America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 179 Pain and Anger

The film opens with a documentary-style nuclear explosion scene, with yellowed paper serving as the background, revealing a wealth of supposedly top-secret information.

As the credits rolled for the main cast and crew, a team of researchers in protective suits was suddenly attacked and wiped out.

Then comes the typical opening of an American horror movie: a family goes on a trip and chooses to drive through Nevada.

All the dialogues and scenes highlight the protagonist Bob's profession and personality: a physical education teacher at a school who teaches baseball and other sports, and a young father.

He had a deep love for his family and endured his conservative, stubborn, and aggressive father-in-law time and time again for the sake of his children and wife.

Whenever the couple argued, and his wife stepped in to mediate, Bob would always back down for her sake.

For making concessions for love and family, the audience will at least not feel disgusted with this character.

So, after refueling at the gas station, Bob locked himself in the RV to look after the kids, while his father-in-law chose a side road.

When his car tire was punctured, his father-in-law chose to turn back and go to the gas station for help, while Bob, as a young man, went to explore the unknown road ahead.

The road was blocked by a huge bomb crater, and the deformed killer made his official debut.

Bob was suddenly attacked by two murderers. After losing a finger, he killed the murderers in retaliation.

As he bandaged his wounds and picked up the baseball bat to return to the RV, his father-in-law was tied to a tree and set on fire, his mother-in-law and wife were killed, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law were injured, and his child was taken away.

Driven by pain and rage, the "one man, one stick, one dog" mode officially begins.

The male protagonist and the deformed serial killer torture each other.

With the help of the dog and the deformed girl, the protagonist defeats the enemy and rescues the child.

Sitting in the third row of the audience, watching the battered and bruised protagonist carrying his child out of the abandoned town, film critic Kenneth Turan remarked, "After all these years, Wes Craven has finally made some progress."

Todd McCarthy nodded: "He incorporated more action elements into the film."

Another film critic, Courtney Howard, said, "This formula is interesting; a man and a dog, struggling to survive, and then fighting their way out."

McCarthy asked, "What do you guys think of this film?"

"It didn't stray from the traditional horror movie formula," Turan said simply. "However, the male lead's acting was quite good. Did you notice? He portrayed the grief and anger of losing a loved one very well."

Courtney chimed in, "Don't you guys think that in his final showdown with the serial killers, he seemed more like a psychopath?"

McCarthy thought about it carefully, and it seemed to make some sense.

But Turan disagrees: "Think about it from his perspective. At the beginning of the film, the protagonist loves his wife and children dearly. When he sees his wife being killed and his children being kidnapped, what would he do? If you had his abilities, what would you do?"

McCas has children: "I'd be even more twisted and insane than him."

Courtney nodded: "So, the male protagonist uses this method to demonstrate the greatness of fatherly love."

Turan said, "Martin Davis is a good actor, much better than the idiots in Craven's two most successful series, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream."

As the end credits rolled, the entire audience rose to their feet and applauded, and several film critics followed suit.

This movie isn't exactly great, but it's definitely not a bad one.

The person next to him, Vaughn, comes from Cinema Score, a professional market research agency that specializes in audience reviews and has a keen insight into the film market.

Vaughn felt that this film was one of Craven's rare masterpieces in recent years, with the male lead's performance being excellent, and the climax scene with the man, dog, and stick at the end being truly stunning.

With so much publicity and marketing, and the rumors about Martin and Anne's affair circulating widely, based on his years of experience in the front-line market, he judged that the film's market response would be quite good.

Vaughn took out his phone and sent a mass text message to his men, informing them that they were ready.

Amid applause, Aja and Martin led the main cast and crew onto the stage for a curtain call.

Suddenly, a cacophony of screams erupted from the audience: "Martin, I love you!"

At first, only two or three people called out, but then more people started calling out Martin's name.

Martin's character in this film is truly outstanding, especially his love for his wife and children.

The deeper the love, the more ruthless one will be when facing a serial killer.

No audience felt disgusted by Martin's almost perverse killings; on the contrary, they felt a sense of exhilarating satisfaction.

The character's charm then blossomed and spread to the actor.

The fans were very excited. Jessica and Emily, who were in the middle of it, exchanged a glance. With such a great movie and characters as a foundation, their task was particularly easy to complete.

All so-called momentum is created.

Martin's current status and influence are insufficient, so creating momentum has become a necessary option.

Faced with the enthusiasm of his fans, Martin had no choice but to stand up, wave, bow, and take his bow.

Once a person's enthusiasm is ignited, it is difficult for it to subside immediately.

Martin could only take his final bow again and again.

The other actors in the crew looked at Martin with envy, but there was nothing they could do.

He is the absolute male lead, brought his own investment to the production, served as the production manager, one of the three most powerful figures in the crew, and was also deeply involved in publicity and marketing.

