There are some horror movie main characters who have truly stood the test of time. These are often final girls, from Sidney Prescott to Laurie Strode to Nancy Thompson, characters who have struggled, fought evil, and come out on the other side. There are also the villains who fans never stop thinking about, from Michael Myers to Leatherface to Ghostface and Freddy Krueger.
While there are plenty of iconic, classic characters who have influenced the horror genre, there are some who can definitely be considered overrated. It could be argued that these characters have become less exciting over time.
Sally Hardesty (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of the best classic slasher franchises, but Sally Hardesty doesn't hold up as a final girl. Played by Marilyn Burns in the 1974 film, Sally comes across Leatherface and is terrorized and comes close to dying.
Sally doesn't have a lot in common with other final girls besides standing up to a killer and surviving. She isn't the most well-drawn character and while horror fans know a lot about final girls Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis), it's hard to recall a lot about Sally. While Sally comes back in the 2022 film (played by Olwen Fouéré) to get revenge on Leatherface, she just doesn't feel as fascinating as Sidney and Laurie. Sally feels like a paint-by-numbers final girl character without any details or depth.
Alice Hardy (Friday The 13th)
Adrienne King's character Alice Hardy is a final girl who is murdered as Jason Voorhees kills her in Friday the 13th 2. In the original 1980 film, Alice is working at Camp Crystal Lake because her boyfriend is there, too.
While Alice is thought of as a famous final girl and often brought up when people talk about the history of the term, Alice is nowhere near as exciting or well-developed as Sidney, Laurie, or more contemporary characters like Grace De Le Domas (Samara Weaving) in Ready Or Not. It's hard to remember what Alice's personality is like and audiences don't learn much about her. Friday the 13th can be considered an overrated '80s horror movie and there isn't much going on with Alice's character. She feels more forgettable than several other final girls.
Norman Bates (Psycho)
While the 1960s classic horror film Psycho still holds up today, the filmmaking style and Marion Crane's (Janet Leigh) shower scene are the most interesting and exciting elements. As far as horror villains go, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) isn't really that interesting, at least not as time passes.
Norman can definitely be considered an overrated character as his motive for killing (that he's just plain "crazy" and obsessed with his mother) is gross and off-putting. Norman isn't enjoyable or entertaining to watch, and while audiences can praise the storytelling style of Psycho, Norman isn't the greatest villain in horror history. While Norman has endured as a creepy villain, leading to the TV series Bates Motel, he just might be a bit too creepy for some.
Heather/Josh/Mike (The Blair Witch Project)
Although The Blair Witch Project inspired viral marketing and that is really cool to think about, the '90s movie has a great hook but a dull story. The main characters Heather (Heather Donahue), Josh (Joshua Leonard) and Mike (Michael Williams) can be considered overrated as they don't do much besides sit at their campsite and act freaked out by the supernatural presence in the woods.
While the idea of college students who go into the forest and try to find a witch does sound fun to watch, the characters lack development, and it's hard for horror fans not to wish that they could learn more about their personalities and backstories. When people think about the movie, it might be hard to recall a lot of details about these three main characters.
Annabelle (The Conjuring franchise)
While Chucky the killer doll is timeless, Annabelle isn't quite as scary and compelling. While any old-fashioned doll is going to be somewhat unnerving, Annabelle, who is part of The Conjuring universe, just doesn't pack the same punch.
Annabelle is a source of evil for many characters in various movies, and she will cause mayhem and havoc no matter where she is placed. However, Annabelle mostly hangs out in the background and when compared to Chucky, who is so funny and outspoken, Annabelle seems much more dull and forgettable. When compared to the many creepy villains and killers in the history of horror, it's hard not to feel that Annabelle is a bit overrated. While the 2019 film Annabelle Comes Home might be the best one in the franchise, that's thanks to McKenna Grace's great performance and the old-fashioned setting.