We can now rest easy. The CHUD Curse is long over thanks to the success of films like Superbad, Pan’s Labyrinth, Knocked Up, and assorted other meats from guys we love and admire. For a while it seemed as if there was indeed a situation where we, like getting a Sports Illustrated cover or a Madden video game box cover, lead to ultimate sadness on the part of the folks we championed.
In the past we’ve had a hard on for films like Fight Club [though who didn’t?], Brotherhood of the Wolf [victim of some odd backlash these days], Equilibrium [ think Devin MIGHT not like this film], Club Dread [actually gets better over time], Slither [on cable every 5 minutes], Running Scared [great, great, great], Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [if you don’t get it, you are urine], The Fountain [probably still looking for its audience a little], and many others. All for nought. The films ultimately found their audience on video or cable, because eventually good shit does get found… but not on their initial runs in theaters.
I think it’s safe to say we can move on to something else. There is no CHUD.com curse just like there’s no Santa Claus, no Loch Ness Monster, no good time to dry hump Rosie O’Donnell, and no extra tendon that makes black people jump higher.
Some folks think that films whose ads have run on the site are films we champion, and if that’s the case then films like Malibu’s Most Wanted, Osmosis Jones, Captivity, and the Second Sight [whenever I see that thing load I want to kill America] video game are the best things we ever laid eyes on. Au Contraire. Sure, every once in a while we’ll shine a light at something we’re running ads for whether to give it value-added exposure or because the principal goal of this site is to inform, but the actual "Curse" pretty much only applies to the films we go nuts over before they’re released.
I’m so convinced that there’s no curse that I’m going to go on record and say that, if released today, we could obliterate the $30 box take of Leo Grillo’s flick with the high Scrabble value.
So now might be time to actually have our blessing lead to high box office. If that’s the case, look for films like The Kingdom, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, and Another 48 The Accused’s to become swirling successes.