8 Horror Films That Get Too Much Hate

The one thing that remains true about horror fans is that we’re incredibly passionate about the genre. We come to the defense of our favorite horror media, we anticipate new releases, and the list goes on. But what about the films that don’t get nearly any appreciation or are outright hated? There are plenty of hated horror films that not even I would defend, for one reason or another. Yet there are some that receive way too much hate at the time of their release or for years afterwards.

Sometimes remakes of older horror films are immediately disliked, an original horror film doesn’t quite live up to expectations, a sequel in a horror franchise becomes an unwelcome addition etc. Compiling a list of horror films that get hated on is quite the feat if I’m being honest. There might be some folks shaking their fists because of the inclusion of certain films. Either way, I’m prepared for the virtual tomatoes or the quiet disagreement.

The following are some horror films that generally get too much hate and don’t necessarily deserve the levels in which they do. Are they perfect or without flaws? No. Regardless, they’re on the list and they may or may not surprise you! 

Seed of Chucky

The Child’s Play (or Chucky, if you prefer) franchise has been around since 1988 and is the most popular killer doll franchise. The horror world wouldn’t be the same without Chucky (voiced by Brad Douriff) or the other notable characters that exist within the universe. But one of the odd films out, aside from Child’s Play 3 or the 2019 remake, is Seed of Chucky. The film focuses on Tiffany (voiced by Jennifer Tilly) and Chucky’s journey into parenthood and what it means to struggle with your child’s gender identity.

Seed of Chucky is a comedy slasher that leans all the way into the comedic aspects that the franchise was experimenting with since Bride of Chucky. It’s widely disliked because of that and the inclusion of Glen/Glenda (voiced by Billy Boyd), who happens to be genderfluid. While the film might have its problems, I think it was bold of Don Mancini to introduce a genderfluid character into his already queer franchise. It has its charm and place in the franchise, and most likely homophobia played into the initial disdain people had with the film. Personally, it’s a fun watch and I don’t shun its existence in the franchise. 

House of Wax (2005)

There’s something to be said about early 2000s horror and how there are a few gems that came out during that time. House of Wax is absolutely one of them and while I’ve yet to watch the original, this remake of the 1953 film is certainly not the worst out there. House of Wax follows a group of friends who find themselves fighting for their lives in an abandoned wax museum. The film is infamously known for its “See Paris Die” and how people went to see it for that purpose. But it doesn’t deserve weird hate because of Paris Hilton, who isn’t even that bad in the film and has a solid chase scene.

It’s a horror remake to throw on when you want weirdness, memorable kills, practical effects, and a disturbing atmosphere. While it might not be better than the top tier horror remakes, it does exactly what it needs to. I’m never bored when I watch it, and if you’re looking for an atmospheric horror with good kills and a mean spiritedness, you’ll enjoy House of Wax.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

As far as 2000s horror goes, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning is one of the most gruesome. The film is set years before the events of the 2003 remake and follows two brothers and their girlfriends, whose trip to enlist in the Vietnam War is derailed by Leatherface and his family. And it ends about as well as one might expect. 

Its status as a prequel to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) is often why it’s considered unsuccessful, as it’s obvious everyone dies. But I have a gooey soft spot for the film, and it’s not remotely the worst in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise. The gore is wild, the film is unsettling, Leatherface is very menacing, and the performances are solid from most of the cast. If you want relentless violence and terror, this prequel will be a decent meal. 

Halloween (2007) + Halloween II (2009)

Rob Zombie’s Halloween remake and sequel get silly amounts of hate, especially when they’re not nearly as bad as people make them out to be. Halloween follows Michael’s childhood and then his adult years as he goes on a killing spree. Halloween II follows Laurie (Scout Taylor-Compton) and the aftermath of what she endured and the return of Michael. Both films are very much in the style of Zombie with a lot of cussing, weird aesthetics, and brutal kills. 

Remaking Halloween was always going to garner an intense response from horror fans. But ultimately Rob Zombie’s take on Halloween isn’t horrible. Halloween (2007) gives you something different in the first half and familiarity in the latter half. Halloween II (2009) captures a particular aesthetic, and the director’s cut is better than the theatrical. I’m not a hater of either film, and I think they both have something to offer.

Friday the 13th (2009)

The nostalgia and love that many horror fans have for the Friday the 13th franchise is profound. Therefore, a late 2000s reboot was never going to be received by people. Friday the 13th (2009) follows a man looking for his missing sister and a group of friends who go to a cabin and are hunted by Jason (Derek Mears). It’s a blend of the first 4 Friday the 13th films and can easily be considered a love letter to them.

Contrary to what those who dislike the reboot think, Friday the 13th is just as schlocky as previous entries in the franchise. It doesn’t tarnish the legacy of the original or make a mockery of what came before. The reboot is a fun and bloody slasher with silly characters, random sex scenes, hot people, and at least one who deserves their fate. I’ve never disliked this entry and am always down to defend its existence because I find it’s effective. Also, Jason is terrifying as can be in this one, and who doesn’t love that? 

Blair Witch (2016)

Continuing the story of The Blair Witch Project sounds like a disaster, but in hindsight it’s not as bad as it sounds. Blair Witch follows the brother of Heather (Heather Donahue) and his friends, who foolishly venture to the same woods she went missing. Yes, it’s a direct sequel to the original film and is therefore a continuation of the lore.

Blair Witch is very modern and considering all the found footage that came out during the 2010s, it didn’t do anything revolutionary. However, it gets a lot of hate for several reasons, including how it wasn’t marketed like The Blair Witch Project. But it was never meant to be a carbon copy, and I think it’s a better watch if you don’t compare it too much to the original film. It’s a simple sequel that doesn’t take away from the impact The Blair Witch Project had on the found footage subgenre. 

Halloween Ends 

David Gordon Green’s Halloween trilogy caused a lot of fandom outrage at the time the films were released. Some fans don’t mind the H40 timeline, meanwhile others throw virtual tomatoes whenever it’s mentioned. Halloween Ends follows Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) who meets Michael (James Jude Courtney) and it leads him to become a serial killer.  It’s the final film in the H40 trilogy, and it’s a very divisive entry in the franchise as a whole. 

The biggest grievance fans have with it is the lack of focus on Michael and the character exploration for Corey. While it does have its issues, I think the film is an interesting look into Michael’s effect on people. And it has some memorable kills, as well as a hurrah for Laurie and her granddaughter. Is it the best Halloween film? No, but it doesn’t need to be anything like that, and that’s okay.