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Did videogames kill B-movies?
National Review writer Peter Suderman has been playing Killzone 2 lately. It inspired him to speculate on the American Scene blog about where all the B's have gone. B-movies, that is....part of the problem is that there are simply a lot few B movies -- good, bad, or mediocre -- than there used to be. Absurd, mega-budget summer blockbusters like Transformers and G.I. Joe have siphoned off a lot of the energy that used to go into making moderately priced genre flicks, but recently, it's struck me that another part of the equation is probably the emergence of scripted, action-movie style video games -- everything from the Halo games to Assassin's Creed and Half-Life.
I've been playing a lot of Killzone 2 this week -- which, by the way, I highly recommend -- and, in many ways, it's really just an interactive B-movie. The scripted bits that carry along the in-game action consist almost exclusively of tough-guy cliches pieced together from the last forty years of action movies, comic books, and war films. It's silly, outrageous, over-the-top, and incredibly entertaining -- just like a good B-movie should be. Firstly, you have to accept the premise that there are fewer B-movies. I don't accept that. Neither do Saw VI, Surrogates, Zombieland, The Stepfather, and Law Abiding Citizen.
Secondly, it's always cute when non-gamers pontificate about videogames. They're just as likely to be inspired by hits as they are to be inspired by unlikely middling games, often on the Wii, but sometimes even on the Playstation 3. Someone seems to have foisted onto Suderman copies of Killzone 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4. Dude. Come talk to me. I can recommend some good stuff. You won't even need to get a 360.
But most of all, I think Suderman is sort of right for a couple of reasons. Yeah, Killzone 2 is about on par with a lame action movie. And videogames are directly competing with the young male dollars that were spent on movies like Death Race 2000 (pictured) and Escape from New York, both of which Suderman offers as examples of the sorts of movies not being made anymore (never mind that B-movie king Jason Statham was just in a remake of Death Race 2000). Furthermore, videogames are increasingly a creative outlet for the sorts of people who would have made those movies. They might just as well work at places like Valve, Electronic Arts, Infinity Ward, Bungie, Pandemic, Rockstar, and so on. Would-be scriptwriters will write videogame scripts, would-be cinematographers will be artists, and would-be directors will be designers. Instead of B-movies, they'll make videogames.
So I wouldn't say videogames are killing or replacing B-movies so much as they're an offshoot of them. And at the rate we're going, I look forward to videogames also being an offshoot of A-movies and even art house films. Perhaps Mr. Suderman might ponder that if he were to play Brutal Legend, Arkham Asylum, or Flower on his PS3.
(Thanks Daily Dish and Dingus!)
By MoonDevil at 1:17 PM ON 10/19/09
I don't think video games 'killed' B movies at all.... and have to laugh when people sometimes try and link things like this. Yes sometimes these comparisons can be made, but not in this case.
B movies are not dead by any means. They are just on TV now. With the advent and capabilities of CGI and such, you see them all the time on Sci-Fi Channel.... ooops SyFy.
By Grendler at 1:19 PM ON 10/19/09
then what the hell are the movies that syfy plays on saturday, their "syfy originals", those are by far worse than anything i have ever seen in theaters, are they even graded? someone needs to shoot the people responible for the giant shark octopus movie.
By Ginger Yellow at 1:45 PM ON 10/19/09
There's quite an extensive literature on the demise of B-movies (in America). There are a lot of factors, but videogames don't really come into it, except in the vaguest competing-for-entertainment-dollars sense which applies equally to blockbusters . There's the increasing cost of film production (pre-digital cameras), the closure of drive-in and cheapo cinemas, the shift in big-budget movies to B-movie style plots, and the rise of VHS and DVD (there are still plenty of straight to DVD and cable films).
All that said,t here are plenty of B-movies being produced outside of Hollywood. Most of the Hong Kong industry's output consists of B-movies.
