10 Unexpected And Surprising Horror Movie Sequels

Alien (1979) was a masterclass in filmmaking from Ridley Scott (Blade Runner), with groundbreaking special effects and a perfectly executed story. Its action was subtly introduced, as the alien Xenomorph takes out the crew of the Nostromo before being destroyed by Lieutenant Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). It was seven years before we would see a sequel, but Aliens (1986) did not disappoint.

This follow-up was another superb film which came at the height of popularity for over-the-top action flicks, in which director James Cameron (The Terminator) did a fine job. At the end of the movie, there is a satisfying pay-off as Ripley yet again survives the alien onslaught thrown at her, this time also rescuing Newt, the orphaned young girl she has mothered throughout the picture. They, along with Corporal Hicks and android Bishop, float off into space together in a deep hyper-sleep, seemingly headed for Earth.

But, before the opening credits are finished on Alien 3 (1993), Newt and Hicks are killed when their vessel crashes into the Fiorina "Fury" 161, negating so much of what Ripley had fought for at the end of Aliens.

Further to this, the third movie is a darkly dismal follow-up which has since all but been disowned by director David Fincher (Se7en). Gone was the subtle slow build of the original, and the exhilarating action of the second. Alien 3 also replaced the engaging practical special effects of the first two with poor CGI that, like the script, could not hold a candle to its predecessors, and signified the start in a dip of quality for the series.