Horror franchises are massive enterprise, with the likes of Mike Meyers, Artwork the Clown, and Chucky among the many few whose iconic standing has gone far past the numerous movies they function in. On the identical time, there are lesser-known however nonetheless beloved franchises which have a cult following, reminiscent of Illusion, The Omen, The Howling, and Mistaken Flip. The franchise presents a system for creatives to construct up their identify, attaching it to one thing iconic, however past the preferred and modestly common sequence, many fall beneath the radar solely.
These 10 franchises, for numerous causes, have both gone forgotten or stay undiscovered by the horror fandom. Nonetheless, every one has one thing to supply, even whether it is only a stable basis set with a primary movie, solely to lose fan curiosity with every entry.
‘Xtro’ (1983)
The unique Xtro spawned two sequels, Xtro II: The Second Encounter (1990) and Xtro 3: Watch the Skies (1995). The three are loosely related via a malicious alien pressure. The primary movie stays the quintessential one to look at, a British sci-fi horror manufacturing with a really surreal method to horror. On this entry, the movie follows a father who returns after an abduction, and the experiences his son has, together with growing telekinesis, which he makes use of to terrorize others.
A Sturdy Begin to a Fizzle
Harry Bromley Davenport directed all three movies, however regardless of this, all of them exist as stand-alone experiences, and the franchise, arguably, has diminishing returns, with the ultimate one being a barely satisfactory B-film that’s most notable for having Tom Hanks’ brother, Jim Hanks, in a big position. The primary movie is without doubt one of the biggest sci-fi horror films of the ’80s, however additionally it is under-championed as such on account of its surreal method to the style, making it extra area of interest. The sequels, not residing as much as the others, additional pushed the franchise into obscurity.
‘Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi’ (2012)
Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi is a Japanese discovered footage sequence directed by Koji Shirashi, the director behind one of the vital extremely regarded movies within the style, Nori: The Curse. Every entry within the sequence focuses on a special city legend or ghost story from Japan, introduced as a documentary crew investigating an ‘precise’ encounter. There are technically six entries, beginning with 2012’s File 01: Operation Seize the Slit-Mouthed Girl. Nonetheless, when you embody the spin-offs, the quantity will increase, with the final one carrying the same title and format, being 2023’s Senritsu Kaiki World Kowasugi!.
Digging into the Underbelly of Japanese City Legends
The films are cheaply made and discover the monsters and ghosts of Japan, which already makes it a distinct segment franchise. But, it’s the truth that the movies themselves should not out there on streaming that pushes them into obscurity. As an alternative, the one option to watch Senritsu Kaiki File Kowasugi is on YouTube. The franchise has a cult following, and for these not focused on Japanese tradition, the movies are nonetheless masterfully crafted discovered footage horror; you possibly can watch them so as or pick ones that appear attention-grabbing.
‘Tombs of the Blind Lifeless’ (1972)
Tombs of the Blind Lifeless kicked off what is called the “Blind Lifeless” sequence of movies, which would come with Return of the Blind Lifeless (1973), The Ghost Galleon (1974), and Night time of the Seagulls (1975). There was then an try to revitalize the franchise with Curse of the Blind Lifeless in 2020, however the movie wouldn’t attain the identical infamy as the unique. Every movie follows the resurrected “Knights Templar,” who, whereas they’re primarily zombies, seem as blind, skeletal revenants who work collectively to hunt their victims.
An Ignored Atmospheric Franchise from Spain
Throughout the zombie style, Tombs of the Blind Lifeless lacks the sensationalism and extra gore that outlined most of the cult classics within the style. As an alternative, the Spanish sequence of movies is extra a couple of gothic ambiance and a gradual, menacing horror within the gloriously crafted Knights Templar. This method earned the film a devoted fan base, however it didn’t attain the extent of recognition as notable as Zombi, The Dwelling Lifeless, or Evil Lifeless. Those that admire atmospheric horror, significantly from the ’70s, will discover each entry within the unique sequence value watching.
