Razzie nominees are determined by members of the Golden Raspberry Foundation. All you have to do to join the voting body is pay a fee ranging from $40 (for two people) to $500 (lifetime membership). You don’t even need to have seen all the movies to vote.
So, unidentified voters, with unknown qualifications, have the power to take down any movie, actor or actress of their choosing. You have 1200 Razzie members (movie buffs, film critics and journalists) from 49 States and about two dozen foreign countries, who somehow have that power.
Remember, this is the same group that infamously nominated Stanley Kubrick as 1980’s Worst Director for “The Shining.” Brian De Palma also got Worst Director nods for “Dressed to Kill,” “Body Double,” and “Scarface.” Oh, and let’s not forget Ennio Morricone’s WORST FILM SCORE nomination for “The Thing.”
With that out of the way, the official Razzies shortlist was revealed a few days ago via a voting member from GoldDerby. Check out Luca Guadagnino’s “After the Hunt” getting a Worst Picture mention. The shortlist leaders, with most mentions, include “Snow White,” “War of the Worlds,” “Alarum,” and “In the Lost Lands,” and “Off the Grid.”
Now, I get it, “After the Hunt” was hated by critics, and brushed aside by audiences, but in no world is it a worst picture of the year candidate. Critics were way too harsh on it — maybe it was because it refused to side with the accuser in the movie, or maybe it’s because of the vast amount of ambiguity that fills the frames. Regardless, 37% on Rotten Tomatoes? That’s wild.
“After the Hunt” seems to have struck a serious nerve. From what I gather, many people dislike the film because—SPOILERS AHEAD—it forces viewers to grapple with their own biases and suspicions. The film offers no final, clear-cut resolution or definitive unmasking of the guilty party. It doesn’t fully exonerate anyone, leaving several possibilities open. Audiences often expect closure, and “After the Hunt” simply doesn’t give them that.
I haven’t seen this one since Venice, but where “After the Hunt” stumbles, Julia Roberts soars. As Alma, she delivers an exquisite performance. She hasn’t had material this morally tangled or psychologically rich in years, and she transforms Alma into something achingly human: a woman paralyzed by conscience, trapped between intellect and instinct.
Regardless, in no world does “After the Hunt” belong in the same putrid league as “War of the Worlds” “The Electric Stare,” or “Snow White.”
WORST PICTURE
After the Hunt
Alarum
The Electric State
Hurry Up Tomorrow
In the Lost Lands
Love Hurts
Off the Grid
Snow White
Star Trek: Section 31
War of the WorldsWORST ACTOR
Gabriel Basso – The Strangers: Chapter 2
Dave Bautista – In the Lost Lands
Ice Cube – War of the Worlds
Scott Eastwood – Alarum
John Krasinski – Fountain of Youth
Jared Leto – Tron: Ares
Al Pacino – The Ritual
The Weeknd – Hurry Up TomorrowWORST ACTRESS
Maria Elsa Camargo – Off the Grid
Madelyn Cline – I Know What You Did Last Summer
Ariana DeBose – Love Hurts
Heather Graham – Gunslingers
Milla Jovovich – In the Lost Lands
Madelaine Petsch – The Strangers: Chapter 2
Natalie Portman – Fountain of Youth
Rebel Wilson – Bride Hard
Michelle Yeoh – Star Trek: Section 31WORST SUPPORTING ACTOR
All seven artificial dwarves – Snow White
Nicolas Cage – Gunslingers
Stephen Dorff – Bride Hard
Greg Kinnear – Off the Grid
Ricky Russert – Off the Grid
Sven Ruygok – Star Trek: Section 31
Sylvester Stallone – Alarum
Peter Stormare – Off the Grid
Rob Yang – She Rides ShotgunWORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Anna Chlumsky – Bride Hard
Eiza Gonzalez – Fountain of Youth
Ema Horvath – The Strangers: Chapter 2
Amara Okereke – In the Lost Lands
Kacey Rohl – Star Trek: Section 31
Scarlet Rose Stallone – Gunslingers
Isis Valverde – AlarumWORST DIRECTOR
Paul W.S. Anderson – In the Lost Lands
Jonathan Eusebio – Love Hurts
Luca Guadagnino – After the Hunt
Rich Lee – War of the Worlds
Johnny Martin – Off the Grid
Olatunde Osunsanmi – Star Trek: Section 31
Michael Polish – Alarum
Joe and Anthony Russo – The Electric State
Trey Edward Shults – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Marc Webb – Snow WhiteWORST SCREENPLAY
After the Hunt
Alarum
The Electric State
Hurry Up Tomorrow
In the Lost Lands
Love Hurts
Off the Grid
Snow White
Star Trek: Section 31
War of the WorldsWORST SCREEN COMBO
All seven artificial dwarves – Snow White
James Corden and Rihanna – Smurfs
Ariana DeBose and Ke Huy Quan – Love Hurts
Robert De Niro and Robert De Niro – The Alto Knights
Scott Eastwood and Sylvester Stallone – Alarum
Dave Franco and Allison Williams – Regretting You
Ice Cube and his Zoom camera – War of the Worlds
Clara Rugaard and Jamie Ward – Juliet & Romeo
The Weeknd and his colossal ego – Hurry Up TomorrowWORST PREQUEL, REMAKE, RIPOFF OR SEQUEL
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Ice Road: Vengeance
Juliet & Romeo
Smurfs
Snow White
Star Trek: Section 31
The Strangers: Chapter 2
War of the Worlds
Ah, yes — Ridley Scott must be promoting a new movie, which means lots of ridiculous quotes from the many interviews he’s doing. Here’s the latest example.