The best most underrated Horror sequels

The producers of Halloween 1&2 got bored of our Hero/Villian michael after the second film, so decided to get rid of him for this Invasion of the body snatchers like Pod movie focusing on a Doctor's investigation into some brutal deaths that might be the doing of a Halloween merchandising company. This is so unfairly overlooked by most due to its obvious lack of slashing and teens but if you are one who doesnt like it you've missed the trick with this one, Its satire slant on what we and let our children watch on T.V is perfect for its time being controlled by shady govenment officials (The 80's). The score composed by carpenter (who passed on director in favour of the originals producton designer Tommy lee wallace) has an edgy doom laden robotic quality adding to the films mystery elements concerning Tom atkins's (on the ball) Doctor Challis. Apparently Nigel Kneale of Quatermass wrote the original script until he reqested his name to be removed once viewing the film, this makes me glad in one sense as his vision may have completly stripped it of its Halloween series tone although it also makes me curious that even though this is a greatly underrated film how much better it could have been due to Kneale's overtly darker approach, alas a film that in time will (and is) rightfully build up admirers for a new generation.

Criminally overlooked third part of the saga directed by the author and sceewriter of the original film William Peter Blatty after his extreme dislike for Exorcist 2: The Heretic. Most will probably be put of by the III Prefix but don't, the film is as inventive and as creepy as its original and doesn't rain off it for ideas instead unleashes new ones and approaches the series with a new interesting premise rather than the tired girl becomes possessed then exorcised scenario. Furthermore the scene at night with the Nurse in the Hospital almost matches most of the originals shocking parts. The film also boasts great performances from George C. Scott, Brad Dourif and Jason Miller.

Its pretty hard to beat the first Omen, The Score is landmark and it remains one of the scariest films of all time introducing a staying presence of the number 666 and the name Damien, The second one doesn't beat it but it has a good stab. Whats good about its sequel is that the original's music composer Jerry Goldsmith returns and instead of recycling the last one composes a whole new score albeit in the same vain as the first. William holden does a good job of filling Gregory pecks shoes as the films antagonist, Damiens new foster Dad and it contains some of the most Gory and inventive deaths in all cinema whilst applying tension and even slight humor to them.

According to Tobe Hooper "People didnt get the first film's humor" he makes it all to clear on this strange yet fun follow up to the 1974 shocker. Leatherface and co are back this time killing on highway open road area's but when one of these gets caught on a live radio recording they travel to dispatch its D.J. Compared to its original it has more of a focused plot now revealing an obvious main character and a revenge plot which involves Dennis Hopper's psycho sheriff, this is more of a comedy and may upset fans of the original's atmosphere and sheer nastiness but in my opinion it is an enjoyable offering from the originals director & writer which contains enough blood and memorable characters to hold up good. And after watching it you may go back to the first film and get Tobe's point.

I dont much rate the original Poltergeist film as a horror, I see it much more as a fantasy which would also add to speilbergs involvment as screenwriter and (possibaly) Director. This sequel to Tobe Hoopers film however is much more in the horror vain introducing one of the most creepy vilians ever in Pastor Kane (Julian Beck) as he sings his way to trying to consume the returning Caroline, Beck seriously delivers some of the creepiest lines and actions in this film and his skelitol appearence (he was dying of cancer at the time) add a face value to his his characters evil look. This film also contains true moments of tense horror like one of the kids braces wrapping right around his head to kill him to Craig T Nelson spewing out a huge worm like monstrosity.

The one where Jason first dons the infamous Hocky Mask, and originally shot in 3D. Directed by the second films helmer Steve Miner and set directly after it Jason now finds himself at a new lake terrorising a bunch of young Holiday guests staying in one of the cabins. The film apparently Kick started a resurgence in 3D for the 80's meaning most 3rd part horror films would be immediately shot for 3D, It is rather brilliant watching this one now as most things in the film play very close to the screen so you can point out every 3D moment you could have seen. Even more peculiar the film also takes a psyhcedelic theme from its spaced out intro tune to its reefer smoking Victims. Unbelievably elements of Blaxploitation are even injected in some scenes containing a black biker gang confrontation, It remains the most strange F13 film in the series if any sequel out there. All in all its a lost camp classic that is mostly enjoyable for its shot for 3D style and psychedelics, A good little slasher too.

This is the one where they finally try and explain why michael is the way he is, with mixed results. After the commercial flop that was Halloween 5 the franchise was now owned by Miramax which meant it had to go through test screenings which went bad, Actually not much went right for this one. The sadly missed Donald pleasance dying before the end of priniple photography, numerous script rewrites and a key argument over its final cut which means at least two other versions of this film exist. Even considering these problems and its critical panning I think this does a great job of moving the series further still not loosing its stalk n slash appeal , It may (plot wise) get a little rediculous after all it was written by an untried fan of the series but it still comes out as high point for me while it unfortunatly remains defunct in the now overhauled series.

Many critics snigger at this films obvious allusions to Homosexuality and AIDS including one scene where the main character Jesse is being possessed by Freddy in front of his friend Ron and he yells "He's inside me!". I actually rather enjoyed that element of the film also its aim to steer more along the body horror genre while still keeping to its slasher roots. Not many like the film probably due to Freddys total screentime a strange 10 minutes and no involvment from Wes Craven, regardless of these things I think it remains one of the most compitant parts (also including New nightmare) in what became an increasingly silly series. Its also bloody, really 80's (pool partys...) and where its future films dismissed favoured horror over humor, depending on which way you look at it.

The Ring and Ju-on series see Japanese horror at its most original and terrifying and this often dismissed sequel to Ring is a real gem. This was Loosly remade by its original director Hideo Nakata in 2005 which gave the impression he couldnt do the same trick twice as it picks up right from the firsts events as Mai is now out searching and looking for clues to what went wrong to create Ryuji's death with the originals child villian Sadako, now seems to be feeding some of her abilities to the boy Yoichi. A genuelly unsettling follow up that was hard to beat considering the original, even tho its has a bit of a "is that it" ending, still good. The scenes in the well are chilling.

The sequel to one of my favorite and original horrors of all time, Book of Shadows doesn't follow the same path as its 1999 counterpart nor does it forfil the same promise. Although the film isnt great it still presents a daring conventional film style as oppose to found footage and its crazy post modern plot that plays out as if the main characters are fans of the original documentary, decide to go to the woods themselves and succumb to the same evils. Its a guilty pleasure and to most would come under the "so bad its good" section, but its definatly worth a look, also great viewing in October.