A unique name is often psychologically perceived as promising something intriguing. A film with a lengthy title starring Sam Elliot, "The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot," for instance, immediately caught my attention when I first encountered it.
Two factors intrigued me. Firstly, the film's title took the form of a long sentence, which is undoubtedly quite rare. Secondly, the meaning it conveyed was equally peculiar – that of someone who managed to kill two of the most mysterious and legendary entities: Hitler and Bigfoot.
Upon seeing the whimsical title, my initial assumption was that this film must undoubtedly be a comedy.
I was taken aback when I watched the movie because the plot and mood, completely dominated by the enigmatic Sam Elliot who portrays a war veteran isolated and drowned in his memories, turned out to be vastly different from what I had anticipated earlier.
After finishing the movie, I genuinely thought that the film's aim might be to create an experience of 'failed expectations' or even a sense of being 'duped' among its viewers.
Such was the impact of the strange sensation evoked by the film that I went as far as to investigate whether I was the only one experiencing such a sentiment or if there were others who felt the same way.
Fortunately, I wasn't alone in this sentiment. The article on theguardian.com titled "The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot review — dreary fantasy" echoed similar sentiments. Here's an excerpt:
Apart from recounting the whole story, this peculiar title promises an intriguing fusion of history and unfathomable horror. Such a bizarre title enters into a contract with potential viewers. It leads you to expect something significant, or at the very least, something interesting – a genuine blend of speculative historical fiction and horrific themes. However, the reality is that the protagonist indeed kills Hitler and then Bigfoot… [ :)]
…But we're not fooled. [Because] this is a convoluted Dadaist* humor style, the funniest part of which is that it's not funny at all.
*[Dadaist humor style refers to the style and technique employed by a group of artists, writers, etc., in the early 20th century that exploited unintended and incongruous effects in their works and deliberately challenged artistic norms, thought, morality, etc.]
In alignment with what I conveyed earlier, as stated in the beginning, a name or a lengthy title, according to the review by theguardian.com, indeed enters into a contract with its potential viewers. It simultaneously leads them to expect something significant or, at the very least, something interesting.
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