History Website / AgonyBooth

[[http://www.agonybooth.com/ The Agony Booth]] (named after [[AgonyBeam a torture device]] on ''StarTrek'') is a website that for most of its history has posted recaps of SoBadItsGood movies and TV shows. Sometimes, its recaps-cum-{{MST}}s raise a work ''up'' to SoBadItsGood. The multipage, scene-by-scene recaps usually take longer to read than watching the movie, but that's a feature, not a bug.

Unlike many movie sites, Agony Booth isn't run by fanboys; most of the mods are older professionals (their ranks include a computer programmer, a teacher, a lawyer, a soldier, etc.), some of whom are (or have been) professional authors. The house style is therefore based around thoughtful criticisms of technical and storytelling faults as well as less tangible qualities. They are willing [[DeadpanSnarker to mock anything]], but will almost never do so without backing it up. As such, the Booth tends to have a "nothing is sacred" policy. (While it's become more apparent with the shift towards videos, it's actually always been the case, as bad films with sizable cult followings were ripe targets from the start.) The writers also have a tendency to use [[TVTropesWillRuinYourVocabulary Troper terminology]].

In recent years, in fact, the site's core mission -- while still fundamentally cynical -- has veered further and further into affectionate nostalgia, with a burgeoning TV-recap section that besides the Worst of Trek includes ''Series/TheATeam'', ''DegrassiJuniorHigh'', ''JemAndTheHolograms'' and ''KnightRider''. These now make up the bulk of the site's postings, while films or TV shows that aren't being recapped regularly appear more occasionally then they once did.

A relentless dedication to nosing out the most offbeat and obscure hunks of pop culture cheese (''Film/{{Deafula}}'', anyone?) also marks the site off from the Bad Movie mainstream. Over the years their article subjects have also included music videos ([[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Heidi_Montag_s__Higher_.aspx Heidi Montag's "Higher"]]), energy drinks ([[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Steven_Seagal_s_Lightning_Bolt.aspx Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt]]), interviews ([[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Interview_with_Lloyd_Kaufman.aspx Lloyd Kaufman]], [[GoldenRaspberryAward Razzies founder]] [[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Interview_with_John_Wilson.aspx John Wilson]], etc.), and even the website of a presidential "candidate" ([[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Mercer_for_President_2008.aspx Lee L. Mercer, Jr.]]).

In July, 2010, they began a shift towards video recap series. These include:
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/categories/Mr__Mendo_s_Hack_Attack.aspx Mr. Mendo's Hack Attack]]'', a video version of their traditional articles, occasionally taking on well-liked films, hosted by Mr. Mendo.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Red_Suitcase_Adventures/ Red Suitcase Adventures]]'', a more positive look at popular culture, hosted by Sofie Liv.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Stuff_You_Like/ Stuff You Like]]'', an analytical look at great film, great TV (and all kinds of tropes), hosted by [[StuffYouLike Sursum Ursa]].
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Blockbuster_Chick/ The Blockbuster Chick]]'', celebrating big-budget bombs, hosted by Suzie McGinney.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Cartoon_Palooza/ Cartoon Palooza]]'', a sarcastic look at recent animated features, hosted by Joey Tedesco.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Good_Bad_Flicks/ Good Bad Flicks]]'', [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a salute to films that are so bad they're good]], [[TheUnseen hosted]] by Cecil Trachenburg.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/categories/Saturday_Morning_Glory.aspx Saturday Morning Glory]]'', a look at insane episodes of Saturday morning cartoons, hosted by Ryan Lohner.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Terror_Obscura/Nightmare_on_Elm_Street.aspx Terror Obscura]]'', a look at horror films, good and bad, hosted by Fear Fan.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/categories/The_Following_Special_Presentation.aspx The Following Special Presentation]]'', a look at goofy made for TV movies, hosted by Stan Ferguson.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Thoroughly_Manly_Musicals/ Thoroughly Manly Musicals]]'', [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a show about musicals]], also hosted by Stan Ferguson.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Movie_Skewer/ The Movie Skewer]]'', hosted by each of the others in rotation, this is a show for the Boothers to review things outside their normal niches.
* ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/categories/Britannia_Rules_.aspx The Special Relationship]]'', a spin-off of ''Britannia Rules?'', which examines American remakes of British films and TV shows, hosted by Richard Murphy. (This show is no longer in production.)