‘Killjoy’ (2000)
That includes a twisted killer clown, Killjoy‘s first entry spun off right into a fairly expansive franchise, together with Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil (2002), Killjoy 3 (2010), Killjoy Goes to Hell (2012), Killjoy’s Psycho Circus (2016), and Bunker of Blood 07: Killjoy’s Carnage Caravan (2019). All through the sequence, the demonic clown, summoned to assist in revenge, will get extra foolish, introducing facet characters as a part of his posse and leaning extra closely on the humor of it. Killjoy comes from Full Moon Footage, which might have had any variety of franchises listed right here, as past sequence like Puppet Grasp, they proceed to cater to an viewers craving their type of B-movies.
In A World of Killer Clowns, it’s Onerous to Stand Out
Killjoy‘s restricted infamy, past being a part of Full Moon Productions’ line-up, arguably stems from a fairly tough begin. The demonic clown is at his greatest when being as foolish as potential, with the semi-serious tone of the primary movie making for a fairly full-on outing in a world saturated with twisted killer clown movies. It may be a giant ask to make audiences sit via satisfactory origin movies to get to the goofy chaos of the latter, however it’s a journey value taking. Normally, Full Moon Footage produces a variety of enjoyable horror franchises that deserve extra fanfare.
‘Tomie’ (1998)
Lengthy earlier than mangaka Junji Ito gained recognition within the West, certainly one of his most notable characters, Tomie, was already being developed into a movie franchise. There are 9 movies in whole, with further entries when you embody photographs and TV specials. The sequence began with 1998’s Tomie and was adopted by Tomie: One other Face (1999), Tomie: Replay (2000), Tomie: Re-birth (2001), Tomie: Forbidden Fruit (2002), Tomie: Everlasting (2005), Tomie: Revenge (2005), Tomie: Limitless (2011), and Tomie: Last (2011).
Magnificence Is Solely Pores and skin Deep
Every movie follows the titular Tomie, with every entry providing a special angle on the character or trying to deepen the encompassing lore. Basically, Tomie is a lady whose existence causes these round her to grow to be obsessed and kill her; although she at all times revives, typically inflicting her ‘victims’ to go mad within the course of. Regardless of its considerably repetitive nature spanning over so many movies, every entry has some stable moments of psychological terror, and the ultimate film presents a shift to a extra over-the-top tackle the character.
‘The Legend of Boggy Creek’ (1972)
1972’s The Legend of Boggy Creek spawned a number of sequels, together with Return to Boggy Creek (1977), Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues (1985), and Boggy Creek (2010). The movies started to deviate stylistically, with the primary garnering infamy for its distinctive method to bringing native folklore to life, using a semi-documentary type. The monster in query, a Bigfoot-like creature from Alabama often known as the Fouke Monster, is the connecting factor of every movie; Charles B. Pierce directed the primary two movies, however all exist as stand-alone experiences.
Footwear That Had been Too Large To Fill
The preliminary The Legend of Boggy Creek took a novel method to Bigfoot horror that garnered it sufficient of a cult following to make it a notable franchise. Every subsequent entry misplaced the allure of the primary, and the franchise as a complete is just not essentially held in excessive regard; there isn’t any one championing the franchise as a complete. Nonetheless, the primary movie is a stable entry, particularly for many who like Bigfoot movies that method the topic with authenticity.
‘Issues’ (1989)
Presumably probably the most unlikely and strangest horror franchise in existence, Issues started with the 1989 shot-on-video Canadian stinker, arguably a contender for the worst film ever made in each conceivable facet. The film would acquire infamy for being horrible, it might get a direct sequel virtually a decade later in Issues II (1998), adopted by a number of movies that took full inventive freedom: Issues 3: Previous Issues (1998), Issues 4 (2017), Issues 5 (2019), and Issues 666 (2021). The primary two movies, which targeted on weird alien creatures touchdown on Earth, would swap to an anthology format of sci-fi horror movies.
