Horror Characters/Concepts That Needs Its Mojo Back

Curse of Chucky was one of those films that surprised me, I never expect it to be good but man was that movie good. They managed to do what many horror franchises fail to do with other characters by taking out what was wrong and putting in what made them good and improve on it. They brought a back to basics approach with the character. None of that comedy crap from the previous two Child's Play films they gave it a straight up horror approach. I still say Chucky isn't scary but I commend the effort in the filmmakers in the effort they put in this film and show other filmmakers that just because a movie is a direct to dvd doesn't mean you have to half ass it.

If Chucky can get his mojo back then there are other horror characters/concepts I feel that is in desperate need to get it's concept back. Here's a few...

Jeff The Killer 

I've pointed this out in my other blog but I also wanted to add. While I never found Jeff scary I admit there was some ray of potential with the concept. I thought his debut story was interesting as it reminded me something of a Stephen King story but they managed to drop the ball with a few things.

1. They made him a kid, well a teenager. Don't really find that all that scary tbh, tragic yes but not scary.

2. The dude's a butterface. Yeah they had his face messed up but the rest would make him come off as a bishi type of character. There is a reason why the guy has fan girls

3. They turn him into a Slenderman wannabe with the whole mention him and he knows where you live approach. It's bad enough that he's no different than your usual horror slasher but they had to make him similar to Slenderman?

What I would have done with him is make him a little older, like in his late twenties or early thirties, and make him as unappealing as possible. Not just in facial features but below that also. I'd also make him a little more different. His early incarnations made him stood out a bit more but when he became popular they wanted him to slightly resemble Slenderman. You know what made horror characters like Jason stood out so that he wouldn't come off as a Michael Myers rip off? They fleshed his backstory out more and gave Jason his own characteristics that would make people see he isn't some Michael Myers clone. Thats what one should do with Jeff. I'd have Jeff actually be a symbol that best represents the worst of humanity. What humanity would be like without a moral conscience. You can do some interesting things with that.

Slenderman 

 
Unlike Jeff I thought this guy had a rather intriguing and admittingly creepy vibe going on and there was an aura of mystery around him in that you have no idea just exactly what he is. He could be a ghost or something that could be thought up by HP Lovecraft. Sadly like many horror characters before him once his popularity increases his scare factor starts to decrease.

What I've said about Slenderman was already said in a blog I did about him awhile back. Slenderman, recently, has became a parody of what he once was and the whole constantly trolling people by popping up out of nowhere bit can get irritating at times. It's the equivalent of a friend or a relative that would just drop by your house unannounced, especially when they do it at the worst time possible.

If there is any change I'd take with Slenderman it would be to increase the mystery about him but take a nothing is scary approach. Do not show him committing creepy acts but only it's build up and it's aftermath that way while nobody sees it you know it's there.

I also wouldn't give him followers. I think he'd be better off when he does things solo.

Slenderman would be a metaphor of the mystery that surrounds us. Ever go into a really dark area and that sense of fear starts to creep in as you venture into unfamiliar territory? Thats what Slenderman should be like. The kind that gives you a rather uncomfortable vibe, for some odd reason, and takes you out of your comfort zone

Vampires

I like the vampire concept, in actuality it was vampire movies that gave me my first exposure to horror films. The vampire flick I remember was Salem's Lot. What made it stood out was that the vampire wasn't a romantic, it didn't woo some teenage girl, it wasn't even attractive. It was a terrifying monster causing havoc on a small town. The novel Dracula had Dracula as an evil force of nature. But what caused vampires to loose it's menacing nature?

There is nothing I can say about this that hasn't been said already. But I wouldn't go as far as to say the vampire genre is dead(heh pun). In fact there are some good stuff involving vampires out there. The Night Flyer, Lost Boys, Let Me In, 30 Days of Night, Blade 1 &2, to name a few. As far as novels go The Dresden Files did some interesting stuff with vampires, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Necroscope, and Vampire Hunter D

While it's anime I'd still recommend Hellsing for a rather interesting take on Dracula.

I thought Whedon had the right idea when it came to vampires in that they best represent the worst aspects of humanity, especially once they take their souls away. Which could also be a metaphor of what a human being without a conscience would be like, minus the blood sucking. Also Supernatural had an interesting take on vampires.

There is terror left in vampires just one has to look to find it. Still most mainstream movies would tend to romanticize vampires into tortured creatures that would woo a pretty young thing that comes their way.

Thats my two cents on it. Thoughts on this or any additions you have for the topic then feel free to put a comment below.

Wonder Woman in Superman/Batman & How DC/WB Treats Other DC Characters

As if the Superman/Batman films isn't a broken base already you have Wonder Woman thats also announced to be apart of. One of the key issues is the casting. Personally I have seen Gal in Fast & The Furious and I find her a decent actress but as far as if I think she's able to do a good job in the role it depends on if I see any shots of her preparing or performing the part. The other issue is how some felt that DC/WB once again don't see any value in Wonder Woman to give her a solo film so they just paired her up with Superman/Batman. There are two sides to this type of complaint

1. I can see, on some level, where DC/WB is coming from. Lets say they do a movie but then what kind of a movie they will do? A straight up superhero flick or a adventure flick? There is also casting the right kind of actress that is marketable and would stick around for future movies. Given the utter failure that was the pilot series it was a walking on eggshells situation. However....

2. With it being her first film debut she's playing second fiddle to Superman/Batman? The two heroes have enough problems with people claiming how overexposed they are but to have WW play second fiddle to them is another issue. Also she is among the DC Big Three of Superheroes so it wouldn't kill them to give her one movie before doing a crossover with someone else. So on some level I can understand the arguments of how it may appear that Wonder Woman could be taking a backseat to Superman/Batman. Or is she?

Lets take a look at the other heroes who haven't had any sort of exposure

Aquaman: He had a stint on Smallville and two memorable parts in JLU and Batman:The Brave and The Bold but as far as live action films go the dude has squat. He doesn't even have his own animated movie. Also the guy has a pretty bad rep thanks to his role in the Super Friends. And yeah I get the Aquaman jokes but, as mentioned, it originated from a show thats pretty outdated and anyone with any knowledge in comics should be aware that Aquaman is one of the most underrated DC Heroes. So I have to ask is where is Aquaman's opportunity? When will he get a time to shine?

Captain Marvel: For once I'd like to see a movie either animated or live action where he doesn't have to depend on Superman to have his moment in the sun. I mean come on this guy screams a perfect escapist character for kids. An animated series featuring him would be gold

Not just those two but it seems that other DC Characters are getting the short end of the stick and some of whom I personally feel would make a interesting tv series, either animated or live action. Or even a movie, either animated or live action.

Zatanna has a good backstory to make a good supernatural tv series.
Green Lantern: If anyone in DC/WB had a braincell to do it properly would make a good space opera
A Legions of Superheroes tv series would be pretty good. Especially if they take a Doctor Who approach.
Suicide Squad
The list goes on..

They're doing a good job with Arrow and I heard a Flash series is on the way, which is good.

Yet the point is that it seems that DC/WB has a hard time in using and promoting their characters, who isn't Superman/Batman, properly while Marvel/Disney is actually the ones willing to use other characters who aren't Avengers. For instance there is a Guardians of The Galaxy movie coming out and there is Agents of SHIELD and there are rumors of a series that features street level Marvel Heroes. So if Marvel is able to use other characters then it wouldn't kill DC to take a gamble on other characters, who isn't Superman/Batman. Cause at the moment people are starting to get tired of seeing just those guys. Put some variety out there and Arrow, for now, is the only thing close to a variety