10 of the Greatest Horror Sequels in Existence
Sequels are a tricky thing. On one hand they’ll always have the strength of their predecessor to help push them forward in the public eye, but on the other hand they’ll always be compared to those same films, which more often than not are superior efforts. It’s hard to impress, especially when franchises take to life on particularly high notes. But despite the challenges of the familiar sequel, some really do rise to meet fan expectations. What follows here is a look at 10 of the greatest – old and new (yep, you’re in for a surprise or so) alike – sequels the horror genre has ever produced.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
From gore to punchlines, A Nightmare on Elm Street has rarely been stronger than it was in 1987. Wes Craven’s original trumps Chuck Russell’s third installment, and Craven’s own meta-movie, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare is certainly one of the best of the franchise, but this gory little beast is without a doubt one of the three greatest series installment that still holds up remarkably well today.
Evil Dead 2
Evil Dead 2 can easily be viewed as Evil Dead, but funnier. The follow up features some outrageous moments that remain high points for the franchise as a whole, and the flick produced more than a single iconic image we now associate with horror as a whole. Bruce Campbell comes into his own and begins the impressive process of refining the role of Ashley Williams, and it makes for must-see material. The beauty here is that when watched alone, in the middle of the night in a dark house, Evil Dead 2 is still every bit as creepy as it is hilarious.
Bride of Frankenstein
One of, if not the most influential horror film ever made, Bride of Frankenstein was the first truly brilliant sequel. All the perfect notes that James Whale nailed in the first film are somehow tightened up and improved upon here, and we get what can be argued is horror’s first amazing female antagonist. The flick was an astronomically huge gender barrier breaking production that paved the way for a lot of remarkable women. The story’s complexities defy the title, and Boris Karloff’s control of the monster is unforgettable. The show stealer, however, really hammers home how important the film was, because the flick belongs to Elsa Lanchester, who slays as both the titular character and Mary Shelley, who we see in the introductory moments of the film.
Aliens
Many will tell you that Aliens is a superior piece to Ridley Scott’s inaugural Alien pic. I would disagree with that, but that’s only a result of my preference for mystery over action. If you’re a big fan of action films, or frenetic genre fare, Aliens probably gets your nod, and there’s nothing to criticize there. James Cameron really does a superb job of remodeling the mood of the franchise while maintaining a degree of faithfulness to the original that isn’t often seen in the genre. His respect for Scott’s film is wonderfully visible, but this is his own monster, and that too is something that cannot be missed.
Dawn of the Dead
A compelling study of consumerism in America, Dawn of the Dead may be George A. Romero’s finest film. It’s certainly in the running with its predecessor, Night of the Living Dead, and the direct follow up to Dawn, Day of the Dead. For my money, Dawn is where it’s at. It’s a polished rendition of Night of the Living Dead with a very different societal statement to make. Is that statement as powerful as the examination of racism, discrimination and oppression? I don’t think so, but the film is so much more polished than Night it’s easy to understand that Romero’s refinement of the metaphor makes for movie perfection. Night of the Living Dead is a more important film, historically speaking, but Dawn of the Dead makes for a more enjoyable viewing experience.
Curse of Chucky
Don’t get all up in arms with this pick, just watch the movie with an open mind. Over the years Don Mancini explored some humorous avenues with Chucky, but it’s always been the darker films in the franchise that worked best for me. Curse of Chucky is extremely dark, and it features an amazing heroine in Nica, who is played – appropriately – by the gorgeous Fiona Dourif, daughter to Brad Dourif, who voices the iconic killer doll. The stars really aligned for Mancini on this project, and Curse of Chucky is one of the greatest surprises to crawl from the realms of macabre cinema in a number of years. You want an amazing, really, really underrated sequel? You want Curse of Chucky.
Hellbound: Hellraiser 2
After Hellbound the Hellraiser franchise jumped the shark. Somewhere along the way things just became about sadistic cenobites and astonishing gore, exclusively, which isn’t what the first two films were about. And, in truth, given the track record of the franchise, it feels like a miracle that Hellbound was as impressive as it is. The Lament Configuration is still treated with the terrifying respect it deserves and the direct ties to the first film make for a damn impressive story. Hellraiser isn’t usurped as the franchise best, but Hellbound makes a very valid attempt at being every bit as great as the first film, no doubt about it.
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Universal released some amazing crossover films in the ’40s and ‘50s, and Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were integral parts of a number of those films. In my opinion, none of the Abbott and Costello pictures fail to entertain, but none rival the brilliance of this particular offering, which features appearances from genre greats Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and the criminally underrated, Glenn Strange, who all surface as the monsters that helped define their careers, The Wolfman, Dracula and Frankenstein’s Monster, respectively. The mood frequently shifts from intense to light-hearted, and while it seems like that probably shouldn’t work, it does. It works wonderfully, in fact. Chaney slays and brings the bulk of the intensity, while Abbott and Costello give us the great slapstick, over-the-top comedy that they’re still known for today. It’s a brilliant flick that entertains from the first to the last minute.
Final Destination 5
After the first three installments I was entirely convinced we wouldn’t see an impressive Final Destination film beyond the franchise opener. Five features in and Steven Quale delivered the life the series desperately needed. Eric Heisserer writes a very clever story that delivers a jarring twist, the likes of which have been completely absent from every other picture in the Final Destination lineup. I don’t want to spoil the twist for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but I will tell you that it gives a fresh enough angle to the story to force genre followers to acknowledge the still untapped potential of the Final Destination features. A shockingly impressive sequel.
Friday the 13th Part 2
This was a no-brainer, right? Everything about this franchise is essentially a rip-off, but it just might be the finest rip-off the genre has produced. Villains like Jason Voorhees just don’t come around often, so when they do, we pay attention. The cheap charm of the first flick was great, but the game saw a serious new player introduced in the now high profile sequel. Everyone loves Jason Voorhees, and that means Friday the 13th 2 absolutely had to find a home on this list!
