15 Worst Movies Of 2015 (So Far)

Surely things can only get better?

Worst Films Of 2015 So Far
WC

There was once a time when the Wachowksis, Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson and Hugh Jackman would be inconceivable inclusions on any Worst Of list, but the times they are a-changing. And distinctly for the worst.

As Hollywood's non-comic book movie well of creativity runs depressingly dry, envelopes full of quirks and gimmicks have been pushed in box office wagers that simply don't come off. And while the list of actors fighting over scraps at the bottom of the pit used to be limited to a few tragic career guys and Nic Cage, there are now far more mistake makers than there are sure-things.

More and more garbage is not only sneaking into cinemas, where it was once filtered out by discerning or self-conscious studios who hid their flops, but are also populating the box office top ten every week. And in the case of some of 2015's movies, a lot of money has been wasted in the vain belief that the outrageous claims on the posters are even remotely true.

The state of the industry isn't exactly calamitous - it feels like there are more films coming out in the next fews years that could hit a billion than ever before - but if the first 6 months of 2015 are any indication, audiences will have to endure a lot of rubbish to balance the good.

But which films released between January and June have been the very worst?

15. The Lazarus Effect

Worst Films Of 2015 So Far
Relativity Media

Rotten Tomatoes: 13%

The over-riding memory of The Lazarus Effect is not one of invigorated life for an (over-)tried and tested formula, but rather of film-making laziness and an ironic lack of soul.

It's neither scary in the disposable, bump-in-the-night sort of way nor in a deeper psychological way: in fact, branding it a horror is something of a disservice to the genre. Sure, there are moments that can be enjoyed without any scrutiny, but the film spends so much time trying to cover its superficiality with mumbo-jumbo that watching it that way isn't fair on either the director or the viewer.

Despite a great cast, The Lazarus Effect is boring bar the odd flash-bang, shuffling through jump scares methodically and without any joy, and despite only being 83 minutes long, it feels like a lengthy ordeal.

 
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