Many horror movies shown on large screens have provided so much mythology that creators can rethink and renew essential elements of a plot for compelling television shows. For example, “Bates Motel” serves as a prequel to Psycho, “What We Do in the Shadows” offers comedic expansion, while “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” delves deeply into supernatural lore. Remarkably, some of these series have gained popularity that rivals the original films. Regrettably, numerous attempts at expanding the storylines have failed to make an impact, as many viewers seem to have no recollection of them.
It’s worth mentioning that certain short-lived horror series have a lasting impact on fans, with shows like Hannibal (three seasons) and The Exorcist (two seasons) managing to captivate even hard-to-impress horror enthusiasts. However, these shows didn’t garner enough general viewers to secure renewals, which is usually the case. Most TV spinoffs struggle to recreate what made the original so unique.
Freddy’s Nightmares
In the same year as “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master,” the TV series “Freddy’s Nightmares” debuted and ran for two seasons. Unlike the movie series, which focused on Freddy Krueger, portrayed by Robert Englund, targeting teens in Springwood, Ohio as retribution for their parents burning him to death, this show presented a variety of standalone horror stories covering diverse terrifying themes. The link between the franchise was that Englund returned as Krueger, acting as a horror host who introduced each episode, as if every story was a different nightmare from a Springwood teen.
Despite some viewers being disappointed that Krueger wasn’t a major character throughout each episode, this series format was a fairly accurate continuation of the movies. The first episode of the show even functioned as a prequel to the entire franchise, showing Krueger’s trial and revealing how he managed to escape imprisonment due to a technicality in the law. However, despite having fans, it has been challenging to find the series for streaming or purchasing on physical media. Additionally, with numerous horror anthologies airing during the ’80s and ’90s, Freddy’s Nightmares has not achieved as much of a lasting impact as the film series did.
Friday the 13th: The Series
Discussing the abundance of horror anthologies on TV in the late ’80s, “Friday the 13th” preceded Freddy Krueger in transitioning to television, resulting in three seasons of “Friday the 13th: The Series”. Interestingly, “Friday the 13th: The Series” managed to secure one more season than “Freddy’s Nightmares”, but it shares significantly fewer ties with its title, despite being recognized as part of the franchise.
The Friday the 13th movies revolve around Jason Voorhees, a character endowed with supernatural powers who didn’t start his killing spree until the second film and didn’t wear his famous hockey mask until the third. His victims are typically coeds unfortunate enough to come near Crystal Lake, where as a child he drowned. In contrast, The Series focused on an antique store filled with cursed items, with the owners seeking out these haunted relics. Given its limited connection to Friday the 13th, it’s perhaps fitting that this show has become largely forgotten in the era of streaming. A fresh take on Friday the 13th for television is being developed, with the Peacock series Crystal Lake seemingly aiming to align more closely with the slasher franchise, although specific plot details have been kept secret.
Poltergeist: The Legacy
1982’s movie “Poltergeist,” directed by Tobe Hooper, is widely regarded as a groundbreaking work in the haunted house film genre. It’s no surprise that it spawned two sequels and a 2015 remake. In the late ’90s, viewers were treated to three seasons of “Poltergeist: The Legacy” on Showtime, which later moved to Season 4 on the Sci-Fi Channel.
Instead of centering the story around individuals experiencing supernatural hauntings, “The Legacy” shifted its focus towards the investigators responsible for uncovering the mysteries behind these eerie events. With reality TV in the 2000s brimming with shows featuring paranormal investigators, “Poltergeist: The Legacy” seems a tad prescient, considering recent announcements of plans to revive the franchise by developing a television series.
Tremors
SYFY, previously known as The Sci-Fi Channel, played a pivotal role in nurturing lesser-known franchises, providing viewers with multiple instalments of the Stargate series, Battlestar Galactica, and Van Helsing, among others. One of their early productions was the TV adaptation of Tremors.
