No film genre (except for animation maybe) is more associated with sequels than horror. Because of strict basic formulas within the genre, it is definitely more an audience’s one than a critic’s one, but this simplicity is also the reason for the vast number of sequels within the horror category. Filmophilia has already done a Top Ten: Best Sequels which was somewhat controversial, but now we will restrict ourselves to the thrilling genre of horror. This list is of course debatable and we urge you to share your opinions below.
10. H20
Making a seventh installment in a slasher film series without it being spectacularly bad is an achievement in itself. Although the title sounds like the chemical formula for water, it is blood that flows here and once again by the hand of Michael Myers. Happening 20 years after the first Halloween, this film focuses on Laurie Strode, who has now faked her own death and changed her name to Keri Tate to avoid her psychotic brother Michael. A struggle between the two becomes inevitable when Michael tracks down Laurie‘s son, John, and a few of his friends. This time Laurie has no Dr. Loomis to help her out, but she is determined to get rid of her evil brother once and for all. Starring Jamie Lee Curtis (for the first time since Halloween 2), Josh Hartnett, Michelle Williams, Janet Leigh, Joseph Gordon-Lewitt and the irresistible LL Cool J, this entry may just be the best Halloween outside the original.
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Two years before Wes Craven made the post-modern slasher hit Scream, he walked on a similar path with New Nightmare, the seventh film about dream-haunter Freddy Krueger. Set in a world where the previous six movies were “just movies”, actress Heather Langenkamp (who played Nancy Thompson in Nightmare 1 and 3) has been receiving strange phone calls and having nightmares when she hears that former co-worker, director Wes Craven, is working on a script for a new Freddy film (Inception-like confusion is allowed). It seems an ancient, evil force has chosen the image of movie-based murderer Freddy Krueger as a host and is trying to cross over to the reality. After murdering Heather‘s husband, Freddy starts to terrorize Heather and her son, Dylan, in their sleep. As before, the only way to stop him is to cross over into the dream world and fight back, which mother and son do after consulting with the actor who played Freddy, Robert Englund. Like Courteney Cox said in Scream 4: How meta can you get?
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While Rob Zombie‘s directorial debut, House of 1000 Corpses, was some sort of homage to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, his sophomore effort and sequel, The Devil‘s Rejects is far superior and more entertaining. A gore fest that centers on the battle between Sheriff Wydell and the surviving members of the Firefly-family, this is a clash of two evils where little is left for the imagination except a dash of black humor.
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This film interestingly follows up not only one of the all-time greatest horror movies – The Exorcist, but also one of the worst sequels – Exorcist II: The Heretic. Featuring an actor named Ed Flanders, along with Fabio and Patrick Ewing in cameos, this film is closely related to the original, but combines the story of the late Father Karras with a serial killer dubbed The Gemini Killer. Written and directed by William Peter Blatty, creator of the original Exorcist novel and screenplay, this is a terrific thriller relying on the steady acting of George C. Scott as the elderly Lt. Kinderman, and the great voice- and temper-changing monologues of Brad Dourif.
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6. Aliens
The second film in the Alien Quadrilogy would probably score higher on this list were it not for the fact that it wanders from the mysterious “lurking in the shadows” scary suspense of the first one and into more straightforward action/sci-fi. However, genre is debatable and there certainly are scary moments in this James Cameron blockbuster. Already chosen as one of our Top Ten Sequels overall, the story of Ripley and Co.‘s battle against the inhabitants of planet LV-426 is an awesome thrill ride from start to finish.
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5. Cold Prey 2
The sequel to the excellent Norwegian slasher flick Cold Prey happens directly after the first one and focuses on final girl Jannicke’s trip to the hospital and the subsequent duel with the killer with the pickaxe. Jannicke‘s increased toughness, the perfect hospital setting, good reasons for the killer‘s presence and all in all good script are just some reasons why this film works out as good as it does. May even be better than the first one.
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4. Rec 2
Probably the best compliment this film can be given is that it is in no way lesser than its predecessor. Also continuing directly from the first one, here the zombie-infested building in Barcelona is seen from the view of some SWAT team members on one hand, and some inquisitive kids on the other. The curious case of the Medeiros girl continues while Dr. Owen from the Ministry of Health tries to find out what caused her possession. Nerve-wrecking suspense and mean thrills keep audience on the edge of their seats right until the twisted end. We expect more of the same from the third and fourth in the series, both set to premiere this year.
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Considered by many the greatest zombie movie of all time, this sequel to Night of the Living Dead is directed by the godfather of zombie filmmaking, George A. Romero. It revolves around a group of people trying to survive a zombie virus outbreak by seeking shelter in a local shopping mall. Largely seen as a critical allegory on consumerism, which is as relevant now as it was then, it makes us think about our seemingly purposeless wanderings around malls. A decent remake was made by Zack Snyder in 2004.
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2. Evil Dead 2
Before he made a blockbuster Spider-Man trilogy, Sam Raimi was perhaps best known as the man who created and directed the cult phenomenon that is The Evil Dead trilogy. The standout of the three is the second one, where protagonist Ash tries to spend a quiet night in a cabin with his girlfriend, but is instead forced to fight off ghouls referred to as „deadites“ that arise from an ancient book known as Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (Book of the Dead). Already selected as one of Filmophilia‘s favourite horror films, this is a ridiculous ride of splattery gore, slapstick humor and strange special effects that with the help of Bruce Campbell‘s thespian mastery create an almost intoxicating cocktail of bullshit brilliance. Many seem to think this is a bigger budget remake of the first Evil Dead which is not true. Raimi had apparently lost the rights of the visual footage from the original and had to re-cap the beginning to explain Ash‘s presence in the cabin etc.
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Frankenstein, released by Universal in 1931, was a huge hit around the world, brought great success to the studio and paved the way for its future horror and monster movies (along with counterpart Dracula). Director James Whale reluctantly signed on for this sequel after he was promised greater creative freedom, which he then made maximum use of. Bride of Frankenstein, released in 1935, begins with a prologue where the character of Mary Shelly explains to Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley how her story of monster and maker might have gone on. Essentially it revolves around Henry Frankenstein‘s former mentor, Dr. Pretorius and his plan to create a mate for the Frankenstein monster. The main reason for this film‘s greatness is its refusal to belong to one specific genre. It constantly shifts between horror and macabre to irony and wit, even managing to raise a fair amount of sympathy along the way. Hence its common classification today as a black comedy. All likelihood though, points towards it being identified with the Universal horror legacy for years to come.
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February 4, 2012
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