10 Horror Movie Sequels That Saved The Franchise
3. Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives
Many critics felt that Sean S Cunningham's Friday the 13th was beyond salvation before the film's franchise even began.
Released to critical drubbing in 1980, the early slasher was such a huge financial success that it soon spawned countless sequels of varying quality despite the derisive reviews. Most of mute horror icon Jason Voorhees' cinematic outings were subject to the same basic criticism, that being that outside of some inventive kills the movies had no interesting characters, humour, or invention.
Someone at the studio must have been reading these reviews despite the reliably high box office returns from each sequel, as the film's sixth sequel in as many years massively improved proceedings.
A big influence on the next decade's Scream series, Jason Lives added a dash of meta humour, some more ambitious and cartoony action, and a fast pace which brought the never-ending franchise back from the brink. Breaking the fourth wall for some self-referential jokes, the film saw the creators take Jason a little less seriously and made for a far more fun time at the cinema as a result.
Now to send him into space...