The Wrong Turn franchise has so far encompassed seven loosely connected movies, but to continue onward, an anthology approach may be the best path. Created by Alan B. McElroy - who also holds the unique distinction of penning the worst-reviewed movie on Rotten Tomatoes - Wrong Turn debuted in 2003 and featured recognizable genre actors like Eliza Dushku, Jeremy Sisto, and Desmond Harrington. It also featured Lindy Booth and Kevin Zegers from 2004's Dawn of the Dead remake, playing similar roles, in an odd coincidence.
Wrong Turn introduced Three-Finger, the leader of a murderous cannibal family living deep in the mountains of West Virginia, and the primary antagonist of the first six movies. Three-Finger was originated by notable character actor Julian Richings - who later played Death himself on Supernatural - but played by a handful of new performers in the sequels. That tradition was broken in 2021's Wrong Turn, a reboot of the franchise that changed many longstanding aspects of the property and didn't feature or mention Three-Finger at all.
While both critical and fan reaction to Wrong Turn 2021 was mixed, it at least tends to be appreciated more than Wrong Turn 6: Last Resort, which is a common choice for the worst entry in the saga. At the same time, Wrong Turn 2021 doesn't necessarily seem ripe for a follow-up either. With that in mind, Wrong Turn going the anthology route may be just what the inbred cannibal murderer ordered. The name still has value, but the next step those behind the series take will be crucial to retaining that value.
The Cannibal Family Story Is Worn Out After Six Movies
While the Wrong Turn franchise, like any other long-running property, will probably always have its diehard devotees, it seems clear that for most viewers the existing setup has run its course. For six movies, people unlucky enough to be trapped in the mountains struggled to survive encounters with Three-Finger and clan, only to end up slaughtered for their trouble. It's an effective formula usually employed by series such as Friday the 13th or Halloween, but few would argue Three-Finger is as iconic as Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers.
Adding onto that, the Wrong Turn movies seemed to get progressively worse and worse as they went on. The budgets got smaller, the acting and writing got poorer and the stories basically became nonexistent, or when they weren't, employed laughably stupid or insulting twists. It's telling that Wrong Turn 2: Dead End is generally seen as far and away the best sequel in the series. Three-Finger even became lamer, with much worse-looking make-up or even cheap masks used to make him look like a mutant. There's a reason so many were looking forward to Wrong Turn getting a reinvention in 2021 - even if they didn't end up thrilled by the final product. The Wrong Turn movie series badly needed an overhaul, and since the 2021 movie was far from a smash, it arguably still does. Wrong Turn is unlikely to disappear completely, so it's time to go in a new direction.
Wrong Turn's Reboot Proved The Concept Could Go In New Directions
While many viewers found themselves underwhelmed by the specific direction Wrong Turn 2021 decided to go in, the film did prove that the most basic concept behind Wrong Turn - that of people being picked off by mountain dwellers while spending time in a remote area - can be kept intact while changing things up in new ways. Whether one liked the Foundation cult better or worse than Three-Finger's mutant brood or not, the 2021 film did work well for some, and performed better with critics than anything else in the franchise, original 2003 movie included.
Wrong Turn 2021 doesn't seem destined to become a movie that really sticks in the pop culture consciousness long-term though, so making a direct sequel to it and revisiting The Foundation cult, seems like a self-defeating idea. Instead, going the anthology franchise route could provide a way for the franchise to truly feel fresh with each new installment. All that's needed is a remote mountain area, a killer or killers, and some unsuspecting travelers who end up at the worst possible place at the worst possible time. Slap the Wrong Turn name on it, and fans will turn out to see it. Actually try and make it a good movie, and these viewers will spread the word that Wrong Turn is truly back. More than perhaps any other genre, horror movies tend to rise and fall based on word of mouth within the fan community. Treat them well, and they'll happily return the favor.
Why Wrong Turn Would Work As An Anthology Horror Franchise
As mentioned previously, the basic concept of Wrong Turn could be employed in any number of entertaining ways, which make it especially suited for the anthology treatment. So many murderous things could be lurking in the mountains, whether that be human killers, cannibal mutants, supernatural monsters, a Satanic cult, Bigfoot, a giant hungry bear, or anything else a talented screenwriter and director could cook up. The best part is that - should Wrong Turn devotees demand it - a future installment could see a return to the classic setup involving a cannibal family, possibly even bringing back Three-Finger in some form. That's the type of creative freedom the anthology format allows.
On the flipside, if an attempted installment doesn't work, there's no pressure to try and salvage its story or characters. Whether or not the producers of the Wrong Turn franchise will be willing to take such an experimental approach going forward is anyone's guess, but at the very least, the idea should be discussed and given serious consideration. If it's not and a sequel starring The Foundation is made or worse, a proper Wrong Turn 7, and it once again fails to wow audiences, that might prove to be the nail in the coffin of a once-popular horror series. There's really nothing for anyone involved to lose by trying the anthology approach, and potentially quite a bit of goodwill to gain with fans.