Sequels are big business in horror. Black Phone 2 emerged victorious at the box office this weekend, while Final Destination Bloodlines shattered records earlier this year. That doesn’t even touch upon recent sequel announcements, including The Revenge of La Llorona and The Wretched Devours. You just can’t keep a horror villain, monster, or boogeyman down […]
Sequels are big business in horror. Black Phone 2 emerged victorious at the box office this weekend, while Final Destination Bloodlines shattered records earlier this year. That doesn’t even touch upon recent sequel announcements, including The Revenge of La Llorona and The Wretched Devours. You just can’t keep a horror villain, monster, or boogeyman down for long, nor can fans get enough of them. As such, this week’s streaming picks are dedicated to great horror sequels that thrillingly expand upon their predecessors, taking bold risks and increasing the body count in the process.
As always, here’s where you can watch them this week.
The Exorcist III – Hoopla, Kanopy, Peacock, Pluto TV, Prime Video, Roku Channel, Shout TV, Tubi
Set fifteen years after the events of the first film, a new series of murders plagues Georgetown, and they bear an uncanny resemblance to the murders of serial killer James “The Gemini” Venamun. The only hitch is that Venamun was executed around the same time as Karras sacrificed his life to save young Regan MacNeil. Kinderman’s investigation leads him to an amnesiac psychiatric patient in the hospital, who claims to be both the Gemini Killer and Father Karras. The mere mention of The Exorcist IIItends to bring two things to mind: one of the most effective and iconic jump scares of all time and Brad Dourif’s intense performance as the Gemini Killer.
Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed – Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Roku Channel, Tubi
Unleashed fearlessly takes a very different approach than expected, going for a unique continuation instead of a rehash. Picking up where the previous film left off, Brigitte (Emily Perkins) is trying to fend off her lycanthropy by injecting monkshood extract into her veins, increasing the dosage as it becomes harder to ward off her inner werewolf. It lands her in a rehab center, locking her in with another werewolf in pursuit. What Ginger Snaps did for puberty, Ginger Snaps 2 does for addiction. That means it’s much darker in both tone and subject matter. Keeper and The Monkey‘s Tatiana Maslany turns in an unsettling supporting performance in an early role.
Psycho II – Indieflix
Written by Tom Holland (Fright Night, Child’s Play), the sequel is set 22 years after the first film’s events, where Norman Bates is released from the mental institution and resumes residence in the old house behind the motel. He gets a job at a nearby diner, where he meets co-worker Emma Spool and young diner Mary Samuels (Meg Tilly), a pretty girl in need of a place to stay. As Norman’s budding friendship with Mary grows, so does the body count. This highly underseen sequel toys with viewer expectations based on what we already know about Norman. It finds an innovative, new way to explore that unhealthy bond between mother and child. Unexpected reveals and more profound, more sympathetic layers to Norman make this one of horror’s all-time best sequels.
Saw X – Roku Channel
This sequel, set between the first and second movies, introduces John Kramer as he struggles with his terminal cancer diagnosis. Facing months to live, Kramer finds hope via a radical life-saving procedure from the elusive Dr. Cecilia Pederson (Synnøve Macody Lund). When Kramer realizes he’s been ruthlessly scammed, he enlists Amanda (Shawnee Smith) to rig a new deadly game. It’s not just the gruesome and inventive new traps that make Saw X so winsome, but the return of Kramer and Amanda, along with one of the most vile new villains to come along in a long while. Director/Editor Kevin Greutert, working from Pete Goldfinger & Josh Stolberg’s screenplay, wields his franchise experience like a lethal Jigsaw trap, ensnaring fans in a thrilling, triumphant sequel.
Smile 2 – Paramount+
Smile 2 picks up days after the first film’s events, tracking the curse’s path to world-famous pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) just as she’s preparing to launch her new global tour. Two things become immediately clear: the entity seems much more savage this round, and Skye is a deeply flawed and fragile character. Writer/Director Parker Finn is much a more confident and assured filmmaker this round, injecting a more pronounced sense of humor and personality when not scaring the pants off his audience. Make no mistake, though, Smile 2 is far more vicious. It makes for a satisfying thrill ride of jaw-dropping horror and unrelenting dread; a perfect Halloween treat for those in need of a good scare — or twenty.