They're more than one level apart.

In the media section, a reporter exclaimed, "Judging from the atmosphere in the theater, he's like a superstar."

A reporter standing nearby remarked, "With this movie's success, Martin Davis's meteoric rise is unstoppable!"

The former agreed: "Many people ridiculed him and Anne Hathaway for their 'strong woman, weak man' dynamic, but perhaps it will soon become 'strong man, weak woman'."

Finally, the applause subsided.

The fans gradually calmed down.

After the director and the male lead exchanged a few words of thanks as usual, the premiere ended in an orderly fashion.

Back in the lounge, many guests came over to offer their congratulations.

Angelina Jolie gently hugged Martin and said with a smile, "Your performance is crazy, so charming, and I really look forward to acting opposite you."

Martin responded with a smile, "I also look forward to working with you."

The atmosphere in the lounge was wonderful, with Annie by Martin's side, watching him become one of the central figures.

She had experienced similar things before, which could be considered a sign of success.

Kenneth Turan, the top film critic for the Los Angeles Times, came over, greeted Martin and Anne, and said to Martin, "In my 30+ years in the industry and I've reviewed thousands of films, I've found that your acting is very powerful, but the roles themselves limit your performance. Perhaps you should try roles with more depth."

Martin said respectfully, "Thank you for your honest advice. In the past, I had no choice but to play whatever came my way. In the future, if I have a choice, I will definitely choose more complex roles to hone my acting skills."

Turan was quite pleased that the other person had taken his words to heart: "Martin, you have great talent. Don't waste it. I hope you can become the new Daniel Day-Lewis or Sean Penn in the future."

Martin nodded and replied, "I will try my best."

Turan smiled, bid farewell, and returned to his circle of media commentators.

Todd McCarthy asked, "How is it? Doesn't seem as arrogant as a young man."

Turan said, "A very humble young man, willing to listen to advice, with such great talent, hopefully he won't disappoint like Tom Cruise."

The group of critics were the first to leave the lounge, preparing to go back and finish their articles.

The crew immediately sent someone to deliver the gifts, and each person also received a tote bag.

Meanwhile, the audience dispersed and left.

Vaughn from Cinema Score gathered several of his men and they all got into the large van.

He asked, "How was the audience's reaction?"

The assistant next to him did a preliminary count: "Most people rated it A or A-, with relatively few ratings of A+ or B. On average, there should be about 100 people with A ratings."

"That's pretty good for a horror movie," Vaughn said.

The assistant added, "Today is the premiere, and many of the audience members are supporters of Martin or Craven, so the ratings will naturally be higher."

Vaughn certainly understood this: "Based on past patterns, after a full release in North America, the rating will likely be A or A-, and the opening weekend box office won't be bad."

Inside the theater, the premiere guests were also leaving one after another.

Menne found Martin: "Boss, I'm about to leave." He glanced at Anne: "Need me to draw fire?"

"No need." During the film's promotional period, Martin needed high visibility. Seeing Menez alone, he asked curiously, "Where's Paris?"

Menez's expression was complicated: "She wanted to come with me and was even willing to pay, but I didn't dare let her."

Martin said, "It doesn't hurt to be cautious."

“At the theater, she offers so much that I can’t refuse,” Menez said, expressing his concern. “But what if we go to a secluded place and she sends someone to attack me? I’m not like Old Brooks; I’d be finished then.”

Martin glanced at the time: "Let's go back early."

Seeing Menez leave the theater, Anne asked, "Where are you going tonight?"

Martin said, "I'm broke now, so I have to mooch off the princess."

Anne assumed Martin was joking and took his arm as they walked out, saying, "Then you can be a poor wretch, and I'll take care of you."

Why does this line sound so familiar? Martin thought for a moment, and realized that this was something he often said to Louise.

As the two exited the theater, a large number of reporters and paparazzi surrounded them to take pictures.

Several security personnel stopped them. Martin escorted Annie to the car, opened the door for his female companion to get in first, then got in and closed the door. He said to Bruce, "Bruce, to the Hilton Hotel."

Bruce wasn't driving fast, but there were at least a dozen paparazzi on cars and motorcycles behind him. If he drove too fast, they could easily get into danger.

Under Martin's guidance, Bruce also learned to put himself in others' shoes.

A group of paparazzi chased them to the Hilton Hotel.

The Mercedes stopped in front of the hotel, and Martin and Annie went inside. Judging from their intimate manner, they wouldn't be coming out again tonight.

The other paparazzi left one after another, and Jody waited patiently for a while.

Not long after, someone came over from the parking lot and waved to her.

Jody quickly got into the car and found that it was a young girl.

Jessica took the envelope and handed it to Jody: "Martin is preparing to propose to Anne; this is the proposal."

Jody opened the envelope and quickly flipped through it: "I know how to write it."

(End of this chapter)