Summary
- The Mean One, a dark twist on Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, is set to be released digitally on October 3, following a limited theater run last December.
- Though the movie received negative reviews from critics and audiences, it still has the potential to become a cult classic, especially with a wider audience base through VOD release.
- The movie has also sparked a new horror trend of reimagining childhood classics alongside Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, which may appeal to those seeking tongue-in-cheek horror movies for the Halloween season.
The twisted take on Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch is coming home in time for Halloween with The Mean One‘s digital release date revealed. Inspired by the iconic Christmas tale, the slasher movie centered on an adult Cindy You-Know-Who as she returned to her hometown of Newville with her father and must confront her traumatic past in which she witnessed her mother murdered by a bloodthirsty green-skinned killer in a Santa suit known as the Mean One. Starring Terrifier vet David Howard Thornton in the eponymous role, the movie garnered much division online for its dark take on a childhood character.
Nearly a year after the movie was first announced and became a viral subject, DeskPop Entertainment has revealed The Mean One is finally getting a digital release date. The bizarre Grinch slasher movie is hitting video-on-demand platforms on October 3 following its successful limited theater run this past December. In addition to a digital release, The Mean One is set to hit shelves on Blu-ray and DVD on the same date.
The Mean One Is Destined To Become A Cult Classic
Though not expected to be a major hit, The Mean One proved to be a misfire with critics upon release, garnering just a 20% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who found its acting and self-serious tone to work against its promising concept. Audiences on the review aggregate weren’t much brighter in their response, only giving it a 49% rating. Amid the various negative reviews, though, some praise was directed towards Thornton’s work as the Mean One, feeling the Art the Clown actor continued his successful streak as terrifying killers.
Despite this initial rough reception, The Mean One still seems very primed to become a cult classic as it makes its way to home media. The fact the movie did garner over $612k at the box office with a very limited 162-theater run does indicate interest was there for the bizarre slasher. Additionally, with a VOD release ensuring wider coverage and coming in time for the Halloween season, audience reception could rise with a larger pool to base reviews on.
The other major reason The Mean One could become a cult classic is that it helped kickstart the bizarre new horror trend of childhood classics reimagined in the genre. Though Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey was announced first, the Grinch slasher hit theaters before it, and with a number of other projects in the works under this concept, including a Bambi slasher twist, audiences may want to begin compiling a library of tongue-in-cheek horror movies for the season.
Source: DeskPop Entertainment