Horror Franchises That Spread Beyond the Screen

There is no doubt that some horror films, although originally meant for the big screen, sometimes have a nasty tendency to cross over into other entertainment media. The greatest and most popular horror series have shown a strange tendency of breaking out of their box office confines and ending up in places such as video games, amusement parks, comic books, and slot games. Horror enthusiasts seem to be craving not only a two-hour long nightmare but also something extra. That is why the film industry came up with various creative solutions to satisfy fan curiosity.

For instance, one can point to the well-known Friday the 13th franchise. Jason Voorhees is a real pop culture icon, not only because of his films, but also because the character could be found everywhere in popular culture. One can recall, for instance, that video game for NES which was released in 1989. Indeed, the game was known to be extremely hard to play, yet it is quite entertaining nonetheless when viewed as an artifact of the gaming industry. These days, there are all sorts of multiplayer games where one could be either Jason or some unlucky camper at Crystal Lake.

However, that’s not all: Jason has gone on to inspire many horror-based slot machines, including “Book of Horror: Friday the 13th.” Here, players can get to play slot reels filled with Jason and other characters, while getting such features as bonus spins, symbol expansion, and winning up to ten thousand times their stake. It has become a well known slot machine in this category, and it goes to show how far the character's impact reaches.

Then there is also Jaws, a movie that revolutionized the concept of summer blockbusters. It may seem a little strange for a movie involving a shark to be made into a video game; but I must say Jaws Unleashed is quite an interesting horror video game. Unlike the usual concept where you get to play as a human being, you will get to experience the life of a shark in this game.

The impact of Jaws has not been confined only to its own industry; rather, it has made an impact on the casino gaming community through slot machines and other types of games that use concepts of high adrenaline rush and the predator-prey dynamic that Jaws embodies. Slot machines such as “Jaws of Justice” have made good use of this concept.

The fact that Chucky has been able to make so many appearances on different levels speaks volumes about how successful and popular these characters can become in different places and times. In particular, Chucky became available not only for people who enjoyed films but also for those who loved mobile games, as the game Chucky: Slash & Dash was released. This was certainly an innovation in the history of horror film characters and proved that these villains can easily adopt themselves in other contexts.

Other famous horror sagas have followed the same route. Halloween became an inspiration for one of the first slasher games, allowing you to experience firsthand the thrill of trying to escape Michael Myers. Also, a game based on the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street turned out to be one of the best adaptations because it managed to perfectly convey the atmosphere of the dreamlike nightmares of Freddy Krueger. Even such cult classics as The Thing, Evil Dead, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre made it into gaming.

This is quite an easy answer to give. Horror relies on having unforgettable villains, and these villainous characters can exist in any form or format. Be it running from a villain in a video game, pulling the handle of a slot machine that was modeled after classic horror villains, or simply watching a classic film again, the best horror franchises do not ever fade away. They only change and adapt.

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