Time to get scared..

[The Curmudgeon]

Movie Discussion: What's the greatest horror franchise?

First of all, apologies for the length of time its taken for a new thread to show up. I won't bore you with the details but, safe to say - The Curmudgeon has been a busy boy.

Anyway, thought I'd get the ball rolling once again with an easy to grasp subject, something I think all the Dwellers out there will have some say in. Horror franchises. As Halloween rolls around, no doubt there will be a large number of these movies either coming onto TV or perhaps even showing in one of those cool cinema's that show old movies from time to time (a dying breed, let me tell you).

First of all - a few rules before we can begin the debate. The term "franchise" has to mean movies with more than three entries, just in case some dimbulb wants to name Scream as the best horror franchise. Then we'd have to kill them, see.

The obvious names pop up; Nightmare On Elm Street, Friday The 13th.. but whilst they have the most entries (and arguably the best villains), there is a severe lack of quality in those movies (particularly the Friday 13th series, which, let's face it, doesn't even have ONE decent movie in the entire set).

My vote would have to go to the Psycho series. Let's look at the reasons:

Norman Bates is one of the most realistic, sympathetic movie killers of all time. Not some indestructible ghoul, Anthony Perkins twitchy, half-smiling weirdo has you squirming in your seat the one minute and actually feeling sorry for him the next (particularly in part II).

The first movie is one of the greatest of all time - of any genre.

As I discussed in my Amazon review, the sequel actually manages to be better than the book, which as we all know is a rare feat indeed.

Psycho IV was a TV movie, which is usually a sign that it should be burned at the stake. But it was actually a decent, intelligent story that made attempt to explain the characters of Norman and Norma in some depth.


So there you go. The Curmudgeon's greatest horror franchise is Psycho, the only dud in its series being the redundant remake and the (non-canon) TV show.

Anyone care to voice their own?

[InvisibleWolfMan]

I'd have to vote for the PHANTASM series. My first introduction to it was watching the sequel PHANTASM II on tv once in the early 90's, and although I didn't get it at the time I sure enjoyed those silver killer spheres. I really got into them only earlier this year when I managed to score the Limited Edition sphere set from ABUK (thank you, DVD Swaps).

Even though the first is confusing, it plays out beautifully and just ends well. The second really builds on the comedy but manages a nice balance. The third wasn't as solid until it got to the end, which practically saved the rest of the movie (damn you, Macaulay Culkin) and the fourth was proof that a limited budget can only enhance the storyline. Which brings me to the main thing that makes me enjoy this series;

The storyline progresses and developes in a way that enhances the films as "seperate but equal" parts of a whole, something rare in the case of sequels.

[The Curmudgeon]

Hey, glad you said that. I've never seen the other movies, but I too got that boxset sphere thing (also from DVD Swaps too, spookily enough) so to hear they rank as your favourite franchise.. well.. all good in, er, the hood.

Sorry about that last part.

[trashcanman]

Good call on the "Psycho" series. There is no reason that a sequel to that untouchable work of genius by a legendary director wouldn't suck. Yet, there are not 1, but 3 sequels and they are all at least watchable if not great, fun films. I'm embarrassed as a maniacal horror fan to say I've never seen a single "Phantasm" film, but I'll make it a point to change that fact soon. Personally, I would have chosen the "Evil Dead" films for my pick, but that series is still one film shy of qualifying so I'm going for Romero's "Dead" quadrilogy (Night, Dawn, Day, and Land) on this one. I love how each film advances to a different stage of the zombie apocalypse and the way they all focus not on the living dead themselves, but on humanity's pathetic inability to put up a decent defense against this mindless, flesh-eating rabble of reanimated corpses due to our own greed, arrogance, and personal prejudices against each other. It's a dark and cynical view of humanity, but given a choice between that and insulting garbage like "Indepedence Day", which do you think is a more realistic depiction of human nature? George always calls it like he sees it and gives us the most bang for our buck gore-wise along the way. I am still awestruck by the effects in "Day of the Dead" and the brutality of the deaths in that movie. "CHOKE ON 'EM!!!!" Just awesome. "Night" and "Dawn" speak for themselves and I loved "Land of the Dead" in spite of all the naysayers. Big Daddy was a little over the top (no Bub, that one), but the appearance of Tom Savini's character from "Dawn" (still clutching his machete, no less!) made up for that. It truly amazes me that Romero has had so much trouble getting financing for these films that have all become classics; especially considering the big budgets given to the remakes of those films. I guess that's the price for making the movies he wants to make instead of the crap Hollywood wants him to make.

