10 Horror Movie Flops That Everyone Saw Coming

Despite its entertainment value, the horror genre has frequently found itself bogged down by subpar fare. While any genre can be hit with an unwatchable flop at any moment, horror seems to attract films that never should’ve been made more than any other field. 

From cheap remakes to lazy sequels to utterly bizarre original efforts, there’s no shortage of stinkers to sniff out. Sometimes, trailers can look promising, with viewers taking an interest in what appears to be on offer. The final result, however, leaves those who paid for tickets kicking themselves for buying into the misleading hype.

There are other times, though, where it is plain as day long before release that a horror flick is not going to stick the landing. Negative stories from the set may leak out, or even the most gifted of trailer producers fails to make lemonade out of the lemons they’re handed. Redundant cash grabs offering little new to viewers are also easy future under-performers to spot. 

Whatever the reason, some horror films are clearly not going to set the box office on fire. Here are 10 critical duds that fit that deeply disappointing bill.

The original Wicker Man is a horror classic blending a variety of themes and genres together en route to a shockingly grim twist ending. The remake, however, is much better known for being accidentally hilarious. 

According to lead star Nicolas Cage, the humour was actually intentional due to he and the director accepting the silliness of the remake's script. That being said, even Tommy Wiseau has tried to pass off The Room as a comedy in the years since the public first started laughing uncontrollably at it... 

Like the original, this film follows a police officer investigating the disappearance of a little girl on an island dominated by neo-paganism. The cult in question is female-dominated here, with Christopher Lee's Lord Summerisle being replaced with Ellen Burstyn's Sister Summerisle for example. 

In the years since the film's release, two scenes from the unrated cut have entered full-on meme status due to their absurdity. In one scene, Cage's character discovers a burned doll, leaving plenty of room for the Academy Award winner's signature brand of bizarre over-acting. In another, he is tortured by the cult with bees, leading to Cage, once again, hamming it up to almost unthinkable levels. 

The film failed to make back its budget at the time, and was largely ridiculed before, during, and after its release.