Horror moviesequels are often derided by critics, but there are actually quite a few movies that came later in a horror franchise that are worth watching. Once a series gets beyond a third or even fourth sequel, all creativity has usually left the projects and they become soulless cash-ins.
This often happens with the slasher genre, where the monstrous killer has returned so many times that the thrills and chills have worn off. However, some horror franchises get a shot of new life in one of their later sequels, and they sometimes even manage to capture a bit of the spirit of the earlier movies.
The longer a horror series runs, the less likely it is to be good, but there are several notable exceptions to that rule. Perhaps that’s what keeps horror hounds coming back time and time again to their favorite franchises: a chance to see the beloved monsters from the past return to their former glory.
While some later horror sequels are only good in comparison to their less-than-successful predecessors, others are legitimately great movies in their own right. Though exceptionally rare, some ofthe best horror sequelseven manage to surpass the first movie in the series.
After three movies that tried way too hard to take the concept of a killer Leprechaun seriously,Leprechaun 4: In Spacethrew everything out the window and gleefully jumped the shark. The direct-to-video film sees the return of Warwick Davis in the title role, and it’s jam-packed withscience fiction spoofs and references.
Leprechaun 4is not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, butit’s the first movie in the series that isn’t groan-inducing in its earnestness. The originalLeprechaunwas a charming and goofy horror flick, but its first two sequels were dull and uninspired. The fourth film took a big swing and is actually quite hilarious.
After nearly20 years ofSawmovies, it seemed as if that ship had finally sailed. However, 2023’sSaw Xarrived and managed to exceed expectationswith an interesting story and genuinely intriguing traps. The franchise had grown stale by about the third movie, but the tenth film in the series is arguably the best follow-up to date.
the tenth film in the series is arguably the best follow-up to date
Instead of trying to retcon something, the movie is set between the first and secondSawmovies, which allows for the character of Jigsaw to feature prominently. What could have easily been a cynical cash-grab, actually turned out to bea genuinely frightening movie with an airtight script and strong performances from the franchise stalwarts.
TheEvil Deadfranchise is a rare specimen in the world of horror, andevery installment in the series is a great movie. 2022’sEvil Dead Risewas the first big test though, because it introduced new characters that have no connection to Ash or the legendary cabin in the woods.
1981
86%
1987
88%
1992
68%
2013
63%
2023
84%
Lee Cronin’s sequel takes place in a Los Angeles apartment building, and finds new ways to terrify and shock. The added layer of the relationship between the possessed mother and her kids made the movie even more nightmarish, andEvil Dead Risebuilt off the classic imagery while adding new wrinkles to the Deadite lore.
George Romero will always be known as the filmmaker that revolutionized the zombie movie forever, buthis 2005 filmLand of the Deadis often overlooked. The fourth film inthe Romero zombie canon, it’s set further along in the timeline where the last remaining humans have formed feudal societies based on unfair class distinctions.
Land of the Deadis more about the human charactersthan it is about the zombies, though it doesn’t skimp on those either. They have begun to evolve, which makes them a bigger threat than the shuffling undead seen in previous movies. It’s not as good as the first three, butLand of the Deadis still a clever movie.
Unlike other horror franchises which are passed from creator to creator, theChild’s Playseries has been spearheaded by Don Mancini since the beginning.Cult of Chuckyis the direct sequel toCurse of Chuckyand is the seventh movie in the franchise overall. Like its immediate predecessor,Cultreturned to the horror aspects of Chucky.
The direct-to-video movie features another stunning performance from Fiona Dourif, and it introduces many concepts that would be further expanded in the short-lived TV series a few years later. By the seventh film, it would seem as if the Chuckster would be out of ideas, butCultcharted an entirely new course for the franchise.
After three movies in rapid succession in the late 1990s and early 2000s, theScreamfranchise went on a decade-long hiatus. However,when it returned forScream 4, the slasher series was much improved. The fourth film was the last to be helmed by Wes Craven, and brought the classic characters back alongside new ones as well.
Introducing the series to the social media age,Scream 4had more to say than its immediate predecessor. It managed to surprise with a fun twist, and set the stage for more sequels to come a decade later. The fifth and sixth movies in the series are certainly fun slashers, but lack the same bite as the fourth film.
Scream 3is the only film in the franchise with a rotten score onRotten Tomatoes, currently sitting at 43%.
4Hellraiser: Inferno (2000)
Hellraiser 5 Has No Business Being This Good
There’s no denying thatClive Barker’sHellraiserseries is perhaps the most used and abused franchise in horror history, but the fifth installment is a surprising gem. Except forHellraiser 2, none of the sequels could match the quality of the original. However,Hellraiser: Infernocomes the closest to capturing the mood.
Returning the Cenobites to their rightful place as unknowable entities instead of maniacal villains,Infernois a mystery story that exemplifies the nightmarish concepts behind the original film. The effects are shockingly good for a direct-to-video movie, and except for some clunky dialogue, it’s the bestHellraiserinstallment outside the first two.
Clunky title aside,Halloween H20: 20 Years Laterwas the slasher sequel that fans had been clamoring for, and it largely delivered. Jamie Lee Curtis returned as Laurie Strode, and it introduced a bevy of new youngsters for Michael Myers to hack and slash his way through at a prestigious private school.
Tossing out the unnecessary and complicated lore from the previous three sequels,H20returns the franchise to its roots with straight-forward slasher action.Laurie’s character is a bit more realisticand down-to-earth than her counterpart in the newestHalloweentrilogy, though she isn’t bland either. The seventhHalloweenmovie isn’t a masterpiece, but it’s certainly an enjoyable ride.
A few years after the sixth film declared itself to beThe Final Nightmare,Wes Craven returned to direct the seventh installment in hisA Nightmare on Elm Streetseries. Completely recontexualizing the series,New Nightmarefollows actor Heather Langenkamp, playing herself as she finds she’s suddenly tormented by Freddy Krueger in the real world.
Craven’s other 90’s gem,Scream, also deconstructed the idea of horror movies and their fandom, andNew Nightmarewas like the test run. Though it isn’t nearly as scary as the first Freddy movie, the concept is fresh, andthe redesigned Kruger is appropriately harrowing.
Besides the original film,Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Livesis arguably the only good movie in the entire slasher movie franchise. After a handful of lackluster sequels that continued to stretch the suspension of disbelief,Part VIfinally bit the bullet and made Jason the undead killing machine he was always meant to be.
Instead of going for scares,Jason Livesups the campiness and has a playful mood. The sixth movie also does something no otherFriday the 13thfilm had dared to do, and that was actually having kids at the summer camp.Horror moviesneed to be self-aware once they’ve reached their umpteenth sequel, andJason Livesunderstood that perfectly.
