10 Horror Movies Critics Were Way Too Harsh On

5. The Last Showing

Stigmata movie
Sony Pictures

Released in 2014, Phil Hawkins' The Last Showing didn't fare all that well when it came to the critical response to it.

Set primarily in a multiplex, this picture has Robert Englund taking centre-stage as a pissed off film projectionist made redundant by modern technology. After this traditionalist and movie historian finds himself working on the concessions stand, that pushes Englund's Stuart over the edge.

Pulling a smidge from Falling Down, Stuart ends up crafting his own horror movie using handheld cameras and CCTV to torment those stuck in the locked-down cinema - most notably Finn Jones' Martin and Emily Berrington's Allie.

Playing it far straighter and serious than his famed turns as Freddy Krueger, Englund is on fire in The Last Showing. But if you listen to critical opinion, chances are you'll have never seen this brilliant performance.

For its sheer unique plot - a select few people trapped in a cinema and toyed with like mice - The Last Showing deserves some praise. Plus, y'know, it's actually a pretty darn good movie that's far better than what some of the initial critical consensus would have you believe.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.