6 Great Horror Sequels That Got No Love

Conventional wisdom often assumes that a film franchise will become steadily more diluted with each subsequent installment. While sequels like Terminator 2: Judgment Day and The Empire Strikes Back are revolutionary masterworks that changed the face of the industry forever, the vast majority of follow-ups to hit films pales in comparison to the original releases that captured audiences' collective imagination. In the world of horror flicks, this generalization perhaps applies more strongly than it does to most other genres. Because horror centers on building suspense and crafting terrifying images that will haunt moviegoers long after the credits roll, most sequels within the genre offer increasingly diminishing returns with regards to memorable scares and compelling stories, content to simply regurgitate and repackage what worked initially. However, there are exceptions to every rule. With Rings, Amityville: The Awakening and The Conjuring 2 headed to theaters this year, let's look back at some of the most commonly overlooked horror sequels that actually serve as satisfying additions to their respective franchises. For the record, we're not saying that these films are superior to their predecessors, just that they don't deserve to be disregarded simply because they aren't as strong as the films that started it all. We're also only including one entry per horror franchise. So don't expect to see multiple installments of any long-running series here. 6) Halloween II (1981) John Carpenter's masterful 1978 original film is regularly -- and rightfully -- hailed as one of the best horror films ever made. Halloween introduced audiences to iconic slasher Michael Myers and one of the cinema's most unforgettable final girls in Jamie Lee Curtis's Laurie Strode. Yet, despite the return of both character for this direct follow-up (Curtis wouldn't return to the series again until the seventh film in 1998), most fans of Carpenter's original probably have never even seen it. Written by the original team of Debra Hill and Carpenter himself, Halloween II is set during the same night as the first film, chronicling Michael's continuing murder spree as he pursues Laurie. The movie has been criticized for its uneven pace and plot holes, but it does manage to capture much of the atmospheric spirit that made Carpenter's original work so well. More than just an attempt to ape its predecessor's success, Halloween II expands the mythology by unearthing a connection between Michael and Laurie that has since become key to the series. Even if it's not up to the same artistic standards of the first film, this sequel is certainly worth seeing as the other half of that initial story. 5) Saw VI (2009) By the time Saw VI was released, the term "torture porn" was being liberally applied to any horror film that featured an overabundance of violence. Of course, this franchise had long been attributed with popularizing the genre, and accordingly, it divided moviegoers with its extreme approach to exploring the human will to survive. Many had written the Saw franchise off as simply a gorehound's dream come true, but this installment reminded some viewers what made the original James Wan film resonate with audiences in the first place. The distinction between Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) and other horror villains is the perverse moral code that governs the "games" he puts his victims through. Rather than simply stalking them with a chainsaw or machete, he tests their will and pushes their sense of self-preservation to the unspeakable limit. Saw VI hones back in on this point with a main story that clearly demonstrates both the psychological depth and satirical absurdity the series has touched on in its finest moments. Even better, this penultimate installment finally creates a real sense of drama and stakes regarding the story of Jigsaw's apprentice, ending on a riveting cliffhanger that left fans excited for what would come next. 4) The Exorcist III (1990) The first sequel to William Friedkin's masterpiece not to feature Linda Blair's head-spinning Regan MacNeil, this one is actually based on the 1983 novel Legion by William Peter Blatty and attempted to redeem the franchise for the financial disappointment of The Exorcist II: The Heretic. Blatty - who also wrote and directed the film - had envisioned it as a standalone entry, but the studio subsequently ordered reshoots and released it under its current title to maximize its commercial potential. Even so, The Exorcist III earned mixed reviews and poor box office when it hit theaters. Yet, in the years since, the film - which centers on a string of murders apparently committed by a deceased serial killer - has gained a cult following for both its efforts in delivering a cohesive, stylish horror film and the fascinating story behind its production. Twenty-five years later, fans have continued clamoring for a director's cut of Blatty's original vision, which could very well receive its long-awaited release in the near future. 3) Day Of The Dead (1985) By the time this zombie film was released, writer/director George A. Romero had more than earned his reputation as the undisputed master of the genre. Following in the footsteps of classics Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead is no small feat, and the fact that this entry is still generally well-regarded even with that lineage is high praise in and of itself, especially considering it also serves as the last of Romero's zombie films to date to have that kind of lasting cultural impact. Centering on a group of military officers and scientists holed up in an underground bunker during the zombie outbreak, Day of the Dead once again demonstrates Romero's deft blending of social commentary with terrifying thrills and eerie imagery. Whereas Dawn of the Dead delved into consumerism, its sequel is a critique on the disastrous consequences that come to pass when the human race fails to communicate. Though the film doesn't loom as large as its two predecessors, Day of the Dead is a can't-miss movie for even casual Romero fans. 2) Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994) Few horror films have the legacy and influence as Wes Craven's 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street. While that film's darkness and imagination largely dwindled in the sequels (1987 release A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors being a notable exception), the horror master returned to his signature franchise a decade later to restore its greatness. Heather Langenkamp - who played heroine Nancy in the first film - stars as herself in this entry, which sees Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) begin to emerge from the films into real life, just as the development of a new Nightmare film begins to ramp up. Taking a very different approach than the preceding six films, the story incorporates self-referential elements that both celebrate the beloved original and propel the franchise into unexplored territory. Despite its novel storytelling conceit and strong critical notices, New Nightmare proved to be too far ahead of its time, earning less than $20 million at the worldwide box office. Still, the film - which ultimately ends up being a kind of dark fairy tale akin to the classic Grimm stories - has gained popularity since its release and set the stage for Craven's similarly satirical Scream just two years later. 1) Psycho II (1983) The concept of surpassing Alfred Hitchcock's immortal 1960 film Psycho is near impossible for anyone to achieve, but this sequel - which follows a reformed Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) as he returns to the Bates Motel upon his release from a psychiatric hospital - does an impressively strong job of updating that classic film in a way that is both respectful and ambitious. Directed by Richard Franklin (Cloak & Dagger), Psycho II centers on the question of whether or not Norman will be driven back to his murderous ways, and its intricate plot makes sly references to its predecessor even as it sets up a chilling new tale of its own. The introduction of Mary Samuels (Meg Tilly) - another lovely young woman, whose very name serves as an Easter egg for fans of Hitchcock's classic - complicates Norman's attempts to start a new life, and Perkins appears to have not missed a beat, returning to his most famous role like no time has passed. If anything, his performance is even more layered this time around, considering Norman's fear of losing his grip on reality once again. The film forces viewers into simultaneously fearing and empathizing with the character, echoing his portrayal in the original film as the supposed victim of an abusive mother. Moreover, the return of Vera Miles as the sister of Janet Leigh's doomed Marion Crane from the first film sets up an interesting plot twist that almost certainly surpasses the expectations many fans may have for Psycho II. With the name recognition of Hitchcock's film, this one easily could have coasted along on audience goodwill, but Franklin and horror screenwriter Tom Holland (Fright Night, Child's Play) - not to be confused with the young actor playing the new Spider-Man - take great care in paying homage to what came before, while offering an exciting new chapter in Norman's story. It's just too bad that both subsequent sequels and the ill-conceived shot-for-shot 1998 Psycho remake have since tarnished the series' big-screen reputation.