The forums attached to the site have a reputation of exclusivity that is debatably deserved; the list of rules (and rationales for banning) are long and detailed, and intelligent argument on a par with the house style is expected whether for or against the subject in question. Likewise, poorly-handled comments can expect to receive the same treatment as any recap subject.


[[AC:From the FAQ:]]

::'''What's the point of this site?'''

::The Agony Booth is primarily devoted to posting recaps of movies and TV episodes. These are not "reviews". Movies and TV episodes are thoroughly analyzed and dissected in excruciating detail to show what they do right and what they do wrong. But most important of all, the point of this site is to have fun mocking any and all kinds of movies and shows.

----
* AccentuateTheNegative: Sometimes they recognize a few things are well-done, but that's not why they're recapping the movies.
* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: [[invoked]]Among others, they've declared that [[http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Repo__The_Genetic_Opera_2008.aspx Rotti Largo]] of ''RepoTheGeneticOpera'' is a pedophile and [[http://www.agonybooth.com/movies/Its_a_Wonderful_Life_1946.aspx Mary Bailey]] is the real villain of ''[=~It's A Wonderful Life~=]''.
* AngstDissonance: In-universe, Mr. Mendo opens a serious question in his ''ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'' review with a sarcastic acknowledgement that this movie doesn't speak to him in the way it does a lot of college students since he had to join the army.
* BadassMustache: Mr. Mendo.
* BatmanGambit: Referenced and inverted on [[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Saturday_Morning_Glory/Super_Friends_Lord_of_Middle_Earth.aspx Saturday Morning Glory]]:
-->'''Ryan''': "Then Malhavok shows up, so Batman tosses out a lame taunt to get him to break the dragon's chain. Somehow, I doubt this is going down as one of the great Batman Gambits." (Accompanied by a screen shot of that very page!)
* BMovie: In the site's early years, they focused almost exclusively on these.
* BigOlEyebrows: Mr. Mendo's can be seen from behind his shades, which aren't exactly small...
* BrickJoke: Just who ARE the Overlords of the UFO, anyway?
** Ditto Mr. Mendo's kickboxing obsessed teddy bear.
* BrokenAesop: As Mr. Mendo [[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Forrest_Gump.aspx points out]], ForrestGump teaches us that one man can make a difference, as long as he never thinks or makes a decision for himself.
** Or, [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Scott_Pilgrim_vs_the_World.aspx on]] [[Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld Scott Pilgrim]]: "Do you really buy that this movie is about Scott gaining self-respect, or do you wonder when we were supposed to notice that he had no self-respect, before or after hooking up with three hot chicks and fighting and obliterating six people?"
* BuffySpeak: [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Never_Say_Never_Again.aspx This episode of]] MMHA: "But really, [[JohnnyEnglish that]] was a good movie, and [[NeverSayNeverAgain this film]] and a good one are as dissimilar as two completely dissimilar things...in a bag."
* CatchPhrase: "Wiki/{{Wikipedia}} is your friend."
* CloudCuckooLander: The forums tend to attract some rather... strange people.
* ConspiracyTheorist: Parodied. During [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video397_Last_Unicorn_Movie_Farrow_Arkin.aspx a sleepover]] with The Omega, Mendo came to the conclusion that ''Film/TheLastUnicorn'' was "an elaborate metaphor for a woman's menstrual cycle".
* CoolAndUnusualPunishment: When Mr. Mendo forwards a bunch of his hate mail to the Film Renegado's site, Renegado [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video337_Atletico_San_Pancho_Never_Too_Young_to_Dream.aspx forces him]] to watch Atletico San Pancho. And, when that doesn't work, he starts playing Menudo!
* CoolShades: Mr. Mendo's Guccis.
