Haunting of Sharon Tate: ‘UNFATHOMABLY bad’ Critics SLAM Hilary Duff Manson Murders movie

The movie – which is out today – picked up some strong buzz with its talked-about trailers, and wins at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival Awards. But the critics’ verdict is not very good at all – and its Rotten Tomatoes score currently stands at a lowly 23%. Despite some praise for Duff’s central performance, the movie has been deemed “unfathomably bad”.

IndieWire gave a D- score, saying “anyone hoping to find a thoughtful interrogation of fatalism is looking in the wrong place; so far as philosophical rigor is concerned, the gap between The Haunting of Sharon Tate and the Final Destination franchise is almost as wide as the one between Bohemian Rhapsody and Amadeus.

“Whatever [director Daniel] Farrands’ original intentions, the film he’s made depicts the final days of Tate’s life with all the sensitivity of a snuff film.”

The Wrap quipped: “It’s far too early to call this the worst movie of the year.

“But if it’s not, it’s going to be a rough 2019.”

Variety said: “The Haunting of Sharon Tate may be the first ‘serious’ Manson drama that represents a case of pure, unadulterated cheeseball exploitation.

“The film has nothing of remote fascination to add to the Manson dialogue that some of us have been carrying on for decades. It doesn’t bring you closer to the events; if anything, it seals you outside of them.

“But the movie’s petty folly — its failure of imagination and morality — is that it actually goes out of its way to turn the Manson murders into schlock horror.”

They added of the leading star: “While Duff isn’t a bad actress, she’s too pouty and contemporary to be convincing as Sharon Tate. She lacks that echo of Audrey Hepburn aristocratic elegance.”

In another negative critique, The Hollywood Reporter said the film “deserves the instant obscurity for which it is certainly destined.”

Starburst were a little more positive, giving a 7/10 score – summarising: “Ultimately, the film rises and falls on the strength of a strong central performance from Duff amidst some jarring moments of horror and violence.”

The Muse said it’s “even more bonkers than you think”, concluding: “The Haunting of Sharon Tate’s morality is askew, but you know, I didn’t hate it.”

Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming Once Upon A Time in Hollywood covers a similar subject; while those looking for a horror to watch this weekend are perhaps better off with Pet Sematary.

The Haunting of Sharon Tate is out now in the US. It does not have a UK release date.