As a die-hard horror enthusiast who has witnessed countless chilling tales of terror, I must say that some sequels to beloved franchises can leave one feeling rather disheartened. Take, for instance, the case of “Hellraiser: Hellworld” (2005). This film, despite featuring familiar faces like Doug Bradley and Katheryn Winnick, falls flat in comparison to its predecessors. It’s as if they took a perfectly good recipe, added a pinch of salt instead of sugar, and served it up with a straight face!
1. Nothing is more disheartening than an underwhelming initial horror film. Worse yet, a follow-up to a cherished blockbuster. But the real letdown? A sequel that makes no effort to explain or justify its presence.
There are numerous horror movie sequels that seem unnecessary and a waste of time for viewers. They aren’t just poor quality, but also lack purpose. Some even feel incomplete, which is ironic because sometimes this incompleteness is intentional. The following examples showcase various disappointing horror sequels that fail to deliver on expectations.
10 Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
Compared to the steepest drop in horror movie quality between the first and second installments, this would be seen when comparing William Friedkin’s The Exorcist to John Boorman’s Exorcist II: The Heretic. Absurd and painfully dull, The Heretic fails to salvage the return of Linda Blair as Regan O’Neill in any way. It’s not only one of the poorest horror films ever made, it’s also one of the worst movies of the ’70s, regardless of genre.
The Exorcist III, However…Is Fantastic
1. The remake of this film barely resembles the original version at all. A few familiar actors make appearances, but their presence seems unnecessary. The focus of this movie is primarily on an unexciting inquiry into Father Merrin’s demise (a mystery that the viewers already know more about than the investigator), rather than the events leading to his death. And, oddly enough, there are swarms of locusts involved as well.
9 The Hills Have Eyes Part II (1985)
It’s worth noting that just like The Exorcist, the second installment of A Nightmare on Elm Street saw a significant drop in quality compared to its predecessor. In fact, the vast difference between the 1984 version and the 1985 film The Hills Have Eyes Part II is quite remarkable, and it’s safe to say that it may well claim the same dubious honor for horror directors. It appears Wes Craven made Part II primarily for financial gain, which is evident in its final product.
A Cash-Grab That Ran Out of Cash
1. The performance concluded prematurely due to financial constraints. Regardless, it’s debatable whether this movie could have matched the influence of its predecessor. Featuring a typical Harry Manfredini score (known for his work in horror, notably the first eight Friday the 13th films), it openly displays its inspiration from slasher movies. Consequently, viewers are either witnessing repeated scenes from the original or an uninteresting tale about biker kids encountering hill people, neither of which hold appeal.
8 Poltergeist III (1988)
In the last part of the Poltergeist trilogy, Heather O’Rourke and Zelda Rubinstein might have returned to their characters, but nothing they did could make the story any more engaging. Sadly, Carol Anne Freeling, portrayed by O’Rourke, was not with her family this time around. Tragically, Dominique Dunne, who played Dana, passed away following the release of the initial film. Additionally, JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson, who played Carol Anne’s parents in the earlier films, had moved on to pursue other opportunities. Even Oliver Robins, who played Robbie, decided not to be part of this one.
A Series About the Freeling Family Without Most of the Freelings
Why the production wasn’t canceled shortly after filming began is a mystery. The sequel had nothing new to add to the mythology that was already made overly complicated by the boring second movie but, even if it had, there was O’Rourke’s health. The child actor passed away four months before Poltergeist III hit theaters, and it’s obvious in every frame that she’s not well. It lends the film a level of discomfort that only makes it worse.
7 Alien: Resurrection (1997)
David Fincher’s movie, “Alien³“, may have its shortcomings, but it justifies its existence more frequently than the final film in the series, “Alien: Resurrection“. The third film is filled with a haunting atmosphere, while the fourth is too polished. The third movie has some genuinely terrifying scenes, such as the death of Charles Dance’s character, which is skillfully executed. On the other hand, “Resurrection” lacks any truly scary moments. However, the most significant issue with the third film is that it kills off Newt and Cpl. Hicks before the story even begins. The greater offense of “Resurrection“, though, is its treatment of Ellen Ripley’s character, which feels disrespectful.
Wasn’t Ripley’s Death the Part of Alien³ That Actually Worked?
Ripley’s sacrifice during the third act of Fincher’s film made sense. After surviving the Nostromo and then besting the Queen, Ripley knows her stuff about the Xenomorphs. That includes what they’d do if Weyland-Yutani ever got their greedy mitts on them. Even if it meant immolation, Ripley would absolutely sacrifice herself to ensure that didn’t happen. And she does. But then Resurrection brings her back as a personality-free clone. It’s a half-step away from recasting the character and is even worse than the fourth film’s utter waste of Michael Wincott’s talent and gravel voice.
