10 Horror Movie Sequels We Didn't Want (But Got Anyway)
Were these films really necessary? You decide.
Some films are perfect just as they are, stand-alone pieces that tell a well-rounded story that has a satisfying conclusion. Some films aren't even that, but they turn a tidy profit at the box-office, and thus more of the same is ordered and pushed out for financial gain.
This story has been played out a million times over in Hollywood and it shows no signs of stopping yet. When a film hits upon a successful formula producers often see a chance to laugh all the way to the bank. This is perhaps most true of the horror genre, which seems fitting as it almost single-handedly created the concept of a sequel. Whether it was Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger audiences never seemed to tire of on-screen carnage.
But what happens when they do? Perhaps a bigger trend comes along or a film just wasn't good enough the first time around... Do studios still milk the property for all its worth? Of course they do! With other avenues to consider like going direct to DVD or streaming, little can stop greedy producers squeezing as much as they can out of tired horror properties.
With that in mind, here are 10 Horror Sequels We Didn't Want... But Got Anyway.
10. The Gallows Act II (2019)
2015's The Gallows was rather poorly received found footage fare. Critics pointed out the tired gimmick and completely unoriginal plot as the film's weakest points. However, an inventive marketing campaign calling upon Leatherface and Jason Voorhees ensured the film made a $40 million profit on a $100,000 budget.
The Gallows Act II finally saw release in 2019 after three troubled years of production. Taking a more conventional horror film route, the picture does away with found footage and instead follows a young girl as she partakes in an internet challenge and summons a vengeful demon.
Unfortunately, given the tepid reception of the original and the long gap between the films, there was just no appetite for a sequel. The film was not well received by critics who lambasted its mundane plot, characters and compared it unfavourably to the already weak original. Despite Blumhouse's attempts at marketing the film with their standard "shot in secret" line, nothing could help The Gallows Act II attain even a sliver of the financial success of its predecessor. The property saw release to on demand platforms only in October of 2019 via Lionsgate after Universal refused to pick the film up for distribution and has languished there ever since.
The Gallows Act II may not have won over audiences or critics, but there is one rare badge of honour the movie can claim; it is one of the elite few with a 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.