Corporate Retreat Review: A so-bad-it's-good story
It's very hard to tell whether or not I'll like a horror movie based on the scores, which is usually not a problem for me with other genres. Some acclaimed horror movies don't do much for me, and some really low-rated flicks are a great time. While I watch most low-rated films as a critic anyway, I'm far less averse to low-rated horror because I sometimes end up pleasantly surprised. So, did Corporate Retreat join the myriad of actually bad horror films, or is it actually decent? That's what I, Brighton Nelson of The Reel Ranker, will be discussing in today's review. Thanks for joining me today, and I hope you enjoy your time on the site!
Let's start with the negatives. First, some of the dialogue is super unnatural and clunky. While I found the dialogue pretty intriguing and memorable in more pivotal, dramatic scenes, the scenes depicting normal human interactions feel odd. Second, a death that happened at the beginning, to up the ante, was left completely unexplained, as was how these henchmen were convinced to go through with any of this. Third, the film never really builds palpable tension, prioritizing gore over suspense, much like a weaker Saw entry in terms of its horror.
The film features gratuitous, drawn-out sequences in which the same thing happens repeatedly, particularly during the penultimate task. It gets to a point where it's no longer horrifying, any more than the last instance, and just adds more length to the film in an unentertaining way. Fourth, the villain and his henchmen are so hypocritical, and their creation of the final trial feels so unfair, that they come across as more like non-intimidating wimps than anything else. While I wouldn't take any points off for this, as many nihilistic pain-inflictors are the same in real life, it just made for a questionable film experience. Fifth, and finally, the film's premise just exceeds its execution by such a wide margin that it's disappointing: I can confidently say this could've been one of my favorite horror films if it had figured out a smarter, fresher way to bring its elements to life.
However, even if the film drags a little and might be a bit too clunky and unwarranted for some, it's nowhere near the atrocity people are giving it on various review platforms! The gore is fantastic, the sound design is yucky as can be, and my hands jolted in front of my eyes multiple times. Odeya Rush's character is actually an epic badass final girl; equally so, Alan Ruck's villain performance was honestly so fun, and his dedication to the bit elevates this film far more than it might even deserve. While it's not at all a recommendable experience for normies, I'm a little shocked that horror fans aren't eating up what this film is putting down in some aspects, because it truly is campy, gory ridiculousness. The bodyguards are so stupidly unrealistic that they're supremely captivating in a so-bad-it's-good way.
The execution of the story might have many of the usual trappings and downfalls of the genre, but the plot is still great because any horror that includes games or trials is always more interesting to watch. The ridiculous narration of the reasons each trial must occur to reach transcendence was hilarious and campy. The climax was also so satisfying, where the main character goes along with the ridiculousness of the moment, and drops this wild joke about sex that sounds straight out of a fake horror film Abed would make in Community.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 65%
Letter Score: B+
Star Ranking: 3.5 out of 5
It's campy, it's ridiculous, it's overly gratuitous, and it's got a made-for-TV, Home Alone 4-like quality to it. However, for a horror B-movie, this is supreme entertainment that wears its Saw influences on its sleeve. The hate here is absolutely overblown—I'll never forget this film and its hardcore final and goofy-as-hell villain.
Interested in checking out some recent reviews for some other thriller and horror films? See them below!
Brighton Nelson
Brighton Nelson
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