[The Curmudgeon]

Hey, I had never seen Phantasm either until about two weeks ago. The Curmudgeon calls it first - what are the odds of Phantasm being the next horror movie remake?

I hadn't even thought of the Romero movies. I've bought Land of The Dead and still not watched it (I know, I know) but I think its because I loved the first three that I'm kinda wary on giving this new one a go. But I will. One day.

[Skymac2]

First of all, Scream does indeed have 3 entries (sadly). So any bulb that names that as their favorite may not be that dim...his standards would just be a bit low.

The thing about Horror franchises is usually at least one in the franchise sucks and takes all of the "favorite" right out of the franchise.

Using your examples, Nightmare on Elm Street 1 was great. 2 was atrocious. 3 was good and the rest weren't that memorable. Same thing with Friday the 13th. Friday has a lot of awful sequels.

So by favorite do we mean the scariest? And by Horror do we mean that only slasher/murderer/Earthbound creatures need apply?

I'd have to go with the Alien franchise if Earthbound isn't a required criteria. The Alien movies--even Alien versus Predator--are consistently good, action packed fun (Alien 3 being at the bottom of the favorite-one-in-the-franchise-barrel).

If Earthbound is a criteria, and since someone else already mentioned the Night of the Living Dead Franchise, I once again borderline on whether or my pick is exactly what we're looking for here. For the same action-packed-fun reason I picked the Alien franchise, I pick the Blade Trilogy. Hey, if From Dusk Til Dawn (that's a good one too!) is Horror (vampires) why not Blade?

Look, I'm trying here. While I feel like I'm cheating with Alien and Blade, finding a franchise that hasn't been completely ruined to the point of can't-be-my-favorite-anymore is too taxing on my simple mind.

So thanks for letting me on your site. I found you after I searched who else wrote 1-star reviews of Brick besides me on Amazon.

Regards,
Sky

[The Curmudgeon]

Hey Sky

Welcome to The Fortress (oooh, you wrote a 1 star review for Brick too? Welcome even more!)

Yeah, I know Scream has 3 parts. I actually OWN that trilogy (ugh!). I actually said the franchise had to be MORE than 3 parts just SO "some dimbulb" couldn't nominate Scream ('cos that only has three, see?) So I'm afraid Blade is out as well, then. Although that did have a doomed TV show so.. who knows? Not really horror though, is it? Comic book movies, yes (and all good ones, too. The third wasn't half as bad as I had been imagining).

Again, though - congratulations. You've now become part of the Best Kept Secret on the net.

[trashcanman]

I thought about the Alien films too, but I just can't get the bad taste of "Alien: Resurrection" out of my mouth. Great, fun film for about an hour, then we get the alien/Ripley sex scene (icky!) and that retarded half-human alien with the widdle puppy-dog eyes (is that supposed to make it sympathetic?) that is somehow born bigger and stronger than the alien queen that birthed it. The gaps in the film's logic are large and plentiful so I'll stop there, but the rest of the series I loved... even "Alien 3"; and "AVP" was better than I expected it to be. But here's a question I've been pondering. What is the worst horror franchise? My vote goes to the "Howling" films. The first is an all-time favorite of mine, but every last one of the sequels is an unwatchable, laughable piece of rancid crap. In hindsight, I don't even know why I sat through them; I guess I'm just a sucker for werewolf films. The one with all the country music performances ("New Moon Rising", I think): OH MY GOD, KILL ME NOW! And the one that has the girl with the kangaroo pouch ("The Marsupials") made me ill. Maybe the worst of the bunch is "The Original Nightmare" which attempts to completely retell the original's story but with terrible special effects, no memorable characters, and more complete nonsense that I won't even get into as I've repressed many of those memories. Anyone else wanna pick up some rocks and start chucking?

