Red State (2011)

It might be the years of bad reviews he's had since 'Clerks', or it might be doubts about the quality of his new film, but director Kevin Smith suddenly decided last night that he didn't want any UK critics at the early screenings of his latest film 'Red State'.

'Red State', a horror movie about a group of teenagers who go looking for sex but find a group of religious fundamentalists with a worrying agenda, had been scheduled to screen to press on Monday.

But distributor Entertainment One UK contacted critics just three hours before the announced start time to inform them that Smith had personally cancelled the showing to implement a "different screening strategy" in the UK.

Smith's movie has already screened extensively across the US, and UK critics took to Twitter to express their displeasure at the sudden change of heart.

When a user drew the director's attention to the outrage, he commented from his twitter account (@ThatKevinSmith):

"So it might taint their reviews? Perish the thought... #OnlyPayingCustomersMatter"

Spurred on by support from his followers, Smith then decided to ban 'whining' journalists and allow 'real fans' to beg for seats at the next showing of the film, adding, "why show it to some of the loudest s**t-talkers for free and NOT folks who REALLy wanna see it?" (sic)

Bloggers and critics were stunned by the move, and some saw it as a personal attack.

@MaxRenn replied: "I have loved some of your films (not all), I increasingly object to being told that we who write about film aren't fans"

While @DineHard, who gave up paid work to watch the film that evening, commented: "Genuinely bemused by @ThatKevinSmith. Going to watch Clerks in one of the many formats I own and remember the days when I wasn't evil"

It could be a shrewd move by Smith, as fans may well spread the word about his generosity. But if the film does screen to UK journalists it is likely to get a hostile reception. Perhaps we'll find out once and for all whether writers or audiences shout loudest.