How it all Began

Today we are looking at the origins of the largest horror franchise, to be more precise, the film trailers that heralded the start of these series. I’m sure no one knew back then just how large these films were going to grow. But over time, the fan bases grew and the sequels piled up, and even today more films are being planned. Both Scream and Friday the 13th are following in the footsteps of Tremors and getting their own TV series. Whilst others have had or will be getting reboots. (Warning Spoilers)

Halloween (1978) – Ten Films

John Carpenter’s Halloween started in all off with happy tale about a chap name Michael Myers and his love of Halloween.

Michael annual antics took us through Ten films. One of which was a spin off and, two were semi remakes, and two more were a remakes, directed by Rob Zombie. Halloween H20 was a sequel to Halloween 2 and broke the series continuity.

Only one actor, George Wilbur, has ever played Micheal more than once, in films four and five.

Phantasm (1979) – Five Films

A young boy and his friends face off against a mysterious grave robber known only as the Tall Man, as the strive to find out what he is doing with all those dead bodies.

Angus Scrimm, who plays the villain known only as the Tall Man, has starred in all four films and the upcoming fifth instalment despite being at the ripe old age of 88.

Phantasm has Four current films and one coming out later on in 2015.

Friday the 13th (1980) – Twelve Films

Friday the 13th has probably one of the baddest villians in movie history. The mute hulk Jason Voorhees, haunts Camp Crystal Lake, the place he lived and died , looking to gain revenge against his mothers death, or something?!

Jason only stalked in Ten of the Twelve total films, with his mother and a copy cat killer responsible for the other two. 2003 saw Jason finally face off against Freddy Kruger and in 2009 we had a remake.

Kane Hodder has played Jason in four of the films, Parts 7, 8, 9 and 10.

The Evil Dead (1981) – Five Films

The Necronomicon Ex Mortis, or the book of the Dead, is the key to the Evil dead franchise. It’s ancient words releasing the Evil dead and putting the franchise in motion. Bruce Campbell’s loveable anti-hero Ash was a staple of the three films made until the 2013 remake/sequel , where he was sadly lacking. There was also a a 1978 short film called Within the woods, which Sam Raimi and Brice used to bank role the original. It’s basically the evil dead on budget.

In the second half of 2015, we be getting a TV series called Ash vs the Evil dead, in which Bruce Campbell will return.

Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) – Nine Films

The king of nightmares, Freddy Kruger, has been haunting our dreams since 1984. Robert Englund has played the role until Freddy faced off against Jason in 2003. In 2010 he handed the claws over to Jackie Earle Haley for the remake.

Technically speaking, in the 1994 film Wes Craven’s New Nightmare, it was actaully a demon that had taken form as Kruger.

Hellraiser (1987) – Nine Films

Pinhead and the Cenobite, were the dream children of horror king Clive Barker. Haunting the halls of damnation and sharing their pleasure with those that open the Lament Configuration Box.
Doug Bradley has played Pinhead for Eight films, with Stephan Smith Collins taking on the role for the cheap “rights retaining” sequel Revelations. Though Pinhead is central to the first four films, his participants in the other three was minimal, reducing Bradley to nothing more than a cameo.

Childs Play (1988) – Seven Film

Killer Doll, Chucky is your friend to the end. All he wants is your soul! Brad Dourif has voiced the crazed toy, for all six of the existing films, with one more currently in the pipe. Jennifer Tilly joined him in 1998 for Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky, with series returning to it’s roots with Curse of Chucky.

Puppet Master (1989) – Eleven Films

Andre Toulon’s killer puppets have had a crazy career with no less then eleven films under their collective belt, with twenty five characters appearing throughout. Blade, Pin Head and Jester are the only dolls to appear in all eleven films. In 2004 they went up against the evil dolls of the Demonic Toys films.

Tremors (1990) – Five Films

The forever changing subterranean worm-like creatures known as graboids have been around for five films and even had a thirteen episode Tv series. Michael Gross, who plays militarised Burt Gummer became the staple of the franchise starring in all five films and every episode of the TV series. There was also another spin off TV series that was developed as a concept but never saw the light of day.

Scream (1996) – Four Films

Whilst the Ghostface killers keep changing, one constant in the scream series is the iconic costume and mask that they wear.

Cast Members Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette have appeared in all four films.

A TV series will be airing in June, with a fresh new cast, however no word if any one from the films will be appearing.

Saw (2004) – Seven Films

The series that launched the age of the Torture Porn, Saw, has had a total of seven films, each one more gorier than the next.

Tobin Bell who plays the main villain, Jigsaw, has appeared in all Seven films, however, the character was only alive up until the third film. From the fourth onwards ,we see him in flash backs only, with other people taking on his murderous role.

Resident Evil (2002) – Six Films

Based on the video game of the same name, Writer / director Paul W. S. Anderson has spread the series over six films. With Five current films and one more that has just started shooting, Andersons zombie thriller has seen protagonist Alice, played by Milla Jovovich, kick ass through the entire series. The six film , set for 2016, will be the final chapter in the currents series, with ideas of a possible reboot set already being developed.

Paranormal Activity (2007) – Six Films

Possible the first film franchised famous for constant shoots of nothing happening, this spooky series has seen five films so far, with one more in production. The 2014 film The Marked Ones, was a spin off , taking place after the events of Paranormal Activity 4.