The multinational UK-based theater chain named Vue has canceled all showings of the upcoming horror film Dashcam. Early reports were that the theater company found the movie to be too offensive, but the chain has denied that’s the reason.

In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for Vue said:

“Our decision not to screen DASHCAM was informed purely by the commercial conditions not being viable.

We are currently investigating the cause of the incorrect information about our rationale for not screening this film, and we are sorry for any confusion that this has caused.”

Dashcam is the third feature film from director Rob Savage who created the mid-lockdown hit Host. That movie is currently available to stream on Shudder with a subscription.

What they said first

The reasoning behind the cancellation at Vue is a bit hard to swallow since people who had pre-purchased tickets noticed that all screenings had been canceled. This didn’t sit well with the movie’s director who promptly emailed the company for an explanation. Here is their response:

“Thank you for your question regarding Dashcam. I have received feedack from our staffing screen and they have decided we won’t be showing Dashcam at any of our venues due to the contents of the movie, which may offend our audiences.

We at Vue believe in diversity and any movie which may offend audiences, we may decide to no longer show at the last second without notice. I’m sorry this is not the outcome you were looking for.”

Savage in an apparent flex, tweeted about the situation:

“Apparently @vuecinemas have canceled our screenings of DASHCAM because the movie is too offensive!” he wrote on Twitter, adding: “If that doesn’t make you want to watch this film, what will?”

All the Buzz

The buzz for Dashcam has certainly been electrifying. Not since Hereditary has there been such early word-of-mouth from festival audiences about a horror film. Still, the movie isn’t without its controversy, mainly because of the main character, played by Annie Hardy, who according to Bloody Disgusting is “one of horror’s most grating characters in recent memory.”

Our own critic Kelly McNeely screened the film at 2021’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and seems to hold the same opinion but is slightly more forgiving, “Annie is a curious character. She’s both charismatic and obnoxious, quick-witted and closed-minded.”

The controversy stems from Annie’s political beliefs. Her rebellious and recalcitrant nature regarding the pandemic might put her in Karen territory.  In one scene she refuses to wear a mask inside a store and things get crazy. She is an unhinged, anti-woke conspiracy theorist who just happens to be the film’s star.  “She’s… kind of terrible,” McNeely writes.

So what is Dashcam about?

The film was shot on an iPhone a la the found footage formula. We meet a foolhardy musician (Hardy) who throws caution to the wind during the pandemic and flies off to London to visit a friend (Amar Chadha-Patel).  The plot turns serious when Annie decides to livestream strange events happening around her to online viewers.

Is Dashcam Good?

You’ve heard it all before: “Horror is subjective.” And Dashcam is probably going to divide most viewers with its controversial bullet points on radical social behavior. However, those who have seen it were impressed. They praise the film for being fun and scary. Writer and director Nia Childs wrote in her review: “Dashcam was a RIDE. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had that much fun – the audience just make it. Screaming, laughing, at one point I think someone was nearly sick?”

Theater chain’s backpedaling

Although Vue has seemingly untrained employees who answer emails without consulting their PR team first, the company is probably going to die on a hill for this one. Their excuse “commercial conditions not being viable,” is nothing short of head-scratching. If you are a venue that has a screen, an auditorium, and sells tickets to movies for the public to watch, well, that is “viable.” It’s literally your business model.

But it’s all good for Jason Blum and director Savage. Obviously, the publicity doesn’t hurt, and for what it’s worth all the hype surrounding this film is going to drive sales. Curious ticket buyers are going to want to see what is so polarizing about this picture and quickly head to social media to give their own opinions and propel sales even further.

Dashcam will be released in selected U.S. theaters and VOD on June 2.