Best Horror Movie Sequels Ever

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Best Horror Movie Sequels Ever

Key Takeaways

  • Successful horror movie franchises blend scares & genres, creating diverse & terrifying films.
  • Early horror movies pioneered practical effects & dark comedy before evolving into sequels.
  • Iconic horror movie franchises like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre & A Nightmare on Elm Street influenced and inspired other films in the genre.

As a cinephile who’s spent countless hours immersed in the celluloid world, I can confidently say that sequels have played a significant role in shaping the landscape of cinema, often surpassing or at least matching their predecessors in terms of quality and impact. The sequel to the classic “Night of the Living Dead,” though it didn’t feature any returning characters, managed to carve its own niche by introducing the trope of survivors holed up in a mall during the zombie apocalypse. It’s fascinating to see how these stories have evolved over the years, with shows like “Van Helsing” and “The Last of Us” carrying on the survivalist angle so vividly portrayed in this movie.

One frightening experience often leads to another, especially when it comes to the horror genre, which consistently proves profitable. Consequently, you won’t run out of horror movies with sequels. It’s not uncommon for successful horror films to spawn entire franchises, and given the genre’s popularity since its boom in the 1970s, there’s a wealth of iconic titles to pick from.

Many popular horror series that audiences enjoy today originated several decades back, long before CGI became commonplace. Remarkable special effects were initially created and utilized in horror films, preceding their use in science fiction or fantasy, and these effects evolved alongside the movies, leading to numerous sequels for many of them.

7 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2

IMDb Rating: 5.6

  • Directed By: Tobe Hooper
  • Starring: Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Jim Siedow, Bill Moseley
  • Release Date: August 22, 1986
  • Sequel To: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Although traditional film critics may not highly rate the direct sequel to the legendary movie, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, it maintains a dedicated fanbase. Similar to other films in this series, it pushes boundaries in practical effects, dark humor, and contemporary horror, even more so than its predecessor did.

This stretch of deserted Texas highway often sees a rowdy gang of football players under the influence, their pickup trucks, and the infamous villain Leatherface making an appearance. In the sequel, we meet Leatherface again, accompanied by another sinister character, Chop Top, yet another notorious figure who would reappear in later installments of the franchise.

6 The Exorcist III

IMDb Rating: 6.5

  • Directed By: William Peter Blatty
  • Starring: George C. Scott, Ed Flanders, Jason Miller, Nicol Williamson, Brad Dourif
  • Release Date: August 17, 1990
  • Sequel To: Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)

The history of the “The Exorcist” film franchise is as full of unexpected twists and turns as the stories in the movies themselves. Featuring a prestigious cast and the comeback of director William Blatty, the third installment stands among the greatest horror sequels ever made, serving as a form of redemption following the infamous failure of its second iteration.

In the 15 years following the events depicted in the initial film (released in 1975), The Exorcist III unfolds. The narrative opens with a conversation among recurring characters who share memories of the past, particularly the exorcism of Regan MacNeil. Subsequently, it explores a string of grotesque murders that possess an eerie, supernatural atmosphere.

5 Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

IMDb Rating: 6.7

  • Directed By: Chuck Russell
  • Starring: Heather Langenkamp, Patricia Arquette, Larry Fishburne, Priscilla Pointer
  • Release Date: February 27, 1987
  • Sequel To: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

A Nightmare on Elm Street, launched in 1984, is the epitome of ’80s slasher series, culminating with Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare in 1991. Wes Craven, a renowned horror director and writer, was the driving force behind the initial concept, and even penned parts of the script when he wasn’t directing the films.

The storyline shifts intriguingly at this point, introducing an occult aspect, particularly focusing on the mission to provide Freddy with a fitting burial for his remains. The protagonist is gathering a group to confront Freddy in his own realm. This requires them to uncover and harness their abilities related to dreams, a link to the previous film’s events where Freddy was defeated.

4 Evil Dead 2

IMDb Rating: 7.7

  • Directed By: Sam Raimi
  • Starring: Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Dan Hicks, Kassie Wesley
  • Release Date: March 13, 1987
  • Sequel To: The Evil Dead (1981)

Under the title “Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn,” this film is among those early works that helped establish Sam Raimi as a notable director and Bruce Campbell as a horror movie icon. At the time, comedy-horror was still an emerging concept, but the popularity of this series underscores the fact that even though it might be considered a niche genre, its timeless appeal resonates with audiences.

This series significantly enhances the concept of a woodland cabin, with its second installment serving as both a continuation and a reimagining of the original. The dark comedy, intense horror elements, and dedication to practical effects and makeup have yet to be matched, despite inspiring numerous other films. Released in 1992, the third film, “Army of Darkness,” deposits our wise-cracking protagonist Ash into another bizarre and terrifying setting.

3 Dawn of the Dead

IMDb Rating: 7.8

  • Directed By: George A. Romero
  • Starring: David Emge, Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross
  • Release Date: April 13, 1979
  • Sequel To: Night of the Living Dead (1968)

As a die-hard fan, I can’t contain my excitement for the long-awaited follow-up to the legendary “Night of the Living Dead.” This film is renowned for introducing the trope of surviving the undead apocalypse within the confines of a mall, a concept that originated from this movie. The farmhouse that was central to the original story has been expanded into a larger urban setting, which would have resonated with viewers in the 70s and 80s. This film also set the precedent for the survivalist element that’s become synonymous with tales of the undead apocalypse, a theme that echoes strongly in series like “Van Helsing” and “The Last of Us.

In the second movie, none of the original characters returned, yet the movie’s success wasn’t diminished at all. Interestingly, four more films were released as direct sequels, along with an independent Italian franchise titled “Zombi”.

2 Bride of Frankenstein

IMDb Rating: 7.8

  • Directed By: James Whale
  • Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Elsa Lanchester
  • Release Date: April 20, 1935
  • Sequel To: Frankenstein (1931)

As a gamer, I’d say: “Experiencing the original ‘Frankenstein’ movie and its immediate sequel feels like witnessing the mastery of early cinema in adapting a great book. The novel, penned by Mary Shelley, is the birthplace of both chilling horror tales and, to some extent, the roots of science fiction. The haunting blend of these two genres that captivated audiences can be traced back to this timeless story.

In an intriguing turn of events, Shelley is indeed present in this movie. She reveals that there’s more to the narrative beyond the ending of the initial story, which was not shown in the first film. This unshown information from the second book was omitted during the scriptwriting for the first movie adaptation, a common practice among contemporary filmmakers when developing a sequel based on a book series.

1 Aliens

IMDb Rating: 8.4

  • Directed By: James Cameron
  • Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn
  • Release Date: July 18, 1986
  • Sequel To:Alien (1979)

The sci-fi horror sequel “Alien” is often ranked among the greatest follow-ups ever made. During the early 80s, director James Cameron was exploring the fusion of horror and sci-fi with action in his films, as demonstrated by titles like “Predator” and “Terminator”, and he applied this approach to the sequel for the blockbuster science fiction horror film, “Alien”.

Title may contain a hint of irony, but this time it’s true that multiple aliens are present. A full colony, including their queen, has been discovered, and once again, the sinister Weyland-Yutani corporation seeks to capture one for experimental purposes.

After enduring another tough predicament, Ripley manages to make it through, eventually appearing in the film ‘Alien 3’. Unfortunately, this sequel was one of the lowest-rated and most disappointing in cinema history, and its poor reception led to a pause in the franchise’s movie production for several years.

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2024-10-08 11:06