What Makes a Horror Critic?

It used to be when I thought of a film critic I thought of a yuppy drinking wine and eating smelly cheese and talking in a strange form of english the common man can not understand. Now for me that has changed immensely because of the internet and the ability for just about anybody to put word to screen and review films but it has also opened up an interesting box of questions. Who is a critic?

Today a friend of mine posted something interesting on Facebook which somewhat annoyed me but also brought up a good question. What makes a film critic? Are bloggers critics? Or are we just fanboys? Apparently according to my friend bloggers are NOT film critics. I am not sure what they are but apparently they are not critics. The good news is I think that most bloggers would agree they are not critics and also not interested in that label. But it begs the question what makes a critic?

As a non-critic I have had quotes on many films including Lionsgate's SAW 4. Does that make me a critic? I dont think so, but it does certainly encourage and inspire this blogger to keep reviewing films. Tim Hannigan who writes for this site was quoted on the Hostel 2 DVD and Goon has been quoted on to many to even count. Does that make them critics or fanboys?

Frankly I do not consider myself a film critic, I am a fan boy who loves to ramble on about films. That said who says who is a critic and who is not? About 8 months ago Goon about had a seizure ( and rightfully so ) when another large corporate site did a blog about how our community is not a news site and that combined with todays comments of 'Bloggers are not Critic's' got me thinking as to what makes a critic? Do you have to be owned by some big corporation to be a critic? Do you have to be on TV? Do you have to be somebody special with a special piece of paper on your wall that says 'Journalism....'?

In my views a critic used to be a person on TV who told us to go watch this or go watch that. Now though its hard to say who the critics are. Is a horror review by your local Channel 2 news any more significant then a review by a horror fan like the5thDroog, prddad or MovieMaven? Do their regular reviews make them a critic or are they somehow not included? Who determines who is a 'critic' and more importantly does anyone care?

Their is a big difference between journalists and bloggers since journalists tend to use complete sentences and not misspell words. Both things that you all like to razz me about. But that said I do not profess to be a journalist. I am a fan boy who runs a horror site that happens to have thousands of daily readers. Does the fact I dont spell the best or write the most witty little verbs make me a critic or not? Does the fact that we allow readers to submit reviews make them critics or not?

In my view a critic is anyone who is brave enough to write a review and post it for all to read, debate and see.  I for one do not turn to my local paper for reviews and ratings I turn to internet reviews because they are clear, concise and very often much more honest and open then a review by a newspaper or magazine film critic. So the question is out.. the guantlet thrown. What makes a movie critic in your eyes?