.

But the longer I’ve been doing this, the more I’ve realized: every bad movie still started with someone trying to tell a story that mattered to them. Maybe it got lost in translation, maybe the budget ran out, maybe a studio exec chopped it to bits — but at some point, someone believed in it.

That doesn’t mean we can’t call it like we see it. A critic’s job ain’t to hand out hugs; it’s to hold up a mirror. But you can polish the mirror instead of smashing it. I try to ask myself one question before writing anything sharp: If the person who made this read my words, would they still want to make another movie?

If the answer’s no, I’ve gone too far.

Because criticism should guide, not gut. You can be honest without being cruel. The best reviews — even the negative ones — should remind readers that the art form still matters.

I’ve written bad reviews that made filmmakers call to thank me. Not because I was kind, but because I was fair. That’s the line. You can hate the film, but don’t hate the people behind it.

So yeah, sometimes I feel bad. But feeling bad’s just proof you still care. The day I stop caring is the day the reels stop turning.

Stay kind, stay curious, and don’t spill the butter on your way out.— Pappy Hull, The Popcorn Philosopher

Help Us Keep The Lights On By Supporting Our Partners:

*This post contains affiliate links, and we may receive a commission if you make a purchase.