Popeye’s Revenge (2025), directed by William Stead, reimagines the classic cartoon sailor as a supernatural slasher villain. The film follows a group of young adults, led by Tara (Emily Mogilner), who plan to convert an old, abandoned house into a haunted attraction. Unbeknownst to them, the property is linked to the legend of Popeye (Steven Murphy), a deformed and bullied boy believed to have drowned in a nearby lake after a tragic series of events. As the group settles in, they find themselves stalked by a vengeful, supernatural entity donning a sailor’s outfit, leading to a series of gruesome encounters.
The film attempts to blend elements from classic horror franchises, drawing comparisons to “Friday the 13th” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” However, it has been criticized for its lack of originality and coherence. Reviewers have pointed out that the movie feels like a patchwork of ideas lifted from other horror films, resulting in a disjointed narrative. Additionally, the transformation of the beloved, spinach-loving sailor into a bloodthirsty killer has been met with skepticism, with critics noting that the film fails to capture the essence of the original character.
