Even the most thick-skinned moviegoer has to admit that the new Joker movie features a rather unnerving version of the infamous comic book villain. In fact, Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker has disturbed many fans so badly that they had to walk out of the movie theater before it was even over.
- For many, it was just “too dark.” As one user wrote on Twitter, “I’ve just walked out of the Joker. Maybe I was naive in going/didn’t realize what an origin story would be like, maybe because I live with someone with MH [mental health], it was just far too dark for me to be able to watch.” Another added that the film was “sick, twisted, and dark” and that they also left before it was finished.
- To be fair, releasing Joker is a little bit questionable. It does seem a bit tone-deaf to release a movie about an unhinged psychopath who’s basically a glorified incel when we’re living in a country (and world) where senseless acts of brutal violence happen on a daily basis. That’s not to say that art has to be about bubbly happy things all the time, but read the room, Christopher Nolan.
- Even Joaquin Phoenix knows there’s merit to people’s concerns. The guy walked out of an interview when asked what his feelings were about the claim that Joker would inspire real-life violence. A grown adult throwing a temper tantrum when asked a very valid question about a role he got paid millions of dollars to take on? Huh, I wonder why…
- Sure, you could just not see it. The thing is, everyone is going to be triggered by different things. Joker is about a psychopathic character who murders with impunity and gets off on causing chaos. If you are triggered by any of the issues or subject matters in Joker, you definitely shouldn’t go see it. It’s not for everyone, and that’s OK. However, the question remains: even if you can handle seeing it, do you really need to?
- At the end of the day, the naysayers haven’t detracted from Joker‘s success. At the time of publication, the movie has taken in more than $247 million worldwide, breaking pretty much every record. I guess controversy is good for ticket sales.
Oh man. By unanimous decision, the four of us walked out of the Joker movie. I haven’t walked out of a movie in years.
— vroom vroom✊🏾 (@slash5toaster) October 5, 2019
Went to see the Joker. People walked out of the cinema because it was too Dark. What a crazy experience. #100sonas #Joker pic.twitter.com/OCvRNeBSK5
— Conor Meehan (@ConorMeehan15) October 5, 2019
This old couple walked out of the Joker movie after a gory scene saying “I don’t want to watch this anymore” lmfaoooo
— aubri rose (@__aubkeoph) October 6, 2019
