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Six More Well Overdue Horror Sequels!

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A little while back I wrote an article on the top six long overdue horror sequels that I would personally like to see get made in the future, and you horror fans had quite the response. It seems that we all have our own favorite characters and stories that we think deserve another chance on the big screen, so I decided to make a follow-up of my own with another round of overdue sequels!

Many of these choices were inspired by your comments, while others are movies that just didn’t make the cut in the previous list. Either way, I feel like they all still have untapped storytelling potential. Again, no movie really needs a sequel, and we should always try to support up-and-coming filmmakers by valuing original ideas in Hollywood. However, if we’re going to have sequels, they might as well be good!

Like last time, some of these films are part of a franchise, having already been graced with another installment, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they (or we) wouldn’t benefit from a new movie. Others already have a sequel in the works, and production is just going through a period of development hell.

With that in mind, let’s begin!


The Crazies

This remake of a lesser-known George Romero movie had everything against it, and yet director Breck Eisner somehow managed to give us an incredibly entertaining look at a small-town apocalypse. I personally find this film to be better than Romero’s original, with loads of creative kills, a compelling cast and a great setting.

In a world filled with generic zombie/infection movies, it takes quite a bit of talent to make something this good. If the same team returned for a sequel, the result would almost certainly be worth a watch. Romero himself has actually claimed to be interested in producing a sequel, though it seems that the film simply isn’t popular enough to garner studio interest.


Bubba Ho-Tep

Another Don Coscarelli horror comedy, 2002’s Bubba Ho-Tep fits every definition of a cult classic. Starring Bruce Campbell as a senior Elvis Presley (or at least a confused impersonator of his), the film revolves around an ancient mummy terrorizing a retirement home as Elvis deals with his advanced age and the skepticism of those around him regarding his true identity.

This adaptation of a Joe R. Lansdale novella is incredibly entertaining, and everyone involved in the production has at one point expressed interest in making another one. In fact, the end credits even tease a sequel titled Bubba Nosferatu: Curse of the She-Vampires. Sadly, due to a series of disagreements between Campbell and Coscarelli, not to mention the lack of funding, this sequel has yet to materialize.

That being said, fans of Bubba Ho-Tep can still pre-order Lansdale’s new prequel novel Bubba and the Cosmic Blood-Suckers!


The Cabin in the Woods

Who could have predicted that a love-letter to the horror genre penned by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard would have turned out to be a modern classic? Literally anyone familiar with their work, actually. Either way, Cabin in the Woods is a kick-ass horror comedy, and it’s a miracle that we got to see this film get made in the first place.

This loving satire was actually a sleeper hit, and back in 2015 Goddard actually claimed that the studio was clamoring for a sequel. Of course, he and Whedon would only make one if they felt they had an interesting enough idea, as they hadn’t planned for a sequel while making the film. That’s not surprising when you consider Cabin In The Woods’ jaw-dropping ending.

Nevertheless, this is a cinematic universe ripe for new and creative ideas, as there are practically no limits to what Whedon and Goddard could come up with. A possible sequel/prequel could go about subverting all sorts of horror sub-genres and tropes, and maybe even sequels themselves!


Splinter

Toby Wilkins’ simple yet elegant monster movie, Splinter, is proof that all you need is perseverance and a good idea to make a great horror film. With a terrifyingly original monster, likable characters and copious amounts of body horror, this is one of those rare horror flicks that even mainstream critics couldn’t help but love.

Although Splinter is a complete film in and of itself (despite teasing that there are still other infected corpses out there), it’s a real shame that we never saw more of those spiny little parasites. It seems that there are many more horrifying stories that could be told featuring these unique monsters.

With a decent budget and some new ideas, the sky is the limit to what Wilkins could do with a sequel. As long as it maintains the charm of the first film, I’d definitely love to watch it.


28 Days Later

At first, the award-winning Danny Boyle may seem like the kind of director who feels above returning for a sequel to one of his earlier films, but with Trainspotting 2, we now know that this far from the truth. This is great news, as if there’s one movie in Boyle’s filmography that truly deserves another installment, it’s 28 Days Later.

This chilling apocalyptic tale is one of my personal favorite films, and I feel that it’s one of Boyle’s most underappreciated projects. The stunning yet frighteningly realistic cinematography and lonely atmosphere easily make this one of the best zombie movies ever made. I even love the controversial third act, which a lot of people seem to have a problem with, for some reason.

Of course, we did get a sequel in 2007 with 28 Weeks Later, which was a good movie in its own right, but it wasn’t helmed by Boyle and had little to do with the original film other than the setting. However, Boyle has repeatedly expressed interest in making a new film set in this same universe, so hopefully this won’t be the last we see of a post-apocalyptic UK.


The Collector

It appears that every modern slasher film is attempting to recapture the glory of the 80s with their derivative killers and nostalgic aesthetics, but few have managed to produce characters as iconic as Jason Voorhees or Freddy Kruger. I believe Marcus Dunstan’s The Collector is one of the exceedingly rare exceptions.

A slasher movie with a compelling protagonist, memorable villain and legitimately scary kills is almost unheard of these days, and yet The Collector pulled it off so well. What was originally meant to be a Saw prequel turned into something new and fresh, and eventually did spawn a sequel entitled The Collection.

