The Best Horror Movie Franchise Endings
Horror movies are a great way to get your adrenaline pumping and your heart racing. But what makes a horror movie truly great? Is it the scares? The gore? The suspense?
For me, one of the most important elements of a great horror movie is the ending. A good ending can leave you feeling satisfied, scared, or even haunted long after the credits have rolled.
Here are some of the best horror movie franchise endings of all time:
- Halloween (1978): The original Halloween is a classic for a reason. The ending, in which Michael Myers escapes from Smith’s Grove Sanitarium and stalks Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) through the streets of Haddonfield, is one of the most iconic in horror history.
- Friday the 13th (1980): Another classic slasher film, Friday the 13th features a memorable ending in which Jason Voorhees (Ari Lehman) kills all of the counselors at Camp Crystal Lake. The final shot of Jason standing in the water, his machete raised, is one of the most chilling images in horror cinema.
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street is a groundbreaking horror film that introduced the world to Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund). The ending, in which Nancy Thompson (Heather Langenkamp) defeats Freddy by pulling him into the real world, is both satisfying and terrifying.
- The Evil Dead (1981): Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead is a cult classic that features one of the most gruesome and over-the-top endings in horror history. Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) is left alone in a cabin in the woods, surrounded by the undead. As he fights for his life, he is possessed by a demon and transformed into a monster himself.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a terrifying film that features a shocking ending. Sally Hardesty (Marilyn Burns) is the only survivor of a group of friends who are attacked by a family of cannibals. As she runs for her life, she is chased by Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), who wields a chainsaw. The final shot of Sally running down the road, screaming for help, is one of the most iconic in horror history.
These are just a few of the best horror movie franchise endings of all time. Each of these endings is unique and memorable, and they all leave a lasting impression on the viewer.
What makes a good horror movie ending?
There are a few key elements that make a good horror movie ending:
- It is satisfying. A good horror movie ending should leave the viewer feeling satisfied. This doesn’t mean that the ending has to be happy, but it should feel like a resolution to the story.
- It is scary. A good horror movie ending should also be scary. This doesn’t mean that the ending has to be gory or violent, but it should leave the viewer feeling unsettled or on edge.
- It is memorable. A good horror movie ending should be memorable. This doesn’t mean that the ending has to be complicated or twisty, but it should stay with the viewer long after the credits have rolled.
The best horror movie endings are the ones that combine all of these elements. They are satisfying, scary, and memorable. They leave the viewer feeling satisfied, scared, and haunted long after the credits have rolled.
