It’s a sad thing when studios opt to beat a solid story into a thrice dead horse. However, any genre effort that churns respectable numbers at the box office (or on video) is practically fated to be followed by a string of mediocre sequels, and it’s all in the name of financial gain. Great stories of the macabre are few and far between, that’s an obvious fact. But really Hollywood, must all the standouts birth subpar follow ups for the sole purpose of further lining already bulky wallets?
Let’s take a look at five of the worst franchises in the history of the genre. Take note that just about every ngle one of these series’ began with a respected effort before greed sent the creative minds scattering to avoid being attached to doomed sequels.
5. Troll: Troll surfaced back in 1986, and while it certainly wasn’t a fantastic film, the approach can be likened to the Lord of the Rings stories, and as outlandish as it sounds, there was a hint of charm in the film. I wouldn’t personally call it a fantastic film, but in direct comparison to its follow ups, it was the franchise peak, by head and shoulders. Hell, the second film in the series didn’t even showcase trolls, and the third picture not only skirts the trolls themselves, but opts to cast mutated tree roots as the focal “villain”. There are only three words to sum up this miserable series: complete, utter trash.
http://youtu.be/v7rg8C8w5ZY
4. Lost Boys: Few franchises launch with near perfection, but Joel Schumacher managed to craft what is widely recognized as the greatest vampire film of the 1980’s. Lost Boys boasted a rare combination of stellar storytelling, excellent performances and unrivaled atmosphere; it was, in short, a flashy but brilliant picture. Then, along came Lost boys: The Tribe, one of the worst genre offerings to see release in the last four decades plus. There’s not a ngle redeeming quality in the picture (well, perhaps the Corey Haim deleted scenes), and it really comes across as a student film more so than a bona fide genre sequel. The third film in the franchise, The Thirst was a gnificantly stronger offering than The Tribe, but one must admit: it’s too little, too damn late.
http://youtu.be/iMRoxe7jMzU
3. Leprechaun: Truth be told, as much as I really do love the original Leprechaun film, every ngle series installment screams uninspired, soulless rubbish. I can’t fault Warwick Davis for cashing a few decent paychecks for his portrayal of the titular character, but I’d venture to say he’s probably not all that proud of a ngle one of these stinkers. When filmmakers start dropping their “baddie” in the middle of “The Hood” and space, it’s safe to assume the series has jumped the shark.
http://youtu.be/j5KtD_rmi6w
2. Children of the Corn: This is another franchise that’s become near imposble to stand behind. Fritz Kiersch’s series launch was a fair though flawed film; Peter Horton and Linda Hamilton are fine victims to the menacing children of this dismal rural town, but that’s just about where the fun dies. Countless sequels have emerged over the years (x, seven, eight… I can’t even keep track of these duds!), and not a ngle one stands as a respectful feature. I could piss and moan about this franchise until the latest children to pop up in Children of the Corn: Genes are senior citizens, but that sure would limit my article output, so I’ll let this tirade rest now, as they should have done with the franchise long ago.
http://youtu.be/hhpJllM0qwc
1. The Amityville Horror: Even as a fan of the original, I have no qualms admitting that the picture moves at a dreary pace, and lacks the scares that a film of this nature should have toted. That said, I did thoroughly enjoy both James Brolin and Margot Kidder’s work as the films two leads. The major problem is, not a ngle one of the countless sequels spawned by the original are even remotely near enjoyable. The franchise is cluttered with cheese, terrible cinematography, horrendous acting and ludicrous concepts. Of all the franchises listed in this article, this one is ealy the weakest of the bunch: beyond the original film, not a ngle series entry can lay claim to even resembling entertaining, not even the shitstorm of a remake Dimenon pumped out in 2005. I’m sorry, but Ryan Reynolds’ “sex appeal” was the last thing this franchise needed. Sadly, more Amityville flicks look to be in the works; the madness refuses to end.http://youtu.be/9fSqS0MrOZ0
Dishonorable mentions include: Hellraiser, Sleepaway Camp, Witchboard, I Know What You did Last Summer and Pumpkinhead.