10 Horror Franchises That Deserve Their Own Anthology Movie Spin-Offs – Screen Rant

Horror series like Alien and Evil Dead could certainly receive the anthology treatment when needing to revive or revitalize the franchises.

There comes a time when horror movies seem to be stuck in a constant cycle. Time again, the villains will rise from the grave, the helplessvictims will fight them off, and the survivor will triumph until the antagonist inevitably rises from the grave.It's an endless and monotonous cycle too many flicks follow.

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So what if there was a change? What if instead of the same story happening over and over, there was a different way to tell it? Instead of being a singular story, maybe a few horror franchises would benefit from an anthology spin-off.

Nobody wants to see Ash Willaims hang up the chainsaw. Bruce Campbell's iconic character is one of the best parts of thetwistedEvil Deadseries, considered to be one of the best B-Movies of all time, from his lines to his charm. Yet, beyond Ash, there's a larger world to be explored withinThe Evil Dead.

From events throughout time to new tales of survivors facing down deadites, there's a lot of possibilities for an anthology series to explore. Not to mention that with theEvil Dead's unique blend of comedy and horror, truth be told, it's a groovy idea.

Now, technically speaking, the iconic series Alien that made everyone afraid of space does have an anthology series of sorts. Back in 2019, there were a series of shorts released on Youtube that showed the classic movie monster, Xenomorphs,in new lights.

That being said, this was simply for a challenge. None of these were made into features or were greenlit for aseries. To see this kind of stories though, new looks on the classic monsters all over the galaxy is something the series would benefit from than another prequel likePrometheus.

In a way,Predator and most horror movies are their own kind of anthology. As most viewers know,Predator never focuses on the same characters other than the aliens in question. Yet, what if thePredator series focused on the past?

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Instead of each film progressing in a linear format, what if the series went backward? Predators have been around for decades and an anthology series around them popping up throughout history would be awesome, from taking on samurai in feudal Japan to hunting helpless explorers in the 14th century; all adding to the already fantastically brutal kills fromthePredator series.

As Hollywood has made it apparent, even if a series seems like it's over, there's always more to get out of it. Even thoughIt, a film that's a little similar toStranger Things,came to a close with a second chapter last year that killed the creepiest clown in existence, there's still more story to tell.

Before the Loser's Club insultedPennywise to death, the Clown, like the Predator, had been around for decades, emerging every 27 years. A series focusing on those early years, from early settlers to Great Depression-era would add to the horror of Pennywise.

Despite only having one film,World War Z can be seen as a franchise thanks to the game released a few years ago. The biggest problem with both the movie and game is that the series treatsWWZ like any other zombie film.

The book the media is based on doesn't follow a single character but dozens, in the form of a journalist. To see all these different kinds of perspectives and even interesting mashups of genres from horror to drama and others, would maybe the revival the series needs.

"Time to nut up or shut up." Those lines alone should be reason enough for aZombieland anthology. Beyond the two horror-comedies that have put a neatspin on the sub-genre, the fantastic series hasn't seen much life besides a failed TV pilot.

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So what better way to gain fans than to do an anthology? Even though spending time with Columbus and the rest of the gang is a treat, the second movie proved that there are more survivors out there and room for another gory romp throughZombielandfrom a new set of eyes.

On its own, the idea ofFright Night could get old really quick. After all, how many vampires are really going to live in a suburban household? No, the reason whyFright Night can work as an anthology is the concept it introducesin the 2010 remake.

Imagine a series where either every film or episode or season looks at a new kind of monster. It could be in the original format, from the monster's perspective, or something else altogether. After all, what's scarier than the monster living next door?

Like withFright Night, the idea of one person after another either living on the same haunted land or being haunted by the same ghosts in the classicPoltergeist would get old really fast. If that is, the same ghosts were being used.

Picture this: either each movie, season or episode follows a new kind of family or group of people, good or bad that encounter a different ghost or spooky encounter each time. It would add a sense of nuance and freshness to the overused idea.

They say that "silence is golden" and when it comes toA Quiet Place, one of the scariest movies ever made according to science, that's more than the truth. Even though the series only has two films (one that'swaiting to be released), the potential to explore the post-apocalyptic world is there.

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Whether it be looking at the early origins of the monsters ravaging the world or another group of survivors altogether, the world ofA Quiet Place can be larger. Like with most, an anthology-style series is a way to go in order to expand the already rich universe and one can only hope it's the route the upcoming spinoff goes.

Paul W.S Anderson'sResident Evil franchise, a series that much like the 2002 film makes no sense,does deserve an anthology series for the sole reason of leaning more intothe games. Everyone knows that the 2002 series diverted from the games in a major way, far more than most adaptations and not for the best, although it gave the protagonist Alice some great quotes.

Given an anthology type film or even series, theResident Evilseries could end up being stronger. There would be more of an option to focus on characters like Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, and Ada Wong and invoke the spirit of the games.

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Drew Atchison is a writer, reader, and avid movie goer based in Phoenix, Arizona. He's gone from being a line cook to a trading post employee to an actual zip line attendant and now a list writer for screen rant. Currently enrolled as a film production major at Azusa Pacific University.

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10 Horror Franchises That Deserve Their Own Anthology Movie Spin-Offs - Screen Rant