An Unlikely Franchise From Failure
Wish to kill a franchise within the fashionable period utterly? Identify it one thing innocuous, like “issues,” guaranteeing the franchise is sort of unsearchable. Issues is for followers of so-bad-it’s-good movies, and even then, every entry is testing in its personal proper, whether or not it’s the complicated anthology format of the third entry, or the thinly disguised fetish piece of the fifth. The primary movie is certainly value watching, as it’s each bafflingly unhealthy and entertaining. From there, only some will proceed with the opposite entries within the franchise, in the event that they even notice that there are any.
‘Shake, Rattle and Roll’ (1984)
What began as a profitable anthology horror movie would grow to be one of many longest-running franchises of all time. At present, there are 16 movies within the franchise, with a brand new entry slated for the tip of 2025. Every entry is numbered as much as 15, with the newest and soon-to-be-released one titled Shake, Rattle & Roll Excessive and Shake, Rattle & Roll Evil Origins. The sequence explores folklore and concrete legends, typically with an ethical twist to its macabre tales. Whereas not all the films are held in equal regard, the sequence has grow to be an annual custom of kinds, just like the V/H/S franchise on Shudder.
A Area-Locked Horror Anthology Franchise
So what makes this long-running franchise obscure? Honestly, right here you’re looking at the worldwide recognition of Filipino movies being much less pronounced than the West’s recognition of different international locations’ cinematic output, regardless of the wealthy historical past and ample expertise. Whereas there’s some inconsistency among the many entries, those that love anthology horror ought to take an opportunity with the long-standing, common franchise; there are many darkish gems to uncover that may introduce one to the broader world of Filipino cinema.
‘Watchers’ (1988)
Based mostly on the work of Dean Koontz, the movie a couple of genetically enhanced canine, Einstein, with excessive intelligence, combating off a monster with the assistance of an outsider, managed to realize sufficient notoriety to start out a franchise. The primary movie, Watchers (1988), was adopted by Watchers II (1990), Watchers 3 (1994), and an try to reboot the franchise in Watchers Reborn (1998).
A Doggone Lovable Horror Franchise
The preliminary movie, carrying identify worth with Koontz as creator and Corey Haim starring, was backed by an ample finances to flee the B-label. Every film could be made cheaper, and take away itself farther from the supply materials. Watchers Reborn noticed a second try, backed by a much bigger finances and making an attempt to remain true to the supply, however by then, the curiosity within the Franchise was non-existent.
Wanting again on Watchers, it appears that evidently even the primary film, as satisfactory because it was, shouldn’t have been sufficient to warrant the next sequels. But, the sequence has an plain allure in having a canine on the forefront and heart of the combat in opposition to an otherworldly pressure, and the casting of a lead actor all through every movie is pure B-movie perfection: Corey Haim, Marc Singer, Wings Hauser, and Mark Hamill. The franchise is each enjoyable and flawed, deserving to be forgotten within the annals of time, but additionally value visiting a long time later.
‘Pumpkinhead’ (1989)
The primary entry within the Pumpkinhead franchise, launched in 1989, garnered a following thanks, primarily, to its spectacular creature design. The film could also be an outlier alternative on numerous better of the ’80s lists, however it’s by no means an assured choose when discussing the period. Regardless of Pumpkinhead carrying some notoriety and identify worth amongst others on this checklist, the franchise itself is just not as revered; it was adopted by Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1994), Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes (2006), and Pumpkinhead: Blood Feud (2007).
From One of many Greatest Creature Designs of the ’80s to Obscurity
The sequel, bereft of the identical emotional storytelling of the primary, is, at greatest, satisfactory. Adopted by an absence of over a decade to return as a SyFy channel unique film, additional damage the franchise’s endurance. Whereas the franchise might be revived primarily based on Stan Winston’s creature design alone, for now, all of the notoriety is hooked up to the primary movie, and rightfully so. Many who beloved the darkish ethical story of revenge within the first Pumpkinhead will possible overlook that there have been sequels, in the event that they had been even conscious of them.
Pumpkinhead
- Launch Date
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October 14, 1988
- Runtime
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86 Minutes
- Director
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Stan Winston