As a frequent writer for Ain't It Cool News and the author of Seagalogy: A Study of the Ass-Kicking Films of Steven Seagal, Vern has gained notoriety for his unorthodox reviewing style and his expertise in "the films of Badass Cinema." His review of the slasher movie Chaos earned him a wrestling challenge from its director; his explosive essay on the PG-13 rating of Live Free or Die Hard prompted Bruce Willis himself to walk barefoot across the broken glass of movie nerd message boards to respond. Guillermo Del Toro, the director of Pan's Labyrinth, called Vern "a national treasure."
