Joker released in theaters last week, and the movie was wrapped in controversy long before that. Joker has always been a controversial character, but the backlash against this particular movie was of a different level altogether. However, everything may not be as it seems. Read on to find out why!

What was the backlash focused on?

What was the backlash focused on?
What was the backlash focused on?

Joker has attracted backlash focused mainly on the violence in the movie, and the violence that it may inspire. Some critics deemed it dangerous and irresponsible. While the movie focused on the murderous clown may be R-rated, it suffices to say that things blew out of proportion. This is especially clear after the release of the movie. Joker is based on a grim subject but the movie itself is not as violent as it was made out to be.

The backlash became a marketing gimmick

The backlash became a marketing gimmick
The backlash became a marketing gimmick

Although there were real concerns earlier, the backlash eventually became a trick for marketing the movie. Warner Bros. didn’t start the backlash, but it looks like they took complete advantage of it to sell the movie and hide the bigger issues with the movie. Warner Bros. even released a statement addressing the controversy and focused it on gun control while rubbishing the notion that Arthur Fleck could be seen as a hero. They sought to ‘provoke difficult conversations around complex issues’.

Director Todd Phillips also made outlandish remarks related to violence in cinema. During Joker’s premiere, there was extra security and reporters were banned on the red carpet. This was to avoid untoward incidents and Warner Bros. likely knew that this was going to fuel the controversy even more. It seems like the aim was to create such hype that people would be drawn to theaters to see what the controversy is all about. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill!

Have you watched Joker yet? What are your thoughts on the movie? Let us know in the comments section below!

Here is the official trailer of Joker in case you missed it.

Source: ScreenRant, Time

 

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