10 Horror Movie Trilogies That Absolutely Kill It
These are some incredible trifectas of horror that everyone needs to see.
With the exception of a few standout examples, trilogies have a reputation for diminishing in quality as the series goes on. Even if the original film pushed the boundaries of its respective genre, all the movie magic is sure to have worn off by the time the dreaded threequel arrives.
This is especially true within the horror genre. As studios insist on churning out sequels to popular franchises to profit on the success of the originals, the need to make each sequel a grander spectacle only causes the franchise to move further away from what originally made it special. It's this soulless approach to filmmaking that led to Jason Vorhees going into space in Jason X and an exploding shark in Jaws 4: The Revenge.
Despite the plethora of ridiculous horror sequels that studios have insisted on making over the years, there are some trilogies that do stick the landing.
Whether these are the singular creative visions of a talented filmmaker brought to life, a thoughtful evolution of a strong premise, or a collection of standalone films connected by common themes, there are excellent trifectas of horrors out there for those who look hard enough.
10. Fear Street Trilogy
Netflix's Fear Street trilogy, adapted from R.L. Stine's book series of the same name, delivered a fierce and refreshing homage to the slasher genre with a wickedly witchy twist.
Set within the tragedy-prone town of Shadyside, the plot follows a group of high schoolers who discover that the legends about a witch's curse are more than just stories when they're pursued by killers from the town's grisly past. It's therefore up to them to find a way to break the curse before they become the latest tragedy.
After Part One delivered an entertaining slice of '90s-inspired slasher goodness, the sequel took the action to a summer camp in 1978. Alongside even more gleefully grotesque kills, Part Two's love letter to the genre expanded upon the wider plot in intriguing ways by revealing crucial details about the overarching mystery.
Everything culminated in Part Three, which whisked viewers back to the curse's chilling origins in 1666. Not only did the climactic chapter answer the questions surrounding Shadyside's dark history, but it did so while delivering an unexpectedly emotional punch before drawing the centuries-long tale of tragedy to a satisfying close.
Mixing self-aware fun with a compelling mystery, Fear Street is modern horror done right.