* DarkerAndEdgier: The [[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Saturday_Morning_Glory/Loonatics_Unleashed_on_Ice.aspx horror]] that is ''WesternAnimation/LoonaticsUnleashed''.
* DeadpanSnarker: The raison d'être for the site.
* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: On Luigi Largo of ''RepoTheGeneticOpera'': "You know how DannyTrejo often plays Danny Trejo? Well, in this movie, Danny Trejo is played by Bill Moseley."
** Sofie Liv: [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video316_Antichrist_2009_Movie_Review_Lars_Von_Trier.aspx Actual Danish Person (From Denmark)]].
* {{Determinator}}: Mr. Mendo managed to write and film the first two episodes of his show despite being ''in the middle of a war zone!''
* DidNotDoTheResearch: Given the level of detail in the recaps, the occasional error tends to stand out.
* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: Often a recapper will say something extremely perverse, then follow it with a note to themselves to edit it out before posting.
** "Don't forget now!"
* EatTheDog: Mr. Mendo [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/A_Team_Heart_of_Rock_and_Roll.aspx has claimed]] he needs to "eat at least one puppy every day" in order to survive.
* EntertaininglyWrong: In her [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video336_Twilight_2008_Movie_Review.aspx review]] of Twilight, Miss Liv came to the conclusion that Mr. Mendo was a [[TheCareBears Care Bear]]. Which isn't [[TheBear that far off]].
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Mr. Mendo may eat puppies, but [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Ilsa_She_Wolf_SS_Salo_120_Days_Sodom.aspx even he]] feels bad about [[HeroicBSOD forcing Fear Fan]] to watch ''IlsaSheWolfOfTheSS'' and ''{{Salo Or The 120 Days of Sodom}}'' [[MoralEventHorizon about twenty times each]].
** Conversely, they determine that, while Salo may be the more disturbing film, it still claims the moral high ground over Ilsa, since at least Salo isn't intended to be titilating.
* EverythingsWorseWithBears: [[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Top_9_Celebrity_Bear_Fights.aspx More like everything's BETTER with bears!]]
* FanFicFuel: Noted a few times InUniverse.
-->'''Ryan''': "Fanfiction writers, you have your new assignment. Don't let me down."
* FauxlosophicNarration: Parodied. Mr. Mendo [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video326_Beast_of_Yucca_Flats_1961_Coleman_Francis.aspx took issue]] with TheBeastOfYuccaFlats for this, only to have his own narrator suddenly appear.
* FunWithSubtitles: From the [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video340_Pink_Lady_Movie_Japanese_Spider_Man_Marvel_1978.aspx review]] of the [[PinkLadyAndJeff Pink Lady]] movie:
-->'''Mr. Mendo''': No surprise, then, that they got their own motion picture with the catchy title of:
-->'''Subtitle''': ピンク・レディーの活動大写真
-->'''Mr. Mendo''': ...that.
* GotMeDoingIt
* HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday: The ''MammaMia'' review.
-->'''Jordon Davis''': (Repeatedly) "...I'm not gay."
* [[HeroWithAnFInGood Heroine With An F In Good]]: From [[http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Myra_Breckinridge_1970.aspx Myra Breckinridge]]:
-->'''Albert''': Let's take a moment to appreciate the character of Myra. As far as I can tell, Rusty's only crime is being homophobic. Oh, and he also has the outrageous desire to actually get married and have children. So what does Myra do to him? She ties him down, rapes him, and then demands that he thank her afterwards. Ladies and gentleman, our hero.
* HilariousInHindsight: Several things noted InUniverse:
-->'''Ryan''': "This episode was making fun of ParisHilton before Paris Hilton even existed!"
* HitlerAteSugar: Parodied in [[http://www.agonybooth.com/movies/Tron_Legacy_2010.aspx this review]] of ''Film/TronLegacy''.
-->You know who else was a genocidal maniac? '''Hitler!'''
* HypocrisyNod: To cap off [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Rubber.aspx a review of Rubber]], a pointless, nonsensical film that is being watched from inside itself, Mr. Mendo and The Omega get into a pointless, nonsensical argument that is being watched from inside the review.