While the sequel was a decent flick, it didn’t quite carry the same simple charm as the original. Luckily for us, however, a second sequel is rumored to be on the way, and I couldn’t be more excited to see my favorite modern slasher villain return to the big screen after all this time.

Born Brazilian, raised Canadian, Luiz is a writer and Film student that spends most of his time watching movies and subsequently complaining about them.

Editorials

5 Deep Cut Horror Movies to Seek Out in April 2024

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horror
Pictured: 'The Uncanny'

New month, new horror recommendations from Deep Cuts Rising. This installment features selections reflecting the month of April 2024.

Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.

This month’s offerings include telepathic plants, ecological horrors, and a lot of killer cats.


The Uncanny (1977)

horror

Pictured: The Uncanny (1977)

Directed by Denis Héroux.

The Uncanny is a two-for kind of deal: it works for both National Pet Day (April 11) and Tell a Story Day (April 27). Here we have Peter Cushing‘s character talking at length about the evils of cats, with his three examples fleshing out this singular anthology. And while this film is often mistaken for an Amicus production, it was, in fact, made by The Rank Organisation. However, Amicus co-founder Milton Subotsky was also a co-producer.

The Uncanny has a tendency to be one-note in its execution and story styles; vengeful felines come up more than once in the film. Even so, these macabre, cat-centric segments told in EC Comics fashion are more entertaining than not.

Watch The Uncanny at streaming sites such as SCREAMBOX.


The Kirlian Witness (1979)

horror

Pictured: The Kirlian Witness (1979)

Directed by Jonathan Sarno.

The Kirlian Witness (also known as The Plants are Watching) fits the bill when looking for something to watch on International Plant Appreciation Day (April 13). Similar to Eyes of Laura Mars, this film’s story is built on pseudoscience. More specifically, Kirlian photography. Nancy Snyder‘s character Rilla hopes to use this technique — revealing the energy field, or aura, of people and other animate things — to solve her sister’s murder. However, the only witness to the sister’s death, apart from the mysterious killer, is a plant. Rilla’s bizarre investigation eventually leads her to a startling discovery.

Jonathan Sarno’s film is a certified slow-burn, but it’s also intriguing and good-looking. This oddball of crime-solving horror is, at the very least, unique.

The Kirlian Witness is available for rental/purchase (under its alias) at digital retailers like Apple TV.


Scream for Help (1984)

horror

Pictured: Scream for Help (1984)

Directed by Michael Winner.

For Scream Day this year (April 24), why not visit Scream for Help? In this teenage thriller filtered through Death Wish, a Nancy Drew type suspects her stepfather is up to no good. And when her suspicions are proven right, she and her mother have to fight for their lives.

Scream for Help had the makings of a standard ’80s teen-slasher, but this turned out to be more like an “afterschool special meets home invasion” flick. And a hilarious one at that. It was likely not Michael Winner’s intention for this film to be so laugh-a-minute — star Lolita Lorre, bless her heart, has the funniest deliveries — however, trying to keep a straight face during his cinematic hot mess is impossible. Tom Holland‘s script was straight up murdered. Still and all, this is an entertaining disasterpiece that would have been an entirely different film had the original director, Richard Franklin, stayed on (rather than going off to direct Link).

The HD restoration of Scream for Help is available on Blu-ray from Scream Factory, but the digital version is standard-def.


Penumbra (2012)

Pictured: Penumbra (2012)

Directed by Ramiro García Bogliano & Adrián García Bogliano.

While it’s advised not to stare at the sun during the solar eclipse on April 8, fans of satirical horror are encouraged to give Penumbra, an Argentinian-Mexican film featuring an imminent solar eclipse, a watch. The unsubtle artwork suggests a straightforward survival story, however, the actual product is quite different and twisty. Cristina Brondo plays a prickly businesswoman who may have made her last sale; her new client has ulterior motives.

Surely some viewers will be put off by the protagonist of Penumbra, whose behavior in anticipation of the ominous eclipse is problematic. Yet, strangely enough, her being an imperfect victim adds something to the film, whereas a more pristine character would have made the whole experience less gripping.

Penumbra is currently available on AMC+.


Strange Nature (2018)

Pictured: Strange Nature (2018)

Directed by James Ojala.

For a less known eco-horror film to watch this Earth Day (April 22), Strange Nature tells its story with both urgency and force. Here, the late Lisa Sheridan (of FreakyLinks) played a struggling single mother looking into a local anomaly: mutated frogs. Soon enough, the cause of this abnormality extends beyond the water and creates other threats for the town’s human residents.

This truly indie production has its obvious limitations, yet the story — one based on a real life incident in Minnesota — and characters compensate for any visual flaws. The practical effects for the mutant beast are also admirable, given the meager resources available.

Strange Nature is currently streaming on Tubi.


No genre is as prolific as horror, so it’s understandable that movies fall through the cracks all the time. That is where this recurring column, Deep Cuts Rising, comes in. Each installment of this series will spotlight several unsung or obscure movies from the past — some from way back when, and others from not so long ago — that could use more attention.

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