Horror fans love keeping track of which new Blumhouse horror movies are coming out, and January 2023 alone will be a big month, withInsidious: Fear the DarkandM3GANexpected to make a splash. But while many of the production company’s releases have been big hits both in terms of box office and positive reviews, some movies have gotten under 10% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The best and most popular Blumhouse horror movies are always character-driven, and this is what horror fans are looking for. The films that have been ranked low on Rotten Tomatoes have generic characters and aren’t ultimately as memorable as many others.
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Martyrs (2015) - 9%
With a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and 15% Audience Score,Martyrsis one Blumhouse horror movie with less than 10% on the website. Kate Burton ofGrey’s Anatomyfame and Troian Bellisario, known for playing Spencer Hastings on theteen horror TV showPretty Little Liars, star in the film as Eleanor and Lucie Jurin. Bellisario’s character has been living at St. Mary’s Orphanage and she and her friend Anna (Bailey Noble) want to get revenge on the people who kidnapped and hurt them when they was younger.
The main storyline and characters don’t make much of an impression. With a convoluted plot that doesn’t make much sense, it’s no wonder that the film has a rating of under 10%.Martrysonly grossed $397,072 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, and it hasn’t been talked about much since its release. Someslashers deconstruct the genreand feel fresh, but this one doesn’t.
Fantasy Island (2020) - 8%
With an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 48% Audience Score,Fantasy Islandis aBlumhouse horror movie that fell flatand doesn’t have a strong plot or fleshed out characters. Based on the TV show from the 1970s, the film follows a group of strangers who are told to visit this island so their wildest dreams can happen.
Instead, the characters realize that “be careful what you wish for” is a very real thing. The main problem with the movie is that it goes off the rails and the effects feel silly instead of scary. The result is a story that isn’t as memorable as the original TV series. The question ofwhat makes a good horror prequelis relevant for adaptations, too, as sometimes the story doesn’t need to be told again. ThisFantasy Islandisn’t very thrilling or fun.
Ouija (2014) - 6%
Sometimes a teen horror movie has characters who feel unoriginal and like they have been in every other movie about high schoolers. That’s definitely the case withOuija, which has a 6% Rotten Tomatoes rating and a low Audience Score of 24%. One of theworst teen horror movies,Ouijais about teenagers who play with a Ouija board and begin getting killed.
Unlike thebest demonic possession horror movies,Ouijadoesn’t feel scary enough, and the characters blend into one another, which makes it hard to care about them. Since many people have memories of using Ouija boards during sleepovers or get-togethers with friends and laughing and having fun, it’s hard to really buy that a Ouija board could be this horrifying. The story feels dull and doesn’t go anywhere interesting.
The Darkness (2016) - 3%
The Darkness, which has a 3% Rotten Tomatoes rating and an 19% Audience Score, is one of thelowest-grossing Blumhouse horror movieswith a worldwide gross of $10,753,574. The movie follows a family who travel to the Grand Canyon and find a supernatural mystery. While this premise has some promise, the result isn’t exciting. Everything begins when the young son, Mikey Taylor (David Mazouz), discovers a rock that has a strange and confusing symbol.
Blumhouse has many great non-supernatural movies, butThe Darknessdoesn’t live up to the production company’s horror catalog in general, whether the films are about the paranormal or more grounded. There isn’t a lot of story and since the characters don’t have a lot to do, it’s not much fun to watch.
The Gallows Act II (2019) - 0%
The Gallows Act IIis aBlumhouse movie with a rare 0% Rotten Tomatoes ratingand a 29% Audience Score. While the first movieThe Gallowsfrom 2015 isn’t a favorite, this is definitely proof that this movie wasn’t a hit with fans. It’s the kind of horror sequel that has faded into the background.
When Auna Rue (Ema Horvath)’s video goes viral, a spirit goes after her, but while this is meant to be scary, the result isn’t even a little bit creepy.Audiences love horror moviesfor moving and well-drawn characters, terrifying locations and pulse-pounding storylines, but none of those elements are present here. The overall result is a forgettable film.
