10 Horror Films You Constantly Have To Defend Hating

Speaking of things to move past in 2022, I’m adding Gaspar Noe to the list.

I don’t care how many op-eds or film majors call Irreversible a masterpiece, or ‘brutally, beautifully honest’ or some variation of that crap: it’s a shock piece. The movie is meant to shock you, to gross you out and make you go talk about it to your friends about how shocking and gross it is (and also how hot that girl is and how much you can see her boobies in that dress!)

We have evolved in taste since its release in 2003 to the point now where it’s widely discussed that no piece of media needs to show rape. You can reference it but you never need to actually show the audience the attack - there is simply nothing to be gained from it. Unfortunately, Irreversible entirely revolves around it.

At the time of its release, critics like Roger Ebert were desperate to convince you that they loved the movie for any reason other than that it has a nine minute rape scene.

“It does not exploit. It does not pander. It has been said that no matter what it pretends, pornography argues for what it shows. "Irreversible" is not pornography.”

Ok Roger, the more times you say it the more suspicious you look. The film in fact does nothing but exploit and pander, and of course, whilst it goes without saying that Irreversible is not a ‘pro-rape’ film, it shouldn’t be lauded as God-tier because it “structurally argues against rape.” Really, the bar is on the floor.