[InvisibleWolfMan]

trashcanman,

Just point me towards the nearest rock quary...by the way, can we use the old time catapults from the middle ages?

skymac2,

Welcome! And I feel stupid for asking, but what is BRICK? Judging by your and The Curmudgeon's comments, it's a "scum movie."

[The Curmudgeon]

Oh man - The Howling movies. Hoo-wee. I actually remember quite liking Howling VI:The Freaks (or something) but it was one of those "on at 2am movies" that you just happen to catch. I remember laughing my ass off at it though, not least for the fact that during the "scary" chase scene the camera man was visible in the shadows the entire time. At one point I thought I had fallen asleep and was watching "attack of the killer cameraman" by mistake. Now THERE's an idea for a movie.

Its only when you sit and think about it you realise just HOW many horror franchises there are, from the obvious to the "oh yeahhh's.." (House, anyone? Amityville? Return Of The Living Dead? Leprechaun?) and almost all of them are complete garbage.

I don't think I would class Alien in the horror franchise category. I mean, Alien - fair enough. But Aliens was a total action movie through and through, and Alien Resurrection (which, I have to admit, stupid chewey white chocolate alien notwithstanding I quite liked) was pretty much a comic book style movie, and, well, AvP WAS a comic book movie.

As for Brick, Wolfman - no, it's not a "scum" movie at all. It's worse - it's a "smart-ass" movie. I guess it can be classed in a "love it/hate it" category but, well - teenage kids in today's enviroment talking and acting like Humphrey Bogart for, well, no reason at all. Worth a watch, I suppose, but ignore all the zealots and their "best masterpiece of the millenium" schtick.

[Skymac2]

Curmudgeon, thanks for the welcome. Nice place you've got here. Thanks for having me. You said 4 or more to qualify...more than 3. I'm such a dimbulb.

So if it’s 4 or more and the Alien franchise is too sci-fi to qualify for Horror because we're not on earth, then I declare that all Horror franchises with 4 or more films have been completely ruined by 4 to be able to call one a "favorite" anymore. Even Romero lost his touch with Living Dead franchise (hate to ruin it for you, Curmy) with Land of the Dead.

Mathematically there could be a way to a favorite franchise, although I find myself once again on the border of Cheatville. If you take 16 half hour episodes of HBO's Tales From The Crypt (5 seasons now on DVD for your viewing pleasure), that equals the same time it would take to watch 4 full-length feature films. So, anyone who tells me that he is determined to watch a Horror franchise that runs at least 8 hours would be pointed in the direction of the Tales From The Crypt DVD set to get more than his fill.

Trashcanman, worst Horror franchise? How about those doofy Leprechaun movies...are there 4 of those?

IWolf, thanks for the welcome. Hello to you too. I'm not sure that Brick is a "scum movie", but is a dumb movie for sure. Check it out at Amazon and see my synopsis there.

[The Curmudgeon]

I bought the first season of Tales From The Crypt a couple of months ago (part of The Mission as well, you see) and it is is just ten kinds of awesome.

The second (?) story, about the escaped mental patient dressed up as Santa, was head and shoulders above any horror movie of the last ten years. Just classic television - I can't wait for the next season.

Speaking of, er, classics - there are now, believe it or not, SIX Leprechaun movies.

Who the HELL still watches them??

[Skymac2]

This was fun. Okay, how about we close (or not) this post with the revelation of what the two BEST Horror movies of the past 12 months are/were? This way readers leave with something current that they can scare themselves stiff with. My picks are hidden in my recent Amazon reviews. In case no one cares to read my Amazon reviews, fear not, AHL BE BOCK!

[The Curmudgeon]

No man, we don't close threads! Hell, 12 posts is pretty impressive for this site - I say keep it going as much as possible!

To be honest, I'm kinda struggling to think of ANY horror movies over the year that I would go on record saying I thought were great. I mean, there's been some decent ones, but nothing that rocked my world.

[InvisibleWolfMan]

*ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ* Huh? Wha....? Horror movies? Good ones? This year? That would have to be...no...how abo...no. What abou.....no. Perhaps I could say th...*ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ*