The 10 Worst Horror Movies of the Last 10 Years

Horror films have proven to be resilient and successful across various time periods, outliving the age of musicals, action films, and fantasy sagas, as well as thriving amidst the current era characterized by comic book blockbusters. The enduring appeal of horror movies can largely be attributed to their overall quality. Even mediocre horror films manage to be enjoyable due to their inherent ability to provide entertainment, regardless of whether they become timeless classics or not. When you’re seeking some entertaining fun, horror is always a reliable choice.

Speaking of horror, there’s always more room for things to go wrong given the abundance of frightening elements out there. In fact, there’s hardly anything more disheartening than watching a poorly-executed horror movie with no suspense, scares, captivating creatures, engaging plot, or characters you secretly hope survive till the end. Whether they err on the side of too many concessions or not enough, it doesn’t take long to realize you’re in for a disappointing ride. This week, we’ll be highlighting the most disappointing ones from the last ten years – yes, the horror movies that have left us cringing since the turn of the decade.

To put it frankly, let’s acknowledge a truth: The truly dreadful horror films are the ones with minimal budget, lackluster production, and an abundance of mediocrity, which you stumble upon if you spend too much time browsing Netflix or Prime. Titles like “Zombie Unicorn Cannibal Attack III: Curse of the Werespider” are prime examples. (In case anyone is interested in making it, we’d definitely give it a watch.) The reason these horror films disappoint is that we had secretly hoped they might buck the trend and turn out to be decent. I think it’s fair to say that most of us expected “The Bye Bye Man” to be among the worst.

The 10 Worst Horror Movies of the Past 10 Years (2015-2024)

The Bye Bye Man (2017)

If a word or an object carries it, The Bye Bye Man cannot be banished. The chilling horror film, The Babadook, by Jennifer Kent, has inspired numerous imitations seeking to replicate its unique take on the Boogeyman. Among these, The Bye Bye Man stands out as one of the most forgettable, characterized by a laughable title and an even more absurd plot. Capitalizing on the trend of “tulpa” stories – horror tales circulated online about malevolent entities that gain power through thought – The Bye Bye Man presents a villain whose name causes people to lose their minds and kill those close to them. Unfortunately, the film fails to explore this concept in an engaging way; instead, it feels like reading run-of-the-mill creepypastas on Reddit.

Death Note (2017)

Adapting anime series into live-action movies is similar to turning popular video games into films – when done well, it’s fantastic, but more often than not, it falls short. A prime example of this trend is Netflix’s “Death Note,” which struggled to compress 12 volumes of a dark murder mystery manga into less than two hours and, unfortunately, made all the main characters American in an uninspired instance of whitewashing. The character Light Yagami was transformed into “Light Turner,” a Seattle high school student played by Nat Wolff who finds the Death Note, a book guarded by a demon that kills anyone whose name is written inside, drawing the attention of the world’s most peculiar detective L (LaKeith Stanfield). Willem Dafoe provides the voice for Ryuk, the shinigami death god, so at least there’s one positive aspect.

Slender Man (2018)

The rise in popularity of internet creepypastas was largely attributed to the figure of Slenderman, a tall, faceless entity dressed in a dark suit who exerts influence over young individuals, causing them to lose their sanity and perform acts of violence. This character sparked a great deal of media, such as the webseries “Marble Hornets,” the video game “Slender,” and the documentary “Beware the Slenderman” about a near-fatal stabbing incident involving a young girl. In 2018, a poorly received film adaptation, “Slender Man,” was released, effectively marking the end of interest in the character.

The movie revolves around a group of girls who encounter trouble with the creature following an unsuccessful attempt to communicate with it, leading to a series of predictable frights and a rather absurd conclusion. By the time the film hit theaters, the meme had already lost its charm, and “Slender Man” served as the final blow to the Slenderman legend.

The Haunting of Sharon Tate (2019)

In a daring move, the film “The Haunting of Sharon Tate” portrays the fictionalization of one of history’s most infamous murders in a manner that is exploitative and painfully dull. The movie stars Hilary Duff as Sharon Tate, who, days before her death, begins to experience what she believes are premonitions of her own murder and becomes convinced that the Manson family is after her. This leads to an unsettling alternate account of the final days in Sharon Tate’s life, one that is as puzzling as it is offensive, culminating in a particularly bitter final twist. Fortunately, another movie about Sharon Tate from that year was Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood“, which offers a much more positive ending for the character and her companions.

Antebellum (2020)

In the realm of cinematic disappointments, I find myself compelled to discuss the film “Antebellum,” a horror production featuring the talented Janelle Monáe. The narrative revolves around her character being abducted and subjected to life as a slave on a plantation during the Civil War era. Released amidst a global pandemic and in the immediate aftermath of Black Lives Matter protests, this movie’s timing was less than ideal, and its climactic twist left its modest audience feeling more dismayed than startled. A quick glance at the Wikipedia plot summary will make the reasoning behind my sentiments crystal clear.

