PopHorror Let's Get Scared
For decades, horror films have been getting or are soon getting the TV treatment, from Buffy The Vampire Slayer to Bates Motel. Adapting horror movies into TV shows is a great idea because horror fans want to see their favorite characters more and they want the terrifying stories to continue. These are a few films that I think could be successful as TV series.
Curse Of Chucky
(Synopsis provided by IMDb.com): After the passing of her mother, a young woman, Nica (Fiona Dourif) is forced to deal with her family as they say their goodbyes to mother. When people start dying, Nica discovers the culprit might be a strange doll she received a few days earlier.
Possible ideas: The last sequel of the Child’s Play franchise left a premise for a tv series that could actually work. The series could consist of Tiffany sending Chucky to a new family each episode. Curse Of Chucky could introduce new characters, as well as bring back a few familiar faces. I can definitely see Brad Dourif and Jennifer Tilly reprising their roles. We could get more backstory on Chucky and Tiffany’s relationship. We could also have Alex Vincent and Chris Sarandon reprise their roles as Andy and Mike from the original Child’s Play film as they try and track down the killer couple.
Why it could work: Chucky is one of the biggest horror icons in history. The franchise has gone from terrifying to comedic and back to scary. A TV series could mix both in a nostalgic thrill-ride!
Saw
(Synopsis provided by IMDb.com): Two strangers wake up in a room with no recollection of how they got there or why. They soon discover they are pawns in a deadly game perpetrated by a notorious serial killer.
Possible ideas: Saw is also known as the series that just wouldn’t die. All I know is that I want more traps, more comeuppance, and more Jigsaw! The possible premise for the Saw tv show could be more of a spin-off. A man bullied his whole life starts to become obsessed with John Kramer and his accomplices. The man learns everything about John and his philosophy, teaches himself how to create traps, and tries to continue John’s legacy.
Why it could work: Saw has many films in the franchise. All of the films were woven together beautifully. Whatever questions you had in one sequel would get answered in the next. The writers of this franchise did a fantastic job with the story, I think if they wrote a series and continued the Saw legacy people would love it!
Creepshow
(Synopsis provided by IMDb.com): An anthology horror film which tells five terrifying tales based on the E.C. Horror comic books of the 1950s.
Possible ideas: We need another good anthology horror series! The reason I picked Creepshow is because it is a beloved franchise. Plus, with Stephen King writing the episodes and George Romero possibly directing, this dream team could bring us some new horror stories that fans in the 80’s adored! Billy, from the first two films, could be grown up and telling these stories each episode, like a modern day Crypt Keeper.
Why it could work: Anthology TV shows have always been successful. I believe they are successful because they bring something new to the table every time! With the brilliance of Stephen King and George Romero, Creepshow would be a modern storytelling masterpiece!
Hard Candy
(Synopsis provided by IMDb.com): A teenage girl, Haley (Ellen Page) raids a man’s house in order to expose that he’s a sex offender with pedophilia.
Possible ideas: I know technically Hard Candy isn’t a horror film, but the mental and physical torture that vigilante justice brings can be plenty horrific. The series can follow Haley as she travels to different places and tracks down pedophiles. Yes, it’s vague, but vague ideas lead to so many possibilities.
Why it could work: Hard Candy could be a great mix of mystery, thriller, and horror. It could be a good TV series with a bold message.
The Cabin In The Woods
(Synopsis provided by IMDb.com): Five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods, where they get more than they bargained for. Together, they must discover the truth behind the cabin in the woods.
Possible ideas: Since a sequel is definitely out of the question, this show would be more successful as a prequel series. The series could start with how the sacrifices to the ancient ones started. The Cabin In The Woods could have a Supernatural kind of feel, where each episode has a different beast being captured and used for the sacrifice. It wouldn’t be the first time Joss Whedon created a successful TV adaptation of a film. He brought us the Buffy The Vampire Slayer TV series, I think he should give The Cabin In The Woods the TV treatment.
Why it could work: The Cabin In The Woods was something so fresh and so original. It reminded us of the classic horror films we loved and left us wanting more!
Of course, I know these TV shows will never exist. Yet, as long as there’s television, there will always be horror fans who never want their favorite stories to end!
