Terror TV: 5 horror films that would make great television

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The Faculty–Courtesy of Dimension Films

There will never be a day when horror remakes and reboots cease to exist. Rather than continue this trend with movies, though, we’ve put together a list of horror films that, ideally, would make a good television series.

While several horror remakes and reboots are quite great in their own right, there are many benefits to exploring material on television networks or streaming platforms. Our list includes five films, reasons we think they’d work well on TV and some potential ideas for their long-term success.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

The ‘Burbs

The ‘Burbs–Courtesy of Imagine Entertainment and Universal Pictures

The ‘Burbs is a comfort movie if there ever was one. In typical Joe Dante fashion, the director blends satirical humor and accessible horror elements in ways that appeal to a broad audience — or should have, rather. Though it featured immensely talented and popular cast members such as Tom Hanks, Carrie Fisher, Bruce Dern and Corey Feldman, the film was only a modest success at the worldwide box office, bringing in just under $50 million.

The ‘Burbs has since gained a well-deserved cult following, most of who would hate to see Dante’s film rebooted in any capacity, but the material would undeniably lend itself well to a television series. The suburban setting, quirky characters and dark humor against a sunny backdrop are among details that bring to mind Netflix’s successful sitcom Santa Clarita Diet, which just dropped its third season on the streaming service.

The tone of Santa Clarita Diet isn’t too far off from that of The ‘Burbs, so its success would essentially be a foregone conclusion. Add a likable cast to play fun characters, much like its film counterpart, and present those central characters with a mystery and potential threat to their suburban neighborhood. It’s a recipe that couldn’t possibly go wrong, even if you’re a die-hard fan of the original.

The Faculty

The Faculty–Courtesy of Dimension Films

Kevin Williamson was the god of ‘90s teen entertainment. In that decade alone, he developed and penned the first two Scream movies (a property that has already been explored on television), created a pop culture phenomenon in Dawson’s Creek and wrote the screenplays for I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Faculty.