Los Angeles, March 1 (IANS): "Gods of Egypt" director Alex Proyas has slammed critics in a lengthy Facebook rant, saying they write their reviews based on what people want to hear.

The filmmaker launched a Facebook tirade in response to the movie's less-than-impressive reviews from critics and audience as well as its underwhelming performance at the box office, reports aceshowbiz.com. 

In his post, Proyas shared his thought on today's film critics whom he said were putting up their opinion of what they think people want to hear, rather than their own honest assessment. 

He called them everything from "deranged idiots" to "a pack of diseased vultures pecking at the bones of a dying carcass." 

"I have never gotten great reviews... on any movie I've made really, apart from those by reviewers who think for themselves and make up their own opinions. Sadly those type of reviewers are nearly all dead," Proyas wrote. 

"I guess I have the knack of rubbing reviewers the wrong way -- always have. This time, of course, they have bigger axes to grind... They can rip into my movie while trying to make their mainly pale a**es look so politically correct by screaming 'white-wash!' like the deranged idiots they all are," he added. 

"Gods of Egypt", which boasts appearances from actors Gerard Butler and Brenton Thwaites among others, only scored 13 percent "rotten" rating on film reviews and news portal Rotten Tomatoes and debuted at number two at this week's US box office with around $14 million. 

The number pales in comparison to the $31.5 million earned by "Deadpool" to spend its third consecutive week at the top position.