Editorials
[‘Dead Rising’ at 15] Why Capcom Needs to Give its Goofy Zombie Series Another Shot
A successful series usually occurs when a creator knows what its best qualities are, and builds on them or twists them into new and exciting ways. Capcom in particular has shown that in recent years with the revitalization of Devil May Cry and Resident Evil, but it’s important to note that before that, both series were in a poor state because of how far the original vision had pulled away from what was actually made. For a long time, Capcom followed the wrong trends in an attempt to keep these long-standing series relevant, and often got it painfully wrong.
Never was that more apparent than with Dead Rising, a series where the people in charge clearly listened to the wrong feedback time and again to the point the series’ credibility is at an all-time low after the mess that was Dead Rising 4.
And yet, as the aforementioned Resident Evil and Devil May Cry have shown, there’s a solution to that. Take Dead Rising back to its roots, understand what made the original such a classic 15 years ago, and build on that.
At the core of that is the ticking clock mechanic (the smarts of which are explained so well here by Cole Henry). It was always a sticking point for some with the original game, and even in the first sequel to some degree (albeit for different reasons), but its limitations are exactly what makes Dead Rising’s relative freedom outside of it such a joy.
It’s telling that later entries lost something without the rigidity of that strict timeframe to do specific tasks, and that’s exacerbated by game worlds that were far too open and busy. Given Capcom’s smartly frugal approach to getting other franchises back to their best, a smaller, tighter game to reboot the Dead Rising series makes a lot of sense. The safest way to approach that would surely be to give the original game a similar reimagining treatment that was bestowed upon Resident Evil 2. Hit the key beats, keep the essence of the original, but present it in a more comfortable, modern way.
I adore the original Dead Rising for what it is, but as with the older Resident Evil games, I can appreciate the way they handle isn’t particularly pleasant for the majority of newcomers. Finding the balance between the old way and the new is a very tricky challenge for any publisher/developer revitalizing a series, but this is arguably where Capcom has excelled these past few years. You don’t need to replicate the control set to make a new game feel like an old one. It’s what’s baked deeper into the game that matters most.
At its best, Dead Rising made the player feel like they had the upper hand just enough to encourage a bit of risky experimentation, but was never afraid to punish overconfidence, either by the smart placement of its zombie hordes or by the sudden panic-inducing reminder of a time-sensitive event almost being out of reach. Few games achieve such a wonderful bounce between goofing off and facing dire situations as well as Dead Rising did.
Goofing off is another key component necessary in the thick soup that makes up the essence of Dead Rising. Again, the exact nature and level of it has been misunderstood in the sequels, or worse, poorly balanced with an attempt to be more serious. That weird disconnected way some horror films of the 80s had about them is also present in the make-up of the original Dead Rising, and in both cases, it makes for a more memorable experience because of how casually nonsensical they can be. Having story is fine, and should still be a part of things, but it can afford to be handled lightly and be a touch absurd if it’s to capture the tone of Dead Rising as it should be.
Most importantly of all, if ever there was a good time to give Dead Rising another shot with less risk for Capcom, this is it. The recent excitement over Dead Space being remade (even if that’s not without some concerns), and a strong time for horror games in general, shows that there’s bound to be an audience, both old and new, out there for more Dead Rising. Any excuse to give this series the chance it deserves to be back in the spotlight, and to erase the unpleasant memory that was Dead Rising 4 and its horribly Hollywood version of Frank West as the final time we got to mow down hordes with a shopping trolley.
Actually, now I think about it, the most important thing is to ensure Frank West doesn’t get a makeover. Give us back our unpleasant war-covering weirdo, please.
The home video market used to be a chaotic industry wedged neatly between theatrical releases and television productions. It was where indie filmmakers could experiment with and profit from low-budget bangers while big studios could also squeeze extra money out of beloved properties without necessarily investing in blockbuster sequels.
