With the huge release ofScream, the fifth film in the franchise, and a supposed different take from other sequels, the attention is on the 1990s and their slashers. It was a bit of a weird decade with a lot of duds, butScreamwasn’t the only worthy thing to come out of the 1990s.
Outside of Wes Craven’s 1996 masterpiece, there were other teen screams that could use a reboot.There were also gothic slashersand science fiction adventures. Horror fans should look past some of the more obvious films of the decade, and examine a few of these more niche movies that might be deserving of a second chance.
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Leprechaun(1993)
While mostly known now for featuring Jennifer Aniston beforeFriendsexisted, theLeprechaunseries is truly a hoot. It focuses on an evil little leprechaun, played by Warwick Davis in one of his first starring roles, who believes that a group of people has stolen his pot of gold. He then decides to terrorize this group until he gets what he wants, killing multiple people in the process.
There are quite a fewLeprechaunmovies, each a bit more ridiculous than the last, but the first one holdsa special place in the hearts of horror fans. It has also never been really rebooted with a fresh take, and it is a perfect candidate for such treatment.Leprechaunis a total cult classic so people would watch a reboot. It also has a really humorous tone and a good amount of camp that could be interpreted really well in the modern world. Comparing it to something else with that tone likeKrampusand how loved that film is, there’s a lot of opportunities here.
Of course, the best way to make this happen would be to cast Warwick Davis in the lead role, which may make it out of the question. Featuring Jennifer Aniston again could also make it extra fun and add some appeal.
The Faculty(1998)
This is another total 90s throwback, a cult classic with an all-star cast. 1998’sThe Faculty, written by Kevin Williamson who penned other 90s slasher hitsScreamandI Know What You Did Last Summer, is a complete blast. It’s about a group of high school students who notice something very strange going on with their teachers and decide to investigate.
This kind of story will always be relatable because the divide between teenagers and adults will always be there. Teens will always be able to understand feeling this way about their parents, teachers, and other adults in their lives. Because this film is so well-loved and the story behind it is timeless, it’s time to give it a real modern take.
Ice Cream Man(1995)
1995’sIce Cream Manisa very niche kind of slasher, but a lot of fun for those who don’t mind something a little silly. The central character is an ice cream man who has recently been released from a mental institution and has started to use some very suspicious ingredients in his recipe.
This film is really unique in a lot of ways. Firstly, the director was mostly known for adult films before this and while this isn’t an overly sleazy movie in subject, that sort of style is definitely there. The child actors also shine beautifully and the character actor work done by Clint Howard is great. Hemakes the character unsettlingand disturbing but humanizes him in a way that will make viewers also feel for him.
Ice Cream Manhas a very nostalgic aesthetic, but it hasn’t aged perfectly. Certain aspects definitely appear dated. That being said, it’s bright and colorful and very entertaining. Bringing the story back in the right way and playing into the fun aspects, while minimizing the demonization of mental illness, could work really well.
Sleepy Hollow(1999)
Tim Burton took the classic storyof the Headless Horseman in Washington Irvine’sThe Legend of Sleepy Hollowand turned it into a gothic, bloody, slasher in 1999’sSleepy Hollow. Johnny Depp plays the lead role of Ichabod Crane, who is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate some strange murders. In supporting roles there are also legends like Christina Ricci, Sir Michael Gambon, and Sir Christopher Lee so this is by no means a small movie.
While there have been some iterations of theSleepy Hollowstory since this film, including a TV show, there hasn’t been another film and especially not one done slasher style. Rebooted in a way that differs from Tim Burton’s gothic style, and giving itmore of a period piecemoment likeThe Witch, could be absolutely iconic.
Urban Legend(1998)
Urban Legendfrom 1998 is really the epitome of 90s slasher. It’s got a hot young cast, set in a college, and follows stories that audiences will already be familiar with. The stars of this movie have gone on to be pretty famous, with Jared Leto, Joshua Jackson, and Alicia Witt in the cast. Sadly though, upon rewatches, it falls a little flat and feels a little boring.
With current culture being so interested in urban legends, cryptids, and conspiracies, this idea could definitely work today if it was updated a little bit.Slashers aren’t as popular anymorebut done well, they’re still the widest appreciated of horror subgenres. A reboot for this film was actually talked about and may still happen, but nothing about it has been talked about in well over a year.