1990’s “Tremors,” featuring a tiny desert town besieged by enormous subterranean creatures called Graboids, has evolved into a beloved cult-favorite monster flick despite initially receiving lackluster reviews. Despite its initial underwhelming response, the film’s immense conceptual potential led to two direct-to-video sequels. The 2003 “Tremors” television series can be seen as a continuation of the events depicted in the third movie.
Originally, each installment of the Sci-Fi series I followed, “Tremors,” drew massive viewership. Regrettably, as more episodes aired, my interest seemed to dwindle and so did the overall audience’s. Ultimately, the show was terminated because of insufficient viewer engagement and escalating production expenses. To add to the confusion, the series was aired out of sequence, which didn’t help its cause. In 2017, I was thrilled to learn about a revival of “Tremors” with the return of original star Kevin Bacon. Unfortunately, SYFY decided against continuing the series based solely on the pilot episode, which remains unofficially released.
Scream: The TV Series
The TV Series,” which premiered following his death in 2015. Unlike being a continuation of Sidney Prescott’s story where she is pursued by killers wearing Ghostface masks, “Scream: The TV Series” adapted the idea of a serial killer targeting high school students in a small town and combined it with dark comedy and self-awareness for a fresh take.
Fans of “Scream: The TV Series” appreciate its Craven connection, but the show’s irregular release schedule made it challenging for fans to keep up with. Initially airing on MTV, episodes were interspersed between shows about teenage parents and humorous internet content, culminating in a two-hour Halloween special in 2016. The following year, it was announced that a third season would be produced as a reboot of the concept, using the authentic Ghostface disguise. This six-episode third season eventually aired on VH1 in 2019. Since then, the series has appeared sporadically on streaming platforms, but with the revival of the cinematic series, the television spinoff has become increasingly overlooked.
From Dusk till Dawn: The Series
Similar to “Scream: The TV Series,” one significant hurdle for “From Dusk till Dawn: The Series” is the struggle to resonate with viewers because of its approach to distribution.
In 1996, Robert Rodriguez’s movie “From Dusk till Dawn” premiered in cinemas but didn’t leave a significant mark on viewers or critics. However, horror enthusiasts enjoyed the blend of horror elements and humor, leading to two direct-to-video sequels. A television adaptation titled “From Dusk till Dawn: The Series” reimagined the storyline, focusing on the adventures of the Gecko brothers and their unusual run-ins with grotesque characters.
In 2014, From Dusk till Dawn: The Series made its premiere on Rodriguez’s El Rey network, spanning over three seasons in total. Unfortunately, the network found it difficult to keep up with the rise of streaming platforms during the late 2010s and eventually shut down in 2020. Now, you can find their content, including From Dusk till Dawn: The Series, on numerous streaming services and Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television (FAST) channels.
Damien
The Omen” is a groundbreaking horror film that sparked a chain of four sequels and a 2006 remake. Similar to modern horror films where reboots often follow the storyline of direct sequels disregarding previous events, the series “Damien” centers around an adult Damien who has no recollection of the extraordinary occurrences that occurred in his childhood.
At first, Lifetime had ordered the show, but eventually “Damien” debuted on A&E in 2016. Although A&E had previously seen success with “Bates Motel”, this continuation of “The Omen” didn’t capture much audience attention and ran for just one season.
Clarice
For the first time, audiences encountered the chilling figure of Hannibal Lecter in the 1986 film “Manhunter”, portrayed by Brian Cox in the screen adaptation of Thomas Harris’s novel “Red Dragon”. However, it was Anthony Hopkins who solidified the character’s enduring legacy in “The Silence of the Lambs”, where he engaged in a nerve-wracking game of psychological cat-and-mouse with FBI Agent Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster.
In an attempt to recreate the success of Bryan Fuller’s “Hannibal” for three seasons, the series “Clarice,” featuring Rebecca Breeds as the main character, followed a narrative set between the timelines of “Silence of the Lambs” and the 2001 sequel “Hannibal.” “Clarice” initially aired on CBS in 2021, yet it failed to resonate with critics or viewers. Despite being seen as a potential candidate for streaming on Paramount+, the show was ultimately discontinued.
The Purge
Since the initial release of the series back in 2013, Blumhouse’s “The Purge” franchise has firmly established itself as a significant part of popular culture. The five films have found a strong connection with viewers, and the central idea – a 12-hour window where all crimes, including violence, are lawful – has been echoed in numerous other contexts.
In an attempt to leverage the success of the franchise, USA aired two seasons of the TV series “The Purge” starting from 2018. Unlike the movies and their brief runtime that focused on the yearly Purge events, the TV show could delve into the time before and after these events. However, it appears that spending extended periods in this world outside of the 12 hours wasn’t quite what appealed to both critics and viewers, leading to the cancellation of the project in 2020.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Lois Duncan’s novel “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” originally published in 1973, was turned into a film in 1997, becoming more famous for gathering some of the most popular young actors from the late ’90s for a horror movie known as a slasher. The original film led to one theatrical sequel in 1998 and a direct-to-video sequel in 2006 that had little connection to its prior installments, but in 2021, the story was adapted into a television series.
In a secluded road under the cover of night, a group of companions, including twins Madison Iseman as Alison and Lennon, accidentally strike someone with their vehicle, initially believing they’ve hit Lennon. However, it turns out to be Alison who was fatally wounded, and in a shocking turn of events, Lennon takes on Alison’s identity. A year later, the secret is threatened to be uncovered by an enigmatic figure, as seen in a TV series on Prime Video.
I Know What You Did Last Summer was cancelled three months after it was released.
Day of the Dead
George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” undeniably established the blueprint for zombie movies across cinema, paving the way for numerous follow-ups in the genre. However, the impact of his franchise is somewhat convoluted due to multiple reboots, remakes, and sequels over time.
Let’s consider SYFY’s 2021 series “Day of the Dead” as an example. In contrast to Romero’s 1985 movie of the same name, which was the third installment in his “Dead” series, this new series delved into a group of military personnel and researchers investigating the mysterious behavior of reanimated corpses. The SYFY series, however, chose to interpret the title more directly by focusing on the initial 24 hours of a zombie outbreak. The overall feel of the show aligns more with “Return of the Living Dead,” an unofficial sequel to Romero’s initial 1968 film. While “Day of the Dead” shares the name, it was essentially a one-season spin-off from the original series.
Let the Right One In
John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel titled “Låt den rätte komma in” (translated to “Let the Right One In“) was initially adapted into a Swedish film in 2008. Following the trend of the time, the success of this vampire-themed adolescent love story led to its adaptation as an English language movie titled “Let Me In” in 2010.
The captivating idea behind it was clearly demonstrated, as the narrative was transformed into a Showtime series in 2022, featuring Demián Bichir portraying a caring father to a vampire daughter who appears as a 12-year-old girl. Unlike earlier adaptations where this character would hunt for victims for the vampire, this version of the story shows the father striving to find a way to break his daughter’s curse instead.
As a film enthusiast, I eagerly waited for the season finale of “Let the Right One In” on Showtime, which aired in December 2022. However, my anticipation turned to disappointment when, just a month later in January 2023, the series was unfortunately cancelled.
Honorable Mention: Mockingbird Lane
For many years, “The Munsters” has been a cherished franchise for horror enthusiasts, but unlike “The Addams Family”, it hasn’t achieved the same level of success in films, which sets it apart when discussing television adaptations of popular horror movie franchises.
Despite the fact that “The Munsters” isn’t part of the horror movie genre, some fans might not remember that it almost had a revival in 2012. Before Bryan Fuller gained fame with “Hannibal”, he was working on a fresh interpretation of “The Munsters”. This version featured Jerry O’Connell as Herman Munster, Portia de Rossi as Lily Munster, and Eddie Izzard as Grandpa.
The street named Mockingbird Lane received a pilot episode, which was broadcast as a Halloween special on NBC in tandem with a Halloween-themed Grimm episode. However, due to its low ratings, NBC decided against airing a complete season, making it challenging to find the single episode of this series online.
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2025-04-03 01:41