-->'''Mr. Mendo''': "[[http://www.agonybooth.com/video326_Beast_of_Yucca_Flats_1961_Coleman_Francis.aspx Trying to pick]] the worst Coleman Francis film is like deciding what kind of cancer you'd like to have." *Lights cigar*
* HypocriticalHumor: When [[http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Star_Trek/The_Next_Generation/The_Outrageous_Okona.aspx recapping]] the ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "The Outrageous Okona", Albert noted that the mention of lasers having no effect on the ''Enterprise'' led to a lot of "[[StarTrek Enterprise D]] could beat [[StarWars a Star Destroyer]]" debates. Then commented: "Some people just have ''way'' too much time on their hands, don't they? And now, back to my six-page dissertation on a Star Trek episode."
* InsistentTerminology: They do not ''review'' movies, they ''recap'' them. Get this wrong at your own peril.
* JumpScare: To illustrate how over-reliant on these TheHauntingInConnecticut is, Fear Fan provided a [[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Haunting_in_Connecticut.aspx montage]] of them set to [[DawnOfTheDead different music]]. It got pretty silly.
* KillItWithFire: One of the mods, a soldier who served in Afghanistan, had this reaction to a particularly bad episode of [[PinkLadyAndJeff ''Pink Lady...and Jeff'']].
* LeftItIn: Articles will sometimes have the writer make a rather perverted comment, followed by a note to themselves to edit it out before posting. "Don't forget now!"
* LogicalFallacies: A charge they often level at the TV shows they feature.
* NostalgiaFilter: Mr. Mendo and Ryan avert this trope HARD. For example: a [[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Saturday_Morning_Glory/Transformers_Girl_Who_Loved_Powerglide.aspx video review]] of one of the weirdest episodes of ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' cartoon was all about pointing out the series wasn't the piece of art claimed by those hating on the [[Film/{{Transformers}} film series]].
-->'''Ryan''': "After watching an episode like this, I laugh at anyone who accuses MichaelBay of raping their childhoods."
--->'''Mr. Mendo''': "You know, in spite of [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/A_Team_Heart_of_Rock_and_Roll.aspx everything mean I've said]], a lot of people really like [[Series/TheATeam this show]]. A lot of people are quite clearly huffing spraypaint."
* NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer: Comes up so often it's practically a catchphrase.
** Particularly notable regarding the notoriously bad ''StarTrekVoyager'' episode "Threshold". Every recap starts with a synopsis of the episode's plot, but this one bails out partway though:
-->...no, no, it's just too stupid. You'll never believe me if I just blurt it out like this.
* NotableReferencesToTVTropes: More than a few links to us on some of the recaps, including links to FetishFuel, and ChekhovsGun.
* NoYay: {{Invoked}}. Recapper Jessica describes the relationship between BruceWillis and his sidekick in ''HudsonHawk'' as "The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name For A Damned Good Reason".
* OverlyLongGag: From the recap of ''MammaMia'': "(Amanda Seyfried's) blazingly hot in a very not-NataliePortman kind of way, if you get my meaning. I'm saying Amanda's more of a nordic beauty. She doesn't celebrate Shemini Atzeret too gaudily. She can't get wholesale prices on diamonds. [[http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Mamma_Mia__2008.aspx?Page=2 Jewish. She's not Jewish.]]"
* ARareSentence: The line "Desirée! You could have gotten mustard all over his brain!" from ''OverdrawnAtTheMemoryBank'':
--> '''Albert:''' Yeah, just take a second and stare at that line for a while. It's a beauty. Lines that insane only come along once every so often.
