Polarizing filmmaker Uwe Boll offered to field questions from fans, and it’s safe to say that things did not go as planned.
Known for such B-movie staples as Alone in the Dark and BloodRayne, Boll took part in a Reddit AMA on Friday to promote his film Citizen Vigilante, which stars Armie Hammer. Critics have predictably trashed the movie, as generally is the case with Boll’s oeuvre, with Citizen Vigilante holding a six percent approval rating from reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes, although it has a 93 percent score from audiences. Citizen Vigilante centers on Hammer’s character as he seeks to punish criminals, most of whom are depicted as migrants.
The proceedings got off to an inauspicious start, as the first question asked Boll why he still makes new films “after already making some of the worst movies ever.” The German director replied tersely, “To top them all.”
This conversation didn’t get any more civilized from there. One question noted Boll having previously referred to actors as “whores” and went on to ask the director if he is “a whore yourself pleasing right wingers,” given that conservatives have championed the film and its anti-migrant themes. “Absolutely,” replied Boll in his native German.
When another individual asked Boll how he keeps getting work, the director replied, “Money.” In response to a different question asking why he decided to cast Hammer “despite his controversies and allegations,” Boll explained, “Great actor and fits into the movie.”
Although there were some questions that were more respectful, Boll clearly did not appreciate the general tone of the exchanges. At one point, he posted a comment that read, “Guys, why a lot of you are stuck in the past. You love to hate and trash me.”
He went on to encourage participants to watch some of his films and named a long list of them, including Postal (2007), Rampage (2009) and Assault on Wall Street (2013). “Open your eyes,” he continued. “Forget my name and just watch the movies. Look at the ratings at Amazon and you see what the REAL AUDIENCE believes …. ! You are so in love of bashing me that you forgot yourself. I wish you all a great evening and now watch soccer in TV instead of wasting my time here.”
Citizen Vigilante was the subject of headlines after Elon Musk briefly made it available to stream for free on X following the movie getting banned in Germany amid concerns that it could incite violence against immigrants. Boll has posted to social media about the film having performed well on digital platforms and teased a potential sequel.
The project marks one of Hammer’s first features since he was dropped from WME after a number of sexual misconduct allegations surfaced in 2021. During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the star recalled getting emotional after landing the role in Citizen Vigilante: “I would have done a fucking cat food commercial. I just wanted to work again.”
