Doctor Who and Torchwood star John Barrowman has been torched online for demanding a refund after seeing M. Night Shyamalan’s new film ‘Old’.
Critics have been divided over the movie, about a group of individuals who find themselves ageing rapidly on a beach, with Rolling Stone and The Times giving it three stars and The Guardian giving it full marks.
However, Barrowman appeared to be more closely aligned with the two-star reviews of The Telegraph and Digital Spy, after he posted a video on Twitter slating the thriller.
“We just came back from the movies. We saw Old – M. Night Shyamalan – and it was sh****. Utter s****,” he announced in the clip, shared with his half a million followers.
“So bad, I got up, asked for our money back, and what did I get? … I got the money back, because they said: ‘Usually within the first 30 minutes we give the money back.’
“The movie didn’t do anything for two fricking hours. It was s****,” he said.
Responding to his husband Scott Gill’s more measured assessment that it was “an endurance”, Barrowman added that it was “an endurance we’ll never get back”.
“Two hours of our life. It was s***. Don’t bother going to go see it,” he concluded.
Barrowman was promptly criticised and mocked by Twitter users, who described his comments as “embarrassing” and “mean-spirited”:
I completely disagree with the idea of refunds on the basis of not enjoying a film. The cinema's job is to provide a seat, projection, service, and unless they fail to deliver on that, it's not right to ask for a refund because you pick a film that doesn't meet your expectations.
— NeverKissedAGirl.com Reviews (@FilmsTVCoffee) July 24, 2021
So you got to see the movie and ended up not paying. Because you didn't like it.
— Matt Toulson (@mattcity5) July 24, 2021
Embarrassing.
You go to see any entertainment and there's a chance it won't be what you hoped. That's the chance you take.
my heart goes out to the cinema employee that had to deal with john barrowman
— michaela ✨ (@schuylermoores) July 24, 2021
John Barrowman successfully getting a refund because he didn’t like Old reminds me of when I worked at a cinema while Into the Woods was out, and we had to give multiple refunds to people who ‘didn’t realise James Corden was in it’
— Alistair Ryder (@YesitsAlistair) July 24, 2021
John Barrowman, a man with net worth likely in 7 figures, is asking for a refund because he did not enjoy a film. After everything that has happened to the arts during Covid, this entitled fuckwad is complaining about supporting the industry that made him rich and successful...
— Chris Wilson (@CrisMovieCorner) July 24, 2021
The twist ending at the end of the new M. Night Shyamalan movie is that John Barrowman confirms himself to be a twat.
— Marc with a C (@uren_marc) July 24, 2021
I saw it coming a mile off.
(John Barrowman approaching a director after seeing their film)
— Adam Sharp (@AdamCSharp) July 24, 2021
JOHN BARROWMAN: Would you like to hear my expert opinion on your film?
DIRECTOR: Sure
JOHN BARROWMAN: It’s pretty much worthless
DIRECTOR: That’s okay, you can tell me anyway
John Barrowman, star of Shark Attack 3: Megalodon, is known for his amazing taste in projects, so I think we all need to give him the benefit of the doubt. pic.twitter.com/vriqIrICHC
— Chris Watt (@thechriswatt) July 24, 2021
Yikes, so John Barrowman seems like a major, self-entitled prick.
— Richard Newby (@RICHARDLNEWBY) July 24, 2021
Others called out the actor for addressing Shyamalan directly in his criticism:
Tagging the director is a dick move tbh
— Zubair (@Zubi_Q) July 24, 2021
Complaining about a film and tagging a director is not a good look. It's such a classless act, but then John Barrowman has no class. I will definitely be watching 'Old' now!
— Craig Minett (@CraigMinett) July 24, 2021
why the fuck would you tag the director if you have nothing good to say
— AP (@cinnamonpepsi) July 24, 2021
Disliking a film and saying its shite is one thing, but to make a whole video and then tag the director of that film is just another level of douchebaggery. Shame on you John Barrowman
— Martin @ Through The Silver Screen 🖤 (@ThrSilverScreen) July 24, 2021
This is so mean spirited. As if you tagged the director 🤡
— Jeanie Finlay (@JeanieFinlay) July 24, 2021
The backlash is the latest incident where Barrowman has come under fire, after he recently admitted to “tomfoolery” on the set of Doctor Who.
In a resurfaced clip from a fan convention, disgraced co-star Noel Clarke alleged that Barrowman “took his d*** out every five minutes”.
When Clarke asked fellow actress Camille Coduri if she remembered when “he put [his penis] on your shoulder in the makeup truck”, the star replied: “Yes, I do.”
In a statement responding to the allegations, Barrowman told The Guardian that his “high-spirited behaviour” was “only ever intended in good humour to entertain colleagues on set and backstage”.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I understand that upset may have been caused by exuberant behaviour and I have apologised for this previously.
“Since my apology in November 2008, my understanding and behaviour have also changed,” he said.
The Independent has approached a representative of M. Night Shyamalan for comment.