The Turning (2020)

Henry James’ gothic horror novel “The Turn of the Screw,” which revolves around a governess who believes ghosts are tormenting two children, has been remade multiple times. Notable adaptations include the 1961 film “The Innocents” and Mike Flanagan’s miniseries “The Haunting of Bly Manor.” However, “The Turning,” originally intended as a comeback for Steven Spielberg in horror, ended up with various directors before becoming “The Runaways'” Floria Sigismondi’s project. Unlike her earlier work, “The Turning” lacked substance and failed to capture the chilling atmosphere of the novel or deliver on the dark, indie rock/dream pop soundtrack it promised, leaving fans of James and Mitski feeling let down.

Halloween Ends (2022)

In a surprising turn of events, the modern Halloween trilogy, initiated by 2018’s Halloween under director David Gordon Green, failed to maintain its initial success in its subsequent installments. Both Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends were met with widespread disappointment. The slogan “Evil dies tonight” from Halloween Kills falls flat, as one can only wish!

The concluding film, Halloween Ends, unfortunately veers away from the central focus on Michael Myers, instead delving into Laurie Strode’s problematic memoir deal and a new antagonist, a local boy who has been influenced by Myers’ evil intentions and embarks on his own murderous rampage. Despite the Halloween series being characterized by its complexity and occasional forays into the bizarre, Halloween Ends seems to stray far from the legacy of this iconic horror franchise.

They/Them (2022)

“They/Them” – often referred to as “they-slashed-them,” humorously enough – is a slasher movie that unfolds at an LGBT conversion camp. Notably, it features an amusing, seemingly never-ending scene where all the campers gather to sing Pink’s dance ballad “Perfect” to one another. The film positions itself as a darkly comical slasher, focusing on a camp whose counselors are brutally murdered by an unidentified entity. However, it carefully avoids going too far in either direction, resulting in a tone that is inconsistent, striking a balance between serious and absurd. Regrettably, the ending leaves much to be desired.

Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023)

Taking a cherished childhood classic like Winnie-the-Pooh and transforming it into something grotesque for the sake of attracting attention is an oddly disheartening move. The film, titled Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, doesn’t really convince me that public domain horror films in this vein are worthwhile. After Christopher Robin left the Hundred Acre Wood to pursue higher education, his toy companions developed a wild, cannibalistic nature and turned on each other. The characters of Winnie-the-Pooh and Piglet have become bloodthirsty serial killers, seeking to slaughter anyone who dares enter their woodland realm. This concept is quite humorous, but the movie fails to deliver on the humor and instead, the excessive gore becomes exhausting rather than enjoyable.

In this rephrased version, I’ve tried to maintain the original meaning while using more natural and easy-to-read language.

The Crow (2024)

There was no enthusiasm for the 2024 reinterpretation of The Crow comic character, not even among its most ardent fans. Yet, this remake fell short of expectations, being worse than many had imagined. Despite the effort to flesh out Eric Draven’s deceased lover Shelly into a more substantial character, the movie faltered on numerous fronts. This dark superhero adaptation was dull and overly serious, offering a predictable narrative with convoluted plot twists and a somber atmosphere that made it tedious. Considering how disappointing this remake is, it’s even more astounding that the original film, despite its unfortunate circumstances, turned out to be as impressive as it was.

The 10 Worst Comedies of the Last Ten Years (2015-2024)

10. Yoga Hosers (2016)

For quite some time, Kevin Smith asserted that frequent marijuana usage boosted his creativity and work efficiency. However, when he stopped using marijuana in 2023, he shared a somewhat altered narrative, stating that weed functioned as a “Band-aid” to mask an emotional wound from childhood abuse in his mind. In a video discussing this topic, Smith humorously addressed those who were upset about Silent Bob quitting smoking, saying, “Sorry. ‘Silent Bob should be smoking weed!’ He wasn’t. He didn’t when he made those movies. He did later on, which could explain ‘Yoga Hosers.'”

If there’s ever a case against drugs in cinema, it is certainly ‘Yoga Hosers’, an excruciating comedy about two Canadian convenience-store clerks (Smith’s daughter Harley and Johnny Depp’s daughter Lily-Rose Depp) who get entangled with a peculiar Quebecois detective (Depp himself) and sentient Nazi sausages known as Bratzis (Smith himself). The film is incomprehensible, and the humor primarily relies on exaggerated accents and the stereotype that Canadians often say “eh.” I’m relieved Smith is sober now, not only for his well-being but also mine. As a longtime fan of Kevin Smith who still appreciates his early (funny!) comedies, I hope he makes a strong comeback someday.

9. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015)

In the initial “Hot Tub Time Machine” movie, it might not have been Charles Dickens, but it was smartly written to intertwine a self-improvement story within the rowdy antics of a band of friends grappling with their collective midlife crises. Having addressed the emotional conflicts of its characters in the first film, the sequel primarily focused on tossing around as many bodily fluids and hot tub water as possible, as three out of four original stars find themselves unintentionally transported into the future, seeking a mysterious attacker who wounded Rob Corddry’s character. (John Cusack, one of the four “Hot Tub” stars, did not reprise his role in the sequel, with Adam Scott taking over as his character’s son instead.) The makers of “Hot Tub Time Machine” were fortunate to pull off that concept once; such a bolt of creativity rarely strikes twice, even with a time-traveling hot tub.

