Space: the final frontier… for horror franchises that have exhausted every earthly trope and decide to shoot for the stars—literally. As a fervent fan of all things horror and a scribe with a penchant for the peculiar, I’ve witnessed a peculiar phenomenon: horror icons donning spacesuits and taking their terror to the cosmos. It’s as if there’s an unwritten rule in Hollywood: when in doubt, launch your monster into orbit. So, strap in and prepare for liftoff as we explore five horror movies that took a giant leap for mankind but a questionable step for moviemaking.
Leprechaun 4: In Space
You know what’s scarier than a leprechaun? A leprechaun in space, apparently. This 1997 gem took our favorite gold-obsessed little terror and shot him into the cosmos because, why not? The movie answers the age-old question: What happens when you mix an alien princess, a space marine, and a leprechaun? Spoiler: It’s not a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow; it’s a pot of space-garbage.
Jason X
Jason Voorhees, the machete-wielding, seemingly immortal slasher, decided that Camp Crystal Lake was too passé and hitched a ride to the future. “Jason X” is the tenth installment in the “Friday the 13th” series, and it’s as if the producers thought, “How can we make Jason cooler? I know, let’s give him a space suit!” It’s a slasher flick with a sci-fi twist that’s so bad it’s good, and by good, I mean it’s an excellent tutorial on how not to use cryogenics.
Hellraiser IV: Bloodline
The fourth installment of the “Hellraiser” series, “Bloodline,” takes us on a journey through time, and yes, into space. Because when you think of solving the Lament Configuration and summoning demonic Cenobites, you think of doing it on a space station. It’s a family affair, with the LeMarchand bloodline battling Pinhead across centuries, culminating in a showdown that makes you wish the puzzle box had a self-destruct button.
Dracula 3000
This direct-to-video masterpiece, “Dracula 3000,” is what happens when you cross “Dracula” with “Alien” and remove any semblance of budget or script. It’s the future, and Dracula is in space because Earth’s supply of necks has been exhausted, presumably. The film is a smorgasbord of clichés and wooden acting that will have you rooting for the sun to rise and put an end to your misery.
Critters 4
The Critters franchise decided that Earth was too small for their ravenous hairballs, so “Critters 4” sends them into space, where they can float and terrorize a new buffet of victims. It’s like “Gremlins” in space if Gizmo had been fed after midnight and shot into a black hole. The film is a cautionary tale about the dangers of intergalactic pest control and why some species should just stay grounded.
Honorable Mention: Amityville in Space
While not yet gracing our screens, “Amityville in Space” is an honorable mention because the idea alone is hilariously terrifying. The Amityville horror gets a galactic upgrade, proving that not even the vacuum of space can contain bad real estate decisions. It’s not out yet, but we can only imagine the tagline: “In space, no one can hear you argue with your estate agent.”
These films are a testament to the fact that when it comes to horror, sometimes the scariest thing is the idea that got the green light. So, next time you look up at the stars, remember: somewhere out there, there’s probably a space leprechaun or vampire waiting for their next sequel. And who knows? Maybe it’ll be so bad, it’s out of this world.
Mariska is a recovering attorney who gave up her professional job to discover new perspectives of life while traveling in a 2009 Ford Transit.
She has been living the van life for 3 years and has not looked back since.
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