Not All Horror Sequels Are Flops! These 11 Sequels Will Chill You to the Core

This inclusion isn’t a dunk on the first Scream movie, a fun metacommentary on the horror genre that deals out plenty of grisly surprises – remember the garage scene? But the franchise didn’t lose its momentum in Scream 2, which is just as delightful (perhaps even wittier and faster-paced) as it pokes fun at horror sequels. After coming up against Ghostface, Sidney and the other survivors are back on another murder-mystery trail.

Watch Scream 2 on Shudder.

Straight out of school, Sam Raimi directed The Evil Dead, a punchy and gruesome horror-comedy masterpiece in its own right. He returned in 1987 with Evil Dead II, which some consider even funnier and gorier than the original. Here, we have yet another cabin-in-the-woods situation, now with a headless body wielding a chainsaw.

Watch Evil Dead II on Hulu.

There’s no stepping around the fact that the original Halloween is a classic that introduced us to the nightmarish Michael Myers. In comparison to the other middling installations in the series, the direct 2018 sequel is an excellent film that stands on its own as it explores how Laurie Strode’s trauma impacts the people around her, particularly her daughter and granddaughter.

Watch Halloween on Amazon.

Critics panned House of 1000 Corpses for its excessive gore and lack of a discernible plot. Its sequel, The Devil’s Rejects, was met with a more average to positive reception. While antagonists in the original film, the murderous Firefly family members center the story in the second movie as they run from the police. We get more characterization here, but be aware that the film is still definitely not for the faint of heart.

Watch The Devil’s Rejects on Amazon.

Frankenstein is a classic, but so is The Bride of Frankenstein, which is considered one of the greatest sequels of all time. The Bride doesn’t appear in the original film, but she gets an appearance in the flesh here. Mary Shelley, author of 1818’s Frankenstein, is depicted in the sequel as well. The film is campy and creepy (as well as Halloween costume inspiration), with skillful monster acting from Elsa Lanchester (who plays both the Bride and Shelley). We can’t forget the iconic wig!

Watch The Bride of Frankenstein on Shudder.

Critics and viewers generally panned Annabelle for its less-than-perfect effects and story. But its prequel, Annabelle: Creation, came back strong with the demonic doll. The film offers a plot with stronger emotional stakes as we meet the grieving Mullinses and the girls who fall under their care.

Watch Annabelle: Creation on Amazon.

Also worth mentioning is Annabelle Comes Home, a true sequel that reacquaints us with Ed and Lorraine Warren as they and their daughter face the wicked doll. It too features richer storytelling and better pacing than the original film.

Watch Annabelle Comes Home on HBO.

There’s no denying the terror of Freddy Krueger in 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. But Wes Craven’s New Nightmare is a playful and meta installation that’s worth a watch. The film features director Wes Craven and actors Heather Langenkamp and Robert Englund as themselves, with Langenkamp’s son becoming terrorized by Krueger.

Watch Wes Craven’s New Nightmare on Shudder.

Ouija: Origin of Evil gives the poorly reviewed 2014 film Ouija a fresh backstory. In the prequel, set in the late ’60s, a widow introduces a Ouija board to her seance business, unwittingly bringing out a spirit that possesses her daughter. Director Mike Flanagan wanted to work on a period piece with a family dynamic, and he did exactly that. Critics praised how the story and atmosphere here are better than the original film’s.

Watch Ouija: Origin of Evil on Amazon.

V/H/S is a fun and gory anthology, consisting of short films framed around a group of thieves who come across a dead body and mysterious tapes. V/H/S/2, another anthology, is based on a similar premise, this time with two private investigators who encounter some creepy footage while on the hunt for a missing person. The sequel comes with grislier and slicker visuals for horror enthusiasts. The story “Safe Haven” is a fan favorite.

Watch V/H/S/2 on Shudder.

Following the paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2 are both well-loved by horror fans. Along with a strong central story about a struggling family, The Conjuring 2 offers spirits that are even more terrifying – not to underplay Bathsheba, but Bill Wilkins and the Crooked Man are absolutely freaky. And must we say anything more about Valak?

Stream The Conjuring 2 on HBO.