We all know the drill. A horror movie comes along, creeps us out, and we leave the theater clutching our popcorn bags like they’re the last vestiges of safety in a world full of terror.
But then, something worse happens: the sequel. Suddenly, the very villains that haunted our dreams are… well, kind of awkward.
In some cases, it’s like the villains got a marketing makeover to become less menacing and more… “Hey, maybe I should get a therapy dog.”
Here’s a look at some iconic horror films and the unsettling (and often hilarious) sequels that followed.
1. The Blair Witch Project (1999) vs. Blair Witch (2016)
The Blair Witch Project gave us the ultimate fear of “What’s out there in the woods?” paired with the chaos of shaky cam. It was like a home video from hell.
But Blair Witch (2016)? Not so much. The 2016 sequel is more of a “found footage but also not really found footage” kind of experience, complete with jump scares and unnecessary explanations.
The truly terrifying part? The entire premise is built on the idea that the original movie’s mystery needs to be “solved.”
We just wanted to know if they survived, not whether or not the Blair Witch had a detailed origin story. Spoiler: She does not need an origin story.
The Blair Witch Project paved the way for found-footage horror movies, so if you’d like to watch something similar we’d suggest REC (2007), Hell House LLC (2015, TV show) or As Above, So Below (2014).
2. Paranormal Activity (2007) vs. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)
Paranormal Activity redefined haunted house terror with its creeping dread and suspense. It was simple: cameras, ominous noises, and an escalating sense of “Nope, I’m not sleeping tonight.”
Then came Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, and things went full-on what? The found footage format had somehow gone from “intimate and terrifying” to “let’s throw in some bizarre demon cults and a teenager with a VHS camera.”
Nothing says scary like a teenager who doesn’t know how to hold a camera still while performing an exorcism.
If you’d like to see more of Big Brother with ghosts, we’d suggest watching Paranormal Activity 2, since this move brings in more characters but still has the slow burn of the original.
3. Jaws (1975) vs. Jaws: The Revenge (1987)
There’s something universally terrifying about a giant shark stalking people in the deep blue sea. Jaws remains a masterpiece, a suspense thriller that has kept us out of the water for decades.
Then came Jaws: The Revenge, which… well, Jaws probably should’ve been “Jaws: The Retirement Plan” at this point.
The plot? The shark is seeking revenge on a family. Yes, the shark somehow has a vendetta against a specific bloodline, making us wonder: does it have a shark therapist? No amount of CGI could save this one.
If you can’t get enough of sharks attacking people, the only worthy sequel would be Jaws 2, even though they pretty much reuse the plot from the original.
4. The Exorcist (1973) vs. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977)
The Exorcist was a nightmare wrapped in holy water and pea soup. It was an intense exploration of possession, and we didn’t need any more.
Yet, Exorcist II: The Heretic came along and turned Regan’s demonic possession into a groovy, spiritual experience with a weird dance scene involving a locust.
Suddenly, the horror wasn’t from the demon but from the bizarre choices made by everyone involved. In fact, if you ever wondered what the least terrifying exorcism might look like, this one’s your answer.
Skip the Heretic alltogether and jump straight to watching The Exorcist III (1990), you can thank us later.
5. American Psycho (2000) vs. American Psycho II: All American Girl (2002)
Patrick Bateman’s insane, stylish antics in American Psycho had us all questioning what was real and what wasn’t.
The sequel, American Psycho II: All American Girl, somehow managed to do the impossible: it made Bateman look like a nuanced, deeply philosophical character.
Enter Mila Kunis as a college student-turned-psycho, and suddenly it felt less like a psychological thriller and more like a bizarre “Here’s how to make a slasher flick in a dorm room.”
The real horror here? This wasn’t even supposed to be a sequel to American Psycho, but some dude said ”Hey, they’re similar, let’s make it into a sequel!” and everyone went with it.
While American Psycho doesn’t have any direct sequels, although the remake is set to take place, a good movie to watch in the meantime is The Talented Mr. Ripley (even if it’s not a horror movie.)
6. Halloween (1978) vs. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Michael Myers remains the face of slasher villains, stalking with purpose and never needing to say a word.
But then Halloween: Resurrection came along, and the only thing scarier than Michael’s mask was… the plot.
In this version, we get Busta Rhymes karate kicking Michael Myers. Let that sink in. Michael Myers, the embodiment of terror, got roundhouse-kicked by a rapper. And Jamie Lee Curtis isn’t even in this one!
It’s almost like the film was written by someone who lost a bet. The true horror? It made us miss the days when all Myers needed to do was stare ominously in the shadows.
A more modern installment, Halloween (2018) finally gets a fresh start after many disappointing sequels (We’re looking at you, Resurrection), so if you fancy yourself a Halloween binge night, we’d suggest going with the original first and the 2018 version second.
7. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) vs. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)
Freddy Krueger’s nightmare world was dark, twisted, and disturbing. But in Freddy’s Revenge, it’s almost like Freddy decided to take a vacation from being scary.
The sequel introduced a protagonist who basically becomes Freddy’s “vessel” (so much for subtlety).
Freddy spends most of the film as an awkward, quasi-villain that needs to work on his villainy, as his spooky “revenge” feels more like a midlife crisis than a chilling threat. By the end of it, you almost feel bad for Freddy—almost.
If you’re looking to indulge in more Freddy and less cringe, A Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors is a worthy sequel among many lousy ones.
8. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) vs. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1994)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre introduced us to Leatherface, a terrifying character who lived in a terrifying world of terror.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, on the other hand, introduced us to a Leatherface who was almost, dare we say it, quirky?
The whole movie feels like a bizarre, accidental comedy, with Leatherface delivering lines that should never be delivered by a chainsaw-wielding maniac.
If you’re looking for the least intimidating version of Leatherface, this film is like a horror comedy sketch gone wrong.
If you’re looking to have a laugh while also being terrified, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 would be a good watch for you!
9. Friday the 13th (1980) vs. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan (1989)
Jason Voorhees is the king of campy slasher movies. The first Friday the 13th is chilling, with a mother seeking revenge and, later, Jason making his terrifying debut.
But in Jason Takes Manhattan, we get the cinematic equivalent of Jason going on vacation. The dude is literally chasing teens around in New York City, but instead of horrifying, it’s a sad “Look, I’m in the Big Apple now!” situation.
From sewers to rooftop fights, this is less about terror and more about Jason’s poorly planned city tour.
If you didn’t have enough of Jason from the original, we suggest watching Friday the 13th, Part VI: Jason Lives.
10. The Grudge (2004) vs. The Grudge (2020)
The Grudge was the movie that gave us a new level of supernatural fear. The croaky, unearthly wail of the ghost made us want to avoid any house with an attic.
But The Grudge 2 lost much of that sense of dread. The movie took the curse and planted it in America, it wasn’t scary and the attempt at jumpscares was mediocre at best.
If you want to watch something worthy of your time, opt for the television series JU-ON: Origins.