8. The Ridiculous 6 (2015)

Adam Sandler’s partnership with Netflix has been around for quite some time now, resulting in several decent films that I appreciate, such as “Leo,” “Hustle,” and even the goofy yet endearing “Hubie Halloween.” However, Sandler’s Netflix agreement had a bumpy beginning with the comic western “The Ridiculous 6.” Despite boasting an impressive cast including Terry Crews, Will Forte, Luke Wilson, Steve Zahn, Harvey Keitel, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, and many others, the film failed to elicit even a single chuckle in its western setting, despite having so much comedic talent wandering through the prairie.

7. Mother’s Day (2016)

Garry Marshall found considerable commercial success in his later years by producing ensemble comedies featuring attractive characters falling in love on different holidays such as New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, and most notably, Mother’s Day. However, unlike its predecessor with the same title that was a brutal horror film, this movie was less intentionally humorous. In fact, I don’t recall a cinema quieter than the one where I watched Mother’s Day – it was as silent as a Benedictine monastery, not what you’d expect in a bustling multiplex.

6. The Happytime Murders (2018)

In Brian Henson’s adult-oriented puppet comedy, “The Happytime Murders,” there’s a lot of explicit humor that caters to the immature crowd, but it seems the creators didn’t delve deeper than thinking, “It’d be quite amusing to have puppets in an edgy comedy filled with sexual jokes.” The film is best known for Melissa McCarthy biting a puppet’s private part and Joel McHale gazing at a puppet’s vagina in a parody of the classic “Basic Instinct” scene. Amidst this controversial production, Maya Rudolph stands out as the only redeeming figure, delivering a joke about rice pilaf that is nothing short of heroic.

5. Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)

In the movie “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” Warner Bros. portrayed itself as a heartless conglomerate of intellectual properties controlled by an antagonistic AI, which could be seen as a brilliant yet self-deprecating move in film history. However, the overall quality of the movie was so poor that it made the original “Space Jam” seem like a masterpiece akin to “2001: A Space Odyssey.” While LeBron James is not a terrible actor, he doesn’t fall short compared to Michael Jordan’s performance in the first film. Unfortunately, almost everything else about “A New Legacy” was a disappointment from start to finish. The movie seems to miss the charm of Looney Tunes, especially Bugs Bunny, who in this sequel appears as a whiny and unfunny character. It’s almost criminal to produce a film where an icon of American comedy like Bugs Bunny is portrayed so unamusingly.

4. Dirty Grandpa (2016)

In a similar vein to “The Happytime Murders,” the film “Dirty Grandpa” relies on a simple comedic formula: when someone perceived as wholesome or pure (like grandparents or puppets) utters crude or lewd language, it’s supposed to be amusing. If hearing Robert De Niro use terms like “smegma” tickles your funny bone, then this movie is for you. However, if you value humor that includes genuine wit or lacks persistent homophobia, you might be left feeling let down. At least the title accurately reflects the content.

3. Marmaduke (2022)

If there is an animated movie less aesthetically pleasing than “Marmaduke,” I have never seen it. I hope I never will. The film appears to be the product of a money laundering scheme or one of those odd agreements where producers must create something by a certain deadline, regardless of quality.

However, despite the atrocious animation, “Marmaduke” boasts the vocal talents of several well-known and funny actors, such as J.K. Simmons, David Koechner, and Pete Davidson. It seems they didn’t read the script, didn’t see the hideous characters they were voicing, or perhaps each received a private Caribbean island for their services. How did this happen? “Marmaduke” is nothing but trash. I wouldn’t even subject it to the kids on my school bus who used to torment me by composing songs about my booger-picking — which, in retrospect, was more creative than this “Marmaduke.

2. The Emoji Movie (2017)

Imagine conceiving a thought-provoking film centered around smartphone culture, possibly delving into emojis as well. However, such a movie would necessitate a script brimming with sharp wit and biting satire, more so than what was presented in the movie The Emoji Movie. Granted, it carries a faintly optimistic message about appreciating diversity, but beyond that, it’s exactly what one might expect from a studio tied to a technology company whose profits primarily stem from selling millions of smartphones each year: A subtly marketed advertisement implying that owning a cell phone will boost your popularity and make you more alluring to girls. Yuck.

1. Dolittle (2020)

Remember the part in Tim Burton’s Batman where a shady street doctor mishap-sculpts Jack Napier’s chemically burned face into the grotesque visage of the Joker? Dolittle is similar – it’s a chaotic, disjointed movie that seems like it was pieced together from leftovers and revisions of something entirely different. It appears (we can guess) that this was initially intended to be a serious production, but ended up as a cinematic Frankenstein of potty humor, animal dialogue, poor CGI, and Robert Downey Jr.’s over-the-top performance that makes Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, seem reserved.

2025-04-04 17:55