6 The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999)
Brian De Palma’s film “Carrie” didn’t require a follow-up story. In fact, Stephen King himself never wrote a sequel for this movie because the main character, Carrie, dies in the original plot and there’s no hint or foreshadowing suggesting she could become a character like Jason or Freddy who mysteriously returns after death.
But…Didn’t Carrie Die?
As a cinema enthusiast, let me share some fascinating trivia about “The Rage: Carrie 2”. Contrary to belief, it wasn’t originally connected to the iconic “Carrie”. Instead, it was initially titled “The Curse”, a name that doesn’t immediately ring a bell for many. However, the main character was later transformed into Carrie White’s unbeknownst younger half-sister, a character we hadn’t previously encountered on the silver screen.
5 Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)
1999’s “The Blair Witch Project” was an unprecedented occurrence, as viewers weren’t sure if it was genuine or what to anticipate since at that time, the concept of found footage wasn’t widely used. Interestingly, “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2” was ahead of its time in a way, even before ‘meta’ became popular. However, it fails to deliver on that promise.
Did They Find More Footage?
The storyline revolves around a group of individuals in their twenties or thirties who are deeply captivated by the movie. They embark on a journey visiting places featured in ‘The Blair Witch Project’. However, as events unfold, each character seems to be under the influence of the titular entity. The problem lies with the film’s presentation, making it appear more like a typical horror movie from the early 2000s rather than something truly connected to the iconic film that inspired its success.
4 American Psycho 2 (2002)
Two years following Christian Bale’s stunning performance in American Psycho, Mila Kunis left audiences puzzled as to her presence in American Psycho 2. Or the reason for its creation altogether. In this film, Kunis portrays an ambitious criminology student who views murder as a practical educational experience outside of class.
No Patrick Bateman…No Interest
Similar to other movies on this list, American Psycho 2 did not originally relate to the initial film or Bret Easton Ellis’ source material. And, just like those other films, it reflects this disconnection. Since the sequel lacks entirely the intellectual depth present in the 2000 cult classic, and has been criticized by both Ellis and Kunis.
3 Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)
In the world of the “Hellraiser” series, Ashley Laurence’s character Kirsty Cotton plays a crucial role. The initial film’s success is largely due to her compelling struggle, and it’s her growing autonomy that makes “Hellbound: Hellraiser II” effective. “Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth” offers an entertaining experience and successfully explains the origin of the iconic villain, Pinhead, in a way that feels natural and coherent.
Hellraiser…Hellwatch?
Anything following that point is completely unnecessary to watch. The last theatrical release, titled “Alan Smithee” and the direct-to-video sequels (with Doug Bradley appearing in four of them until his departure), are merely attempts to capitalize on a popular brand name. Out of these four movies featuring Doug Bradley, Hellworld, which is the eighth film overall, is considered the worst. It wasn’t originally intended to be a “Hellraiser” movie and this lack of original intent is evident (as it often is). Not even Doug Bradley, Lance Henriksen, Katheryn Winnick, or a young Henry Cavill could salvage this film.
2 I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer (2006)
1998’s film “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” doesn’t stand independently as a strong piece of cinema. Its main purpose seems to be continuing the storylines for Jennifer Love Hewitt’s character, Julie James, and Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Ray Bronson. This is why “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” isn’t included in this list, but its prequel, “I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer,” is.
We Get It…You Know
While both follow-ups are poorly done, it’s at least reassuring that Still Know continued with characters we were familiar with from before. Conversely, I’ll Always Know feels like an entirely new start, produced on a shoestring budget. It doesn’t work for numerous reasons, one of the main issues being its transformation of The Fisherman (the original Ben Willis) into a zombie-like character similar to that seen in Friday the 13th Part VI.
1 Texas Chainsaw (2013)
Texas Chainsaw, or more accurately known as Texas Chainsaw 3D when it debuted in cinemas, isn’t the pinnacle of the series. The silver lining is that it’s not singular in being a nearly unbearable entry within its franchise. Despite its disregard for time, it stands out as the most illogical and confusing.
Came Out in the Early 2010s So Of Course It Was in 3D
The film picks up almost straight away following the conclusion of the first movie. For a short while, we see a couple of scenes before it leaps forward to the year 2012. Throughout these scenes, Alexandra Daddario portrays Heather, who was a newborn in the ’70s and appears to be in her twenties in 2012. If a sequel to IP strays so far from logical continuity as this one does, it doesn’t matter how terrifying it may be (and Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn’t particularly frightening), the shift was not an effective choice for the series.
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2024-08-16 06:02