10 Horror Movies That Abandoned Awesome Ideas Halfway Through

The highly anticipated, star studded Prometheus promised an in-depth exploration of the Xenomorphs' origins that die-hard fans of the Alien franchise had long been yearning for.

The preliminary stages of Ridley Scott's 2012 return to outer space are massively impressive, with some legitimately spectacular visuals and powerhouse performances from a supremely talented cast. Combine all of this with the ominous sense of dread associated with the franchise, and audiences were left with an enticing air of wonder and mystery laced with a very real sense of impending danger.

It's a genuine shame that such an encouraging beginning is largely squandered upon the realization that the film isn't what it touted itself as. Any meaningful insight into the circumstances behind the Xenomorphs' creation is muddled and rushed, with little offered in the way of any real clarity. Even the attempt to unravel the mystery of the Xenomorphs' Engineers fails miserably after liberal helpings of sci-fi action tropes, meaning the convoluted plot finally fizzles out like a damp sparkler.

With the storied nature of the franchise, Prometheus appeared poised to deal all manner of weighty subject matter - the nature of creation, the meaning of existence or mankind's place in the universe to name but a few. The fact that Scott's picture dissolves into blockbuster rubbish is almost unforgivable when one considers the stunning concept he had to work with.