Then Came the Yawn: A weird, old-school meta joke

Should you watch Then Came the Yawn? If you have a soft spot for weird, forgotten relics of the 1930s that feel like a fever dream, sure. If you need a cohesive narrative or something that doesn't feel like it was duct-taped together in a basement, keep walking. It's essentially a joke that’s been stretched thin, but it's a fascinatingly petty kind of joke.

It’s funny how the satire feels almost modern. We are so used to the 'In a world...' voiceover trope now, but back then, this was basically breaking the fourth wall with a sledgehammer. The whole point is to make fun of how desperate movie houses were to sell their next 'big' hit. It works, mostly because it’s so damn strange.

The bit with the hillbillies? It’s jarring. I watched it twice just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating the cantor-style singing. It doesn't make sense, and that’s why it hits. It feels like someone just decided, 'Let’s put these two things together and see who complains.'

It definitely lacks the heart you might find in something like Life Is Beautiful, but that’s an unfair comparison. This isn't trying to change your life. It’s just trying to make you roll your eyes at the industry. It’s a very specific kind of cynicism.

The odd details:

• The pacing is frantic, like the editor was trying to finish before the film reel ran out.
• The Frozen North gag is so dated it’s almost impressive.
• The transition between scenes is non-existent. You’re just… suddenly somewhere else.
• It has that 'Educational Pictures' polish, which basically means it looks good enough to distract you from how little is actually happening.

I caught myself thinking about how much cinema has changed, but also how much it hasn't. We still have these loud, obnoxious trailers. We still have people trying to sell us on 'spectacle.' The only difference is we aren't being subjected to singing hillbillies anymore. Or maybe we are, just in a different font.

It’s not a masterpiece. It’s a curiosity. It’s the kind of thing you find at 2:00 AM on a streaming service when you've run out of real movies to watch. I didn't hate it, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it to anyone who isn't a total film history nerd. It’s a bit like eating a stale cracker—it’s not great, but it’s definitely something.

Also, the title is a bit on the nose, isn't it? It’s almost a dare to the audience to get bored. I didn't yawn, but I definitely spent a lot of time wondering what the directors were drinking that morning. 🎞️