For a film with such a promising premise, it turns out to be a plodding example of how to squander potential.

| Original Score: D- | Jan 9, 2023

A parody only by legal definition, The Mean One has no teeth as a naughty comedy or gory horror.

| Original Score: 1/4 | Dec 9, 2022

The Mean One has a handful of inspired lines, e.g., “Time to roast this beast!” but the production values, editing, score and photography are average at best, and we’re left with a film that will be remembered mostly for a cleverly twisted marketing hook.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Dec 9, 2022

Parodies are theoretically supposed to be funny... it’s almost as if there was an explicit directive not to crack any jokes, let alone exhibit any pleasure, in a film that deliberately skirts copyright infringement to bring a sadistic Grinch to theaters.

| Dec 8, 2022