10 More Horror Films That Tried Something Different (And Failed)

It's hard to accept but horror can be extremely formulaic. After watching your fair share of creepy flicks, you can set your watch to when a jump scare is coming or predict who's the next person to bite the dust.

Though the medium tries to keep things interesting with sequels, prequels, reboots, and reimaginings, it can be difficult to track down a scary movie that doesn't feel like a rehash of countless superior stories. But every once in a while, a horror goes in a new and bold direction, leaving a massive impression on the populace. These films are often praised for subverting expectations or giving the audience something they've never seen before.

With that said, a horror isn't necessarily good just because it goes against the grain. As established in the previous 10 Horror Films That Tried Something Different (And Failed), the film in question may still be downright terrible. Some features try so hard to defy expectations, they don't focus on basic concepts like characterisation or plot. Even when a premise should work, the movie could be let down by other factors.

Although the genre should push itself and embrace innovation, the following ten entries probably would've turned out better if they stuck to tried-and-tested ideas.

The original Urban Legend revolves around a group of high-schoolers who are terrorised by a serial killer who implements urban legends into their murder spree. Although follow-up Urban Legends: Final Cut maintained the same set-up, the third entry mixed things up by doing away with the whodunnit formula. 

In threequel Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, three friends perform an incantation at a house party, causing them to summon a murderous ghost. Now, exploring the supernatural was a smart way to potentially rejuvenate the IP - there are plenty of urban legends involving vengeful spirits, so Bloody Mary could have a lot of fun with this idea - but it just didn't work. 

The titular ghost incorporates urban legends into her kills, but none of them are paranormal in nature. Also, some of the deaths don't connect with the concept at all. For example, how is being stabbed with a broken bottle an urban legend? More importantly, why is Mary obsessed with urban legends in the first place?

Though Urban Legends: Bloody Mary is unscary, predictable, and badly written, the way it misuses its premise is its biggest fumble. Though Urban Legends: Final Cut was awful, it feels like a masterpiece compared to this dud.