Horror sequels get a bad rap. For horror fans, the audacity of sequels seems unimaginable and wrong. Add on a few more editions and filmmakers basically become criminals of the entertainment industry. But, when a horror sequel works, it can easily become a shining star and rather than being recognized as a standard, is instead listed as an exception to the rule. Fortunately though, for those fans who want to see stories continue on and for those hoping these stories are told equally well to the originals, options do exist and the future of horror sequels isn't dead yet. This week's list covers the best horror sequels (and two, kind of three, prequels that truly deserve acknowledgment) out there. The movies listed are direct sequels, following the original (fair note that many are more recent, given the ability to stand the test of time not typically granted to classics).
 |
| (imdb.com) |
It's no secret that the Wrong Turn franchise is pretty
trashy. But, unlike movies that get the "camp" label, Wrong Turn is
criminally underrated given its exaggerated storylines and over the top acting
and death scenes. Not taken seriously, the sequel to the original Wrong Turn
is an impressive endeavor with a creative approach. Following a group of
reality show contestants who must survive the now well-known cannibals of the
West Virginia forest, Dead End is hilariously weird and offers a
plethora of jump scares and laughs.
 |
| (imdb.com) |
Like Wrong Turn, the Final Destination franchise
has received a lot of flak. But, with an original featuring strong performances
and a particularly creative storyline, the first and its later sequels deserve
a lot more credit. The sequel - which capitalized on everyone's fears of
highway accidents, is particularly good as it left behind some of the more
sinister undertones of the first movie in exchange for some slight exaggeration
and comedy. Final Destination 2 also deserves additional points for
playing with the "final girl" trope and featuring some pretty insane,
while not necessarily logistical, death scenes.
8. Ouija: Origin of Evil
While I did say I was specifically sticking to horror sequels,
the prequel to the awful Ouija deserves recognition. Unlike the first's
overly polished camera work and plot, Ouija: Origin of Evil is filled
with personalized time pieces and amazingly suspenseful moments. Ouija:
Origin of Evil is the rare follow up that completely blows the original out
of the water. Not only does it ignore the mythology of the first and
advantageously grasps its prequel setting, but Ouija: Origin of
Evil offers truly terrifying scares. The one question it'll pose
viewers to ask is: "what original?" |
| (imdb.com) |
7. Paranormal Activity 2
There's something about the second Paranormal Activity film
that is especially starling. Like the viral success of the first, Paranormal
Activity 2 utilizes the relativized home security cameras. Unlike the first
though, the action and dialogue of this sequel is packed with far more action.
From spooky childhood stories to actual movement on camera, the somewhat
predictable sequel is truly terrifying; it's larger budget and gathered
collection of faith propelling it to success. Paranormal Activity 2
deserves more given that it literally surrounds the events around the first and
builds on the mythology, providing everything the filmmakers needed to make a
larger franchise,  |
| (imdb.com) |
 |
| (imdb.com) |
6. Insidious: Chapter 3
Okay, so the first part of this list actually has quite a few
prequels on it. I assure that this is the final one and while there are a lot
of prequels that deserve to be seen and received, this list is definitely about
sequels. But, unlike the direct follow ups of Ouija and Paranormal
Activity, it is the third film in the Insidious franchise that
deserves some attention. Insidious: Chapter 3 is a truly terrifying
adventure, following a rather tepid sequel and building on the first's concrete
mythology. And, while each follow up to the original has been less
well-received, Chapter 3 was a refreshing return to the basics,
featuring all of the horrifying shadowy figures and panned scares that drew in
viewers in the first place.
No comments:
Post a Comment