Paul Schrader Critiques ‘Joker 2’: A Disappointing Experience

Speaking with a critic, Schrader described the experience of watching Joker: Folie à Deux as "a slog." He said, that, leaving the theater in the film, he went shopping, returned, and watched a few more minutes. However, it transpired that even those additional minutes were enough to confirm his negative opinion.

What is most jarringly notable is perhaps being uttered by a person who also viciously attacked the original Joker: that criticism of this film comes from a pen subscribed to Schrader. The Todd Phillips 2019 film starring Joaquin Phoenix was a box office buster, as well as awarding the latter an Academy Award for Best Actor. The critics have conversely received the new film with mixed reactions in their praise of its strong performances and aesthetic style but criticisms against its narrative and pacing.

The latest in the long line of unfavorable reviews for Joker: Folie à Deux is from Schrader. While the film has its defenders, many critics have found it to be a disappointment. Some claim that the sequel fails to tap that magic from the first film, while others say the film hooked on shock value and violence.

Still, despite all the negative rants, Joker: Folie à Deux should still do pretty well at the box office. The cast of the movie boasts, among others, the presence of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, so there's sure to be a crowd heading out to watch it. But Schrader's brutal criticism of the film is a good enough blow to its reputation.

Bottom line, Paul Schrader's scathing review makes Joker: Folie à Deux a very bad deal. With that said, though the movie is not going to benefit from it, the film being commercially good would definitely render this upcoming sequel as a disappointment once it's released.