By joesocwork at 2:21 PM ON 10/19/09
First, it's rewarding to know that there are conservatives that will acknowledge that they play video games! :P Second, I don't buy the premise either that they have disappeared; although I suspect that they have siphoned into other markets, including cable and straight to DVD, etc. Third, just because games haven't done well as movies and vice-versa... :P
By edosan at 3:43 PM ON 10/19/09
but what is a "B-movie" anyway? The local cineplexes don't show double features and haven't for decades (back when they were uniplexes) so there really isn't such a thing as a B-movie any more.
If you're talking "low-budget popcorn flick," I'd say that studios don't care to make those kinds of movies any more. Everybody wants a really big hit, not a moderately successful movie. We're more of a hit-driven culture nowadays.
By Tom Chick at 4:17 PM ON 10/19/09
Good point, edosan. B-movie probably isn't that helpful a term anymore. But I think it's used as a catch-all phrase for genre movies with middling budgets and limited star power. There are plenty of these. I don't think the studios expect Law Abiding Citizen, Saw IV, or Surrogates are going to be "hits" so much as "profitable". Those, to me, are latter day B-movies.
But then there are the direct-to-video and Sci Fi Channel features. I guess those are C-movies?
It doesn't fit into neat categories any more, so it's largely a matter of semantics. But genre movies are alive and well, and Killzone 2 is a pretty poor substitute for them.
By Neuromancer at 4:45 PM ON 10/19/09
It's a really strange article, glad you ripped into it Mr. Chick. I definitely don't think "B movies" have gone anywhere, in fact thanks to Netflix I think we all have access to many more than were ever previously possible. For instance, just watched "Deadgirl" last night. Wow.
By joesocwork at 6:16 PM ON 10/19/09
I think any movie that can get some good laughs on Mystery Science Theatre 3000 qualifies as a 'B' movie.
By obonicus at 9:15 PM ON 10/19/09
3 of the movies you listed are horror films, one's a Bruce Willis vehicle with reportedly an 80 million dollar budget, the other stars an Oscar-winner.
Not really making a strong case there for the health of B-movies, Mr. Chick. At least not for the health of stupid action flicks, which was the point of the article.
By George Brof at 3:45 AM ON 10/20/09
quote: and even art house films
I think Tale of Tales are doing a good job in that direction with The Path and Fatale. I do my part in creating arhouse games :-)
By George Brof at 3:49 AM ON 10/20/09
thinking about it, I would call Transformers a B movie (because of the B qualitiy of the script and directing). Does it qualify for a B movie then ?
By obonicus at 6:58 AM ON 10/20/09
No, it's a blockbuster. It's bad, but so are many other blockbusters. The newer Star Wars movies are terrible, but they're certainly not B-movies.
By Random Hero at 7:15 AM ON 10/22/09
Just have to say, the pic for this article is from the Roger Corman movie Death Race starring David Carradine, the movie that inspired the Jason Statham remake. The original was a true B movie work of art in every sense of the word and Roger Corman was the king of the B movie. If you want good B horror flicks the Evil Dead series comes to mind or pretty much anything with Bruce Cambell in it for that fact. If you haven't seen any movies by Roger Corman or ones with Bruce Cambell I suggest you add them to your list, your definitely in for a treat. And say what you will about Quentin Tatantino, love him or hate him, but his movies for having a somewhat big budget and success have the heart of some of the best movies ever made. There always over the top, especially with non CGI effects(gotta love that arterial spray), the acting is extremely cheesy at some points and even though he does use some big names the people he uses are usually cast during a lull in there career.
I personally think he does an awesome job of capturing the feel of the B movie, Especially with From Dusk Til Dawn, Kill Bill and Death Proof.
By Pings at 2:35 AM ON 11/01/09
Umm no!? How could videogames kill B-movies, when videogames out sold A-movies last year? Also its on it way of doing it again.
Pings:
Umm no!? How could videogames kill B-movies, when videogames out sold A-movies last year? Also its on it way of doi...More »