Popeye the Slayer Man is the latest childhood character reimagined as a horror icon and the producers behind the horror film are not holding back. After Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey made quite an impression on the general audience, other filmmakers are ready to shed light on how these beloved cartoon characters are capable of great violence, and this will surely be a treat for horror enthusiasts and a traumatic memory for the younger audience.
Popeye the Slayer Man Will Show a Different Side of the Beloved Sailor
While others may view these reimagined horror projects as a disgrace to the memory of childhood characters, it is worth remembering that they are up for grabs once they enter the public domain. Popeye the Slayer Man features a group of friends fascinated by the legendary tale of a sailor man haunting an old spinach canning factory, and based on the trailer, Popeye is certainly living up to his reputation.
In this twisted version of the iconic sailor, Popeye is hiding in an old factory in isolation and is not too fond of strangers. The filmmakers are eager to deliver this darker version of the character and spared no expense with the gore and blood. Traditionally, horror films would use CGI to create disturbing imagery; however, Jeff Miller opted to go old school with practical effects:
We went old-school and focused on using real practical effects, and not relying on CG for the gore. We’re talking with very enthusiastic and interested buyers now.
Popeye and Winnie the Pooh are not the only classic childhood characters that will be reimagined nefariously. Screamboat is an upcoming horror-comedy film starring David Howard Thornton that features the earliest version of the Mickey Mouse character, and it is safe to assume it is not the lovable mouse everyone knows growing up.
Popeye the Slayer Man is not the first nor will it be the last time viewers will see a classic character to be reimagined. Perhaps more filmmakers will follow suit and show a different side that the youth was not meant to see.
For more Thumb Wars Films and TV coverage, check out how Gladiator 2 and Beetlejuice 2 prove that decade-long gaps between the original films and sequels can thrive, or which major story moments HBO must adapt in the live-action second season of The Last of Us.
Rouvin Josef Quirimit is a Content Writer, an avid gamer (on his PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch), and film enthusiast. He was fortunate to grow up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and was enamored by the storytelling of a shared universe full of heart and spectacle. His love for movies led him to great single-player games and he intends to cover major franchises for years to come!