There were plenty of cinematic duds during this time, and you never really knew whether you had just picked up a legitimately fun low-budget endeavor or a quick cash-grab from the rental store, but I’d argue that the good outweighed the bad because these flicks were allowed to be weirder than their big-budget counterparts – especially where sequels were concerned.
In honor of these home video hidden gems, today I’d like to recommend five underrated direct-to-video horror sequels that are still worth tracking down!
For the purposes of this list, I’ll be defining direct-to-video productions as films that were exclusively released on video/DVD, so no limited theatrical releases or TV movies that later made it big on home video. That means avoiding popular recommendations like Curse of Chucky and Wrong Turn 2 in order to focus on less-discussed horror flicks.
That being said, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite sequels if you think we missed a particularly thrilling one.
With that out of the way, onto the list!
5. Tremors 4: The Legend Begins (2004)
The success of Ron Underwood’s original Tremors was lightning in a bottle that can’t ever be replicated, so as much as I understand the love for the second film and its campy thrills, Tremors 4 remains my personal favorite sequel simply because it dares to do something different with the franchise.
Directed by series co-creator S.S. Wilson, The Legend Begins is a surprisingly effective prequel that tells the story of how the town of Perfection earned its name after a terrifying 1889 encounter with the graboids. This horror western may not live up to the original, but it doesn’t really have to, with the period aesthetic and fresh story making it one hell of a standalone adventure.
4. Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest (1995)
There are those who argue that there are no good Children of the Corn films, but I think the series has something to offer for every kind of horror fan if you’re willing to deal with low budgets and strange creative decisions. In fact, I’m of the opinion that the initial trilogy of Children films only got better over time, with the third entry being the most entertaining despite having the least to do with Stephen King’s original story.
In this urban horror romp, we follow a pair of siblings who enter foster care after their abusive father is transformed into a scarecrow by He Who Walks Behind the Rows. What follows is an effects-heavy descent into madness as the kids bring their particular brand of religious fury to 90s Chicago – with deadly results.
If that’s not enough to convince you to give this flick a try, you should know that this is the only entry in the series that King himself has admitted to liking. Not only that, but it also marks Charlize Theron’s feature film debut.
3. Boogeyman 2 (2007)
Jeff Betancourt had his job cut out for him when he was first contacted to helm the sequel to 2005’s Boogeyman. Not only was the first film a critical bomb, but the sequel was set to be produced for a mere $4.5 million – less than a fourth of the budget of the original flick.
Yet, Jeff decided to use this direct-to-video sequel as an opportunity to improve on the generic aspects of the flick’s predecessor by making the monster more uncannily human and focusing more on the script than elaborate set pieces. The best part is that Boogeyman 2 isn’t limited by a PG-13 rating, meaning that the deaths are more interesting in spite of the lower budget.
2. Maniac Cop 2 (1990)
The original Maniac Cop is a legitimately entertaining slasher even if it can’t compete with some of the other great franchises from the 80s, but fans know that the direct-to-video sequel is way more fun to revisit despite its shoddy production value and rushed script.
In fact, this rental store hit features more elaborate death sequences while also exploring more of what it means for a community when a police officer goes rogue. Director William Lustig also looks back on this project fondly, claiming that he considers it his personal favorite film of his career and a “terrific B-movie”.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
1. Bloodstone: Subspecies II (1993)
More of a middle part of a sprawling trilogy than a standalone horror romp, Ted Nicolaou’s Subspecies II is still the pinnacle of the auteur director’s vampire series and a great example of why it was often worth diving into the bargain bin in order to pick up a Full Moon Features VHS tape.
This fast-paced sequel takes place immediately after the events of the 1991 original, meaning that Subspecies II wastes no time in getting to the lovable practical effects that likely motivated you to purchase the flick in the first place. Nicolaou and Anders Hove (who plays Radu, the iconic vampire) are also much more sure of themselves in this sophomore effort, and that’s why I’d argue that it’s worth watching even if you’re not a fan of the first movie.
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