10 Horror Movies That Take Themselves Way Too Seriously

There are few things worse than a bad film that takes itself too seriously.

Obviously, sincerity is a key aspect of the cinematic experience - approaching subject matter without a knowing nod and a wink has gifted us with some of the finest films ever made. However, there is a difference between that and a film with a schlockier premise or execution taking a self-serious tone - something the horror movie genre has plenty examples of.

Considering the ever evolving nature of the genre, this is a task easier said than done. There are many ways in which a horror film may find itself locked in this metaphorical bear trap.

The picture in question could prioritize shock value or excessive bloodshed over nuanced storytelling. Alternatively, a convoluted plot or a flimsily constructed atmosphere could prove just as damaging. The avenues for horror films to slump into this disappointing category are practically endless.

This is underlined by the varied manner in which the following entries manage to take themselves too seriously.

In rarer cases, being guilty of this doesn't necessarily spell doom for the movie's chances of success. With that being said, the manner in which the majority of these cases tend to crash and burn would indicate that it definitely doesn't help them.

There's contentiously a message hidden away in 2015's Final Girl, but the Abigail Breslin-led effort appears to be unsure as to what it actually is.

The film follows the tale of Veronica, a young orphan who is moulded into an assassin by Wes Bentley's William. Veronica is soon pointed in the direction of Jameson; Alexander Ludwig's villain leads a gang of sadistic young men who hunt and murder their female schoolmates as bloodsport.

While the notion of a woman avenger is a compelling narrative vehicle, this promising attribute is undermined by Final Girl's one-dimensional villains and implausible storyline. It's extremely appropriate that this dismally paced picture is named after one of horror's most prevalent tropes. Tyler Shields' directorial effort plays out like an amalgamation of every genre cliché one could think of.

Most egregiously, Final Girl masquerades as a commentary on gendered violence, without bothering to offer any form of meaningful critique on the topic. It's a frustrating state of affairs - one that exemplifies the film's wasted potential.