The entire theatre is quiet as the suspense builds on-screen, before ‘BOOM!’ The screen flashes as a jump scare plays, and the theatre screams in unison. This is the effect Saw X, Scream VI, and Friday the 13th: The Awakening, all new horror movies that are built on long-running franchises, are hoping to achieve. However, many fans are worried. With so many sequels, the series may be continued not for passion, but for profit. These franchises heavily influenced the genres they reside in and are still well-known to this day due to the frequent sequels.
Many fans enjoy sequels when they are done right. A faithful continuation of a series can bring new people into the fanbase, while also pleasing long-time enthusiasts. TCC (Tarrant County College) Professor Erin Melyssa Boggs wants her favorite series to continue receiving sequels, as long as they adhere to the standard set by the original movie.
“Bring on all of the sequels, but they need to be true to the original. Don’t pretend to be a sequel. Come up with new movies or actual new ideas or make a sequel that has the essence of the original film,” said Boggs.
However, a danger that comes with extending a story is the plot contradicting earlier installments. Deciding what is canon to a series can fall upon fans. Boggs often determines what is important to a franchise’s plot for herself.
“The sequel stands on its own. One of the things that Stephen King says is that a movie can’t ruin the book, because the book is still there on the shelf. The same goes for sequels for a movie; the original movie is still there,” said Boggs. “You can take the sequels and count them as canon or throw them out depending on your choice.”
The horror genre is infamous for making sequels, with many franchises having 10 or more entries. Senior Dawn Reaume wishes for more original movies, in spite of this.
“The horror brand is making sequels, but I do hope for some originals. At the end of the day, for movie makers, their sole goal isn’t creativity, it’s wealth. While they might have a spark of creative interest, they may not be fully impressed with it,” said Reaume.
Fans of certain horror franchises have voiced their concerns about their favorite series being exploited for profit. Freshman Abby Milligan thinks cash-grab sequels are a prevalent issue in the horror genre.
“I think [companies] do it a lot, especially with Halloween and Friday the 13th. I think they’re really trying to get as much as they can out of it, but sometimes it’s time to let it be,” said Milligan. “You can do spin-offs of [the series] and create a new storyline, but recreating the same concept and just being repetitive can get frustrating.”
For many fans, having a satisfactory ending can make or break a series. Senior Matt Godbold wants companies to let completed plots rest.
“I think one of the most important parts about creating content or writing stories is knowing when to end it because if you drag it out for too long, it’s going to ruin the rest of the experience,” said Godbold.
Many companies are also starting to produce merchandise for their movies, with shirts, figurines, and plushies being the most popular items. Sophomore Joyce Gardner is a big horror movie fan and an even bigger merchandise collector.
“I like the merch. Everything about it is for the people who like horror movies. I know I want a Saw doll, and I’m going to get one. I got all the Saw shirts, all of the Scream shirts, and a Scream phone case,” said Gardner.
With the continuous stream of sequels coming from popular franchises, original horror movies may be forgotten by companies as profitable sequels take top priority. Many fans worry about the direction that the horror brand is taking, with some wishing for quality sequels, while others want completely original stories.
