ET: The Extra-Terrestrial is the prototypical Spielbergian film, a mix of whimsical fantasy and heart warming stuff for the kids. It's a classic family film even when it gets a little weird at times (the bit where the government turn up to take the titular alien away is pretty jarring), with a wholly empathetic centre. So, naturally, you would follow that up with a sequel that's the closest to an actual horror film you've ever gotten. The treatment to ET II: Nocturnal Fears reads like a joke, or maybe some particularly depraved fan fiction. In it, Elliot and family are visited by another bunch of lost aliens. Except these ones are a lot less friendly, abduct the kids, and torture them. For ninety minutes. Then ET and his mates turn up at the end to rescue them. After ninety minutes of a horror film about killer aliens. This isn't a joke, or fan fiction, though - this was the sequel to ET Spielberg was genuinely thinking of making. He eventually decided against pursuing the sequel, feeling it "would do nothing but rob the original of its virginity". Which sounds melodramatic but, well, just read the damn thing and you'll understand.
Tom Baker is the Comics Editor at WhatCulture! He's heard all the Doctor Who jokes, but not many about Randall and Hopkirk. He also blogs at http://communibearsilostate.wordpress.com/
