Nobody puts baillee in the corner

Time loop horror can be extremely hard to execute because the sub-genre leaves a lot of room for inconsistencies and contradictions across the franchise’s story arcs. However, when it’s done well, it can be horrifyingly fun, and the franchises (some might argue with the nomenclature, but we’re talking about time loops, baby, so be flexible) I’ve picked today prove my point. Without further ado, here are five of my favorite horror franchises that play with the ideas of time loops and anomalies. 

The Blair Witch franchise: The Blair Witch Project revolutionized found footage horror, but it also inspired some great ideas regarding time loops. The first film is super ambiguous with how time functions, but it’s clear time is an entirely different construct for Heather, Josh, and Mike. The second film Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2proceeds to take the idea further by making not only the characters but the viewers question what actually took place in the film and what was the Blair Witch’s manipulation of time and space. Plus, the second film has a fun Easter egg on the VHS tape called “The Curse of Esrever,” where if you rewind the movie while playing it, you can see images of ghouls sent to do the Blair Witch’s bidding. In Blair Witch, we finally get a glimpse into the inner workings of the time loop, and I know it’s a hot take, but I think Adam Wingard did an excellent job establishing how those who unfortunately find themselves facing the Blair Witch experience time. Even the new video game furthers the time loop canon with its story arc. Time may be altered for the worse to those who dare seek the Blair Witch, but The Blair Witch Project altered horror for the better. 

Happy Death Day franchise: I love both of these films because they not only genre bend (mixing horror with sci fi with time loop comedy), but everything about them is simply charming. The writing is great, the 80s sorority/college slasher elements are all there, but these flicks never take themselves seriously or try to evolve into something they aren’t (I’m not just saying that because I have a massive crush on Tree). The payoff in the first film is great, and the heavy-handed sci fi in the second doesn’t distract from the horror elements or the really touching storyline with Tree and her mother; they’re perfectly balanced. Time may have no meaning, but these movies both do. 

Hell House LLC franchise- I was blown away by how much I loved this trilogy. I went in with no expectations, and I’ve rewatched all three several times. I’m a sucker for things being interconnected, and I love how well the time loops are done in all three films. Hell House LLC establishes our strange occurrences, Hell House II: The Abbadon Hotel establishes how time works and the big bad’s ultimate goal, and Hell House LLC 3: Lake of Fireestablishes the end of the Abbadon Hotel. We’re introduced to several characters throughout, but the viewer is never overwhelmed. There’s a clear and concise beginning, middle, and end, and I’m content with it. Are some of the CGI effects a little shaky? Yes, but for low-budget horror, the scariest part is how they were able to create a solid trilogy for cheap. 

Paranormal Activity franchise- There are some things I really don’t like about this franchise, but there are also a lot of things I really like about this franchise. Paranormal Activity scared the piss out of me, and I slept with the lights on for two days. From Paranormal Activity 2 onward, I wasn’t terrified or bothered, but I enjoyed them. I stand by my theory that the final film, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, would have been better as a stand alone horror movie, but I still enjoyed it. The main thing I’ve always respected in the franchise is the use of time. Each film presents a different piece to the time loop puzzle, and the ending of Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones was *chef’s kiss.*  There are some weak moments in the franchise, but overall, I have mad respect for it, and I will never record myself sleeping out of pure fear. 

Insidious franchise- I love James Wan and Leigh Whannell, and I’ve seen just about every single thing they’ve ever been involved with, including the Insidious franchise. The amount of planning that went into executing these flicks is impressive because (SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER), not only is there time travel and astral-projection, but we learn the first film isn’t actually first in the timeline. Lin Shaye’s Elise has a complex and rich  backstory, and fortunately for us, she isn’t tossed aside like the quintessential physic/demonologist in horror films. I never get bored watching any of the Insidious films, and I feel like a pick up on more of the lore and more of the Easter eggs (James Wan and Leigh Whannell are both NOTORIOUS for inserting references to their previous works). You definitely won’t catch me trying to get [the] Further away from these.