10 AMAZING Horror Sequels That Shouldn’t Have Worked

There's no doubt Ridley Scott's Alien single-handedly revolutionised sci-fi horror. As a result, it didn't sound feasible to craft a sequel on the same level. But if anyone could do it, it'd be James Cameron. For this reason, the studio should've been relieved when he agreed to write and direct Aliens.

But that wasn't the case. Even though Aliens' release was post-Terminator, Cameron's only directing credit was the mediocre Piranha II: The Spawning when he got the job, which didn't generate much confidence. 

The male lead, James Remar, was fired almost immediately and Cameron was let go and rehired in mid-production, further indicating Aliens was doomed. The fact Aliens focuses more on bombastic action than subtle tension further suggested Cameron was out of his depth.

And yet, it's challenging to find a single flaw in this glorious sequel. The battles, special effects, and production design easily top the biggest blockbusters of today. 

Sigourney Weaver's riveting performance garnered her an Oscar nomination, which is incredibly rare in horror. Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, and Lance Henriksen provide memorable supporting roles that enhance the team dynamic. Despite the fact the ensemble are fighting off terrifying extra-terrestrials, the story focuses on Ripley's relationship with an orphaned child, making the fantastical story heartfelt and surprisingly relatable.

Against all odds, Aliens proved to be, not just one of the best horror films, but among the best sequels period.