Stephen King Called This Quentin Tarantino Masterpiece “Tepid” and “Narcissistic”

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Stephen King is known for being honest about films, and he was especially direct in his 2007 review of Quentin Tarantino‘s Kill Bill: Volume 1.

In a review for Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King wasn’t impressed with Quentin Tarantino’s fourth film, describing it as lukewarm and unremarkable. He felt the movie ultimately lacked impact and criticized its humor, action, and overall mood. He specifically found the fight scenes uninspired and the atmosphere lifeless.

King also criticized movie critics, pointing out that they see films for free and don’t have to pay for things like childcare or parking. He suggested this might lead them to overpraise self-indulgent movies, using Kill Bill as an example – a film that proudly declares itself Quentin Tarantino’s fourth, which he found pretentious.

Stephen King praised Uma Thurman’s performance, but felt her character lacked depth. He explained that despite her best efforts, she was ultimately portraying a symbol – ‘the Bride’ – rather than a fully realized person, making the character feel self-absorbed and one-dimensional.

He didn’t like the ending either, saying it felt incomplete and just hinted at more of the same action – lots of karate, dramatic yells, and over-the-top fighting.

Despite his criticisms, King acknowledged the film had some positive qualities. He said it was “well made” and managed to capture his interest to some extent, but ultimately felt it was still boring. He described the experience as feeling like you expected entertainment but ended up observing the filmmaker’s self-indulgence instead.

Even though Quentin Tarantino’s dialogue in Kill Bill: Volume 1 was considered strong, the film was mostly well-received by critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 85% rating based on 238 reviews, with an average score of 7.7/10. They described it as a very stylish revenge thriller. Metacritic gave the film a score of 69/100, also indicating positive reviews, and audiences polled by CinemaScore gave it a B+.

Critics generally admired Tarantino’s filmmaking abilities and unique style. In a review for The New York Times, A.O. Scott acknowledged that while Tarantino’s distinctive preferences can sometimes be overwhelming, the clear passion in Kill Bill is captivating and even charming. Scott described Tarantino as a talented and enthusiastic director who confidently showcases his skills with visually dynamic and intense action, and whose genuine love of film gives the movie a strangely compelling energy despite its flaws.

Manohla Dargis from the Los Angeles Times described the film as a visually striking and enthusiastic celebration of movies, while noting the plot wasn’t particularly strong. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times loved it, giving it a perfect score and calling it a remarkably well-made and entertaining experience, even if it didn’t have a deep meaning.

According to cultural historian Maud Lavin, the character of the Bride in the film allows viewers – particularly women – to vicariously experience fantasies of revenge and assertiveness, which gives the film a richer cultural meaning.

Stephen King wasn’t a fan of Kill Bill: Volume 1, but most people loved its unique style, fast pace, and overall effect. It just goes to show that everyone reacts to movies differently. Even films that are widely praised can still miss the mark for some viewers.

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2025-11-28 11:45