11 Critically Panned Scary Movies That Fans Really Enjoy

John Carpenter is a beloved horror director, but "Ghosts of Mars" is not one of his universally praised films. It is not the only Carpenter film that was not well received upon initial release. However, it is one of Carpenter's more fun and action-oriented films; not everyone could vibe with it. Fans call it an "awesome film with incredible costumes and action sequences." It also has a terrific cast with Natasha Henstridge, Jason Statham, Pam Grier, Ice Cube, Joanna Cassidy, and Clea DuVall.

"Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2" was a hit, just not with the critics. The film's reputation took such a beating that it was long considered a failure. However, of late, it has become a cult favorite. Joe Berlinger, a documentary filmmaker, directed it, and Kim Director, Jeffrey Donovan, and Erica Leerhsen starred in the film. The main criticism about the movie is that it is nothing like the first film.

M. Night Shyamalan's film "The Happening" was mocked when it was released. It was another film popular at the box office but generally not with critics. Stephen King went on the record saying he thought it was good. People have said that they have a guilty liking for the film. I don't believe that it has been critically reassessed, but there are horror fans who appreciate the silliness of the movie along with some of the violent imagery.

"Event Horizon" has a strong cult following now, but it was not popular when it came out. The critical response was not kind, and the box office wasn't enough to make it a financial success. Tales of lost scenes with much more gore and violence, based on Breughel and Bosch paintings, have burnished the film's reputation and stoked fans' hopes, but it seems likely that the footage may no longer exist. Even after a critical reassessment after 25 years and the presence of such actors as Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan, and Joely Richardson, the film still hasn't risen to a level that would fully redeem its reputation.

"Ghost Ship" is notable for its gory and shocking opening sequence. Anyone who has ever seen it and likes horror knows the sequence is an all-timer for opening sequences. The rest of the film is still enjoyable, but the critics tried to sink this boat. Steve Beck directed it and stars Julianna Margulies, Ron Eldard, Isaiah Washington, and Gabriel Byrne and has an early role for Karl Urban where he eats some maggots.

If you were looking for the film with the lowest score on the critical aggregation site, here it is. It's "Soul Survivors" starring Melissa Sagemiller, Casey Affleck, Eliza Dushku, Wes Bentley, and Luke Wilson, directed by Stephen Carpenter. In addition to the low critical rating, it did not do well in wide release and was one of the lowest-grossing films in 2011. The film has defenders who call it "dark and gritty."

Director Neil LaBute's remake of the folk horror classic "The Wicker Man" starring Nicolas Cage, Ellen Burstyn, Frances Conroy, and Leelee Sobieski is a puzzling film. One thing is for sure, Nicolas Cage was 100% committed to the role, and the fact that the film is still the subject of memes 17 years later says something. Some people love it, and one said, "It doesn't deserve all the hate that it gets."

The prequel to John Carpenter's "The Thing," made in 2011, was savaged by the critics when it was released. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. directed the film, and it stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Kristofer Hivju, who a few years later would play Tormund Giantsbane on "Game of Thrones." One of the main criticisms about this movie is that it is too faithful to the Carpenter film. It seems a bit ironic since John Carpenter's version of "The Thing" was also savaged critically, and it took 26 years to be recognized as the brilliant film it is. Fans stated it had some good ideas but were disappointed by the CGI effects.

Even though "Jason X" is having a bit of a renaissance among horror fans, it was loathed by critics and "Friday the 13th" when it was released. However, some fans love the movie and its satirical version of the series' story. It takes the time to poke fun at the series' rules which might be part of why some hardcore Jason fans disliked it. It does have some gory and violent kills, though. It was directed by Jim Issac, written by Todd Farmer, and has a cameo by David Cronenberg. As one fan of the film said, "It's Jason in space; what could be better?"

"Thirteen Ghosts" is a favorite of many kids who grew up in the 2000s. More than one fan noted that they would watch the film repeatedly. Critics said that the film's flaw wasn't very scary, but the critics and fans agreed that the production design and the design of the ghosts were superb. I don't think it was meant to be ultra-scary because it does have the "family" subplot, but the commitment of the actors, especially that of genre fave Matthew Lilliard should be noted. Steve Beck directed the film, starring Tony Shalhoub, Embeth Davidtz, Shannon Elizabeth, Rah Digga, and F. Murray Abraham.