When an artistic work is old enough, the copyright on it expires, and anyone is free to do with it as they please. And this is what happened to the “Winnie the Pooh” books by A.A. Milne last year (at least outside of the U.S., because the Disney Corporation still controls the rights to the books with a mousy, gloved hand). So to help Hollywood recycle old stories in a new way, we’ve compiled a list of some characters that are in the public domain and could be made into a cheap, violent horror movie. especially.
Peter Pan and the Lost Children
When we approach creating a horror film from a children’s character in the public domain, it helps if the character already has a certain level of creepiness. And a guy in tights kidnapping kids in the middle of the night is pretty creepy. Picture the trailer: a children’s bedroom, an opening window, a pair of floating feet landing on the floor, a knife drawn, a piercing scream. Only the veteran cop, Captain James Hook – who has already lost an arm in an encounter with the mad killer Peter Pan – can stop the green-wearing psychopath and his little assistant, Tinkerbell. Yes, they clearly have a Harley Quinn and Joker style relationship.
Possible tagline: He will never stop. Never…
Pinocchio
It wasn’t until 2022 that we got three adaptations of the beloved story (stop-motion by Guillermo del Toro, a live-action Disney adaptation by Disney and Robert Zemeckis, and a cartoon Zeblon starring Polly Shore) – so I think it’s time for Pinocchio to enter the horror genre. After all, he is not so different from Chucky from the “Child’s Play” movie series, only with wood instead of plastic. This is the story of a lonely carpenter named Geppetto, who just wanted a child of his own, but got much more when his wooden creature was resurrected by the devil. He’s hungry for blood, and he won’t stop until someone comes with a chainsaw. Of course there will be a scene of someone being impaled on Pinocchio’s nose.
Possible tagline: Full tree… Mother!
Bilby
And the creepiest redhead in the history of literature: Emma has a new name, and it’s Bilby Bat Gerev! If you liked being scared of children in movies like: “Sign from Heaven”, “The Evil Within” and “Children of the Corn”, get ready to be scared of a girl with red hair and superhuman physical strength. Bilby may seem innocent, but if she can beat the circus bodybuilder in the book, she can single-handedly kill anyone who doesn’t like her.
Possible tagline: What will she do today?!
Cyrano de Bergerac
It’s not only children’s books that enter the public domain and can earn a scary laugh. How about the classic play Cyrano de Bergerac, about the big-nosed poet who uses his writing skills to help people more handsome than him fall in love. In the new version, Cyrano will of course be a frustrated insel who does not help other people find love, but takes cruel revenge on those who refused him. Ironically, this version of Cyrano will gain sympathy among young girls in our real world, on sites like Tumblr and Twitter, because it’s 2023 and no Seiko is left without an embracing audience.
Possible tagline: The perfect killer is hiding… under your nose.
Don Quixote
Today he may be better known as a symbol of the illusory struggle against forces that are greater than us, but the hero of the famous novel by Miguel de Cervantes, could easily become a psychopathic killer. Just imagine an actor like Joaquin Phoenix stepping into the shoes of a mentally disturbed man who suddenly decides to dress like a knight and walk around with a sword everywhere. Not only windmills will be afraid of this man! With the right director, it could be a fascinating exploration of the human psyche – or at least a movie that tries to do it like “Joker.”
Possible tagline: He is not so innocent anymore.
Elijah the prophet
We Jews also deserve a horror movie that appeals to us (just think of all the classic horror movies that are based on Christian folklore) and who is better suited to be a horror villain than the strange man who suddenly comes to our house and drinks our wine? Imagine a family sitting down for the seder meal, but suddenly the lights go out and furniture starts to move. It’s Elijah! He is here! And he won’t be satisfied with a bit of filth. Hide like an afikomen, but he will find and slaughter you like a scorpion! Happy Passover.
Possible tagline: This is not the Haggadah.