- Daily Grindhouse
- Posts
- DELICIOUS GARBAGE: The Rise of Public Domain Horror
DELICIOUS GARBAGE: The Rise of Public Domain Horror
In partnership with
DELICIOUS GARBAGE: The Rise of Public Domain Horror
By: AA
First, came the announcement.
Then, the jaw-dropping disbelief.
That was followed by a viral bloom of WTF curiosity and bewilderment.
Now here we are, years in and a handful of creative experiments later… living in a world with a bona fide mind-melting new genre: public domain horror.
What in the honey-coated hell?
Winnie-the-Pooh took the first bullet back in 2023. Then came Peter Pan, Bambi, Mickey, and as of this week — Betty Boop is getting her own horror movie.
Of course she is.
At this point, it can be safely stated that what originally appeared to be an indulgent film fever has metastasized into a full-blown genre mutation that appears to be here to stay.
continued…
Turn AI Into Your Income Stream
The AI economy is booming, and smart entrepreneurs are already profiting. Subscribe to Mindstream and get instant access to 200+ proven strategies to monetize AI tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and more. From content creation to automation services, discover actionable ways to build your AI-powered income. No coding required, just practical strategies that work.
Fine by me.
We—you, me, Daily Grindhouse—celebrate cinematic oddities. Why not this one?
Once you get past the conceptual shock of blood-spattered Pooh fur, you can start to see the anarchic glee that goes into completely rewiring everyone’s childhood memories.
These movies—good or bad—are proudly, defiantly delicious garbage.
Imagine what John Waters would/could have done with these back in the day!
Pooh becomes a slasher.
Pinocchio becomes a creature feature.
Bambi: The Reckoning turns a grief-stricken fawn into a furry vengeance demon. An adorable Bronson of the forest.
Will Betty Boop be the next MS .45?
It’s a reminder of what exploitation cinema has always been. Cheap. Opportunistic. Quick. But also inventive in the weirdest corners, and surprisingly communal.
The late, great exploiteer David F Friedman always said you can exploit anything for movies…as long as it’s done in bad taste.
Ruining fond childhood memories ain’t great taste, that’s for sure.
Having the brass to create an entire Twisted Childhood Universe (the Poohniverse)… well, don’t expect any apologies anytime soon.
Of course, you don’t get a Twisted Childhood Universe unless there’s an audience hungry for this particular flavor of nonsense, an audience that loves the bizarre, the junky, the creatively questionable… the stuff that feels like it was made for the midnight crowd and against the rules.
The best marketing ideas come from marketers who live it. That’s what The Marketing Millennials delivers: real insights, fresh takes, and no fluff. Written by Daniel Murray, a marketer who knows what works, this newsletter cuts through the noise so you can stop guessing and start winning. Subscribe and level up your marketing game.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is the original accidental public-domain horror icon. The movie not only survived going public-domain it became immortal because of it… spawning an entire zombie genre.
What happens when SHAFT falls into the public domain?
Or the great Herschell Gordon Lewis villains, like Fuad Ramses and Montag the Magnificent?
Will there be a Bob and Doug Mackenzie horror movie?
Die Hoser, Eh?
For now, one can only imagine/dream/brace themselves for what’s coming, as each year another cherished property loses its copyright exclusivity.
The deranged public domain reboots being made today are most certainly crass cash grabs built on the antique backs of iconic characters. But at the same time, they’re doing what all good exploitation movies do. They’re widening the genre movie playing field for anything and everything tomorrow. Not that they’re entirely redeeming.
Wall Street’s Morning Edge.
Investing isn’t about chasing headlines — it’s about clarity. In a world of hype and hot takes, The Daily Upside delivers real value: sharp, trustworthy insights on markets, business, and the economy, written by former bankers and seasoned financial journalists.
That’s why over 1 million investors — from Wall Street pros to Main Street portfolio managers — start their day with The Daily Upside.
Invest better. Read The Daily Upside.
To advertise in Daily Grindhouse, contact: [email protected]
Join Daily Grindhouse Patreon Today and Get 5 FREE Books Instantly…
Book #1 - 50 Cult Movie Books Every Fan Should Own!
Book #2 - Daily Grindhouse’s Top 50 Movie Characters oxf All Time!
Book #3 - Freddy Kreuger’s Top 50 Adversaries!
Book #4 - Daily Grindhouse on Mike Flanagan!
Book #5 - Daily Grindhouse’s Shark Movie Feast!