** [[http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Star_Trek/the_original_series/Spock_s_Brain.aspx?Page=3 "Brain and brain, what is brain?!"]]
** [[http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Santa_with_Muscles_1996.aspx?Page=4 "Watch out!]] ''[[http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Santa_with_Muscles_1996.aspx?Page=4 He's got a candy cane!"]]''
** [[http://agonybooth.com/recaps/Myra_Breckinridge_1970.aspx "You don't want flammable tits, now do you?"]]
* RuleSixtyThree: For their review of [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/SherlockHolmes Sherlock Holmes (2009)]], Sofie Liv and [[StuffYouLike Sursum Ursa]] dressed up as Holmes and Watson.
* RunningGag: Frequent in the individual recaps, and a few (including the Overlords of the UFO & MrT's guest explanations) that cross over. The TV series recaps are much more prone to ongoing gags; Albert's Degrassi recaps are typical:
** The Girls' Bathroom of Ill Repute and the Boys' Bathroom of Neutral Repute.
** Albert's ongoing frustration at Yick and Arthur's B (and sometimes C) plots.
** Joey (Insert Letter Here) Jermiah, the (X) stands for (Blank).
** Nicknames for the characters: Loosey, Astrodog, Rockin' Rompin' Raditch and Sweet Caitlin Ryan.
** Stephanie Kaye is also frequently compared to Nixon.
* ShoutOut: To the point of ReferenceOverdosed. The Boothers favor obscure references to everything from song lyrics, {{BBC}} shows, and children's book series, often in the same article.
** Fortunately, they usually give links to the things they reference
* SmokingIsCool: Mr. Mendo is almost never seen without a Black and Mild (or a cigarette). A cigar even features prominently in his portrait...
-->Although this has been parodied [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video312_Twilight_Saga_Eclipse.aspx at least once.]]
* SpecialGuest: WebOriginal/TheCinemaSnob showed up for [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Leprechaun_6_Back_2_tha_Hood.aspx episode 6]] of MMHA, as did [[WebOriginal/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] for [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Rubber.aspx episode 10]], DiamandaHagan in [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video316_Antichrist_2009_Movie_Review_Lars_Von_Trier.aspx episode 14]] and TheFilmRenegado in [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video337_Atletico_San_Pancho_Never_Too_Young_to_Dream.aspx episode 17]].
* SuckinessIsPainful: It's implied by the site's name.
* TakeThat: A [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Donnie_Darko.aspx review]] of ''DonnieDarko'' notes that Donnie's argument about [[TheSmurfs Smurfette]] is very much like a {{Natter}} reply on TVTropes.
--> '''Mr. Mendo:''' (Regarding [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video312_Twilight_Saga_Eclipse.aspx Twilight: Eclipse]])StephenieMeyer is a lonely, unfulfilled woman. I think we may have finally found the perfect girl for [[http://www.sonichu.com/cwcki/Main_Page Christian Chandler]]
--> '''Sofie:''' Oh, go read some Spider-Man comics, [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video323_Batman_Returns_1992.aspx you big baby!]]
* TheBear: Mr. Mendo.
* TheCastShowOff: Miss Liv can sing, dance, play the piano AND the trumpet.
* UncleTomfoolery: Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha Hood [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video280_Leprechaun_6_Back_2_tha_Hood.aspx was raked over the coals for this.]]
--> '''Mr. Mendo:''' Sure, throw in a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantan_Moreland Mantan]] impression, that's always cool!
* UnwinnableTrainingSimulation: ...and why it [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Never_Say_Never_Again.aspx does not belong]] in Film/JamesBond movies.
* [[YouGottaHaveBlueHair You Gotta Have Anime Hair]]: Mr. Mendo [[http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Eternal_Sunshine_of_the_Spotless_Mind.aspx cites this]] as a sign that [[EternalSunshineOfTheSpotlessMind Joel and Clem]] really don't make a very good match. (Somewhat hypocritical, as he himself wore a green wig in an earlier episode.)