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, which serves as 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 OG Halloween is a classic that introduced us to the nightmarish Mike 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, met with a more average to positive reception. While antagonists in the original film, the murderous Firefly family members now centre 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 easily considered one of the greatest sequels of all time. The Bride never makes it in the original novel, but she gets an appearance in the flesh here, along with Mary Shelley. The film is campy and creepy (as well as Halloween couple 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 the first Annabelle movie for its less-than-perfect effects and story. But its prequel, Annabelle: Creation, came back strong with the demonic doll. The film brought a plot with stronger emotional stakes as we meet the grieving Mullins and the girls that go under their care.

Watch Annabelle: Creation on Amazon.

Also worth mentioning is Annabelle Comes Home, a true sequel where we get re-acquainted 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 the original 1984 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 the bogeyman himself.

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, we see how, in the late '60s, a widow introduces a Ouija board to her séance 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 were overall better than the original film's.

Watch Ouija: Origin of Evil on Amazon.

V/H/S offers a fun and gory anthology framed around a group of thieves who come across a dead body and mysterious tapes. V/H/S/2 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. But the sequel is trimmed for time and comes with grislier and slicker visuals for the horror enthusiast. The story "Safe Haven," in particular, is a fan favourite.

Watch V/H/S 2 on Shudder.

Following the paranormal activities 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 admirably came back with even more terrifying spirits and demons — not to underplay Bathsheba, but Bill Wilkins and the Crooked Man are absolutely freaky. And must we say anything more about Valak the Nun?

Stream The Conjuring 2 on HBO.