This is the Best Horror Sequel, According to Science
There’s an argument to be made that Scream 2 is better than the first. With the rules firmly established, Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson were more successfully equipped to expand the scope of their meta-horror franchise. The original is always going to be the original, but Scream 2 is arguably funnier, scarier, gorier, and just generally more fun. And that’s rare for a sequel, and even rarer for a horror sequel.
For every Friday the 13th: Part 2 (unquestionably better than the first), there’s a The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 or Exorcist II: The Heretic. The former sequel is better than the latter, though I’m not sure even those films’ most ardent fans would make the argument that the follow-up is better than what started it all. Not everything can be Smile 2, OK?
But, what if science could help us figure out what the best horror sequels are, however, to make as definitive an argument as any that some sequels are better than others? Well, the fine folks at Vegas Insider tasked their supercomputer with analyzing the most successful horror sequels ever, and the results might surprise you. Number one? None other than Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II, now streaming free on Plex.
Per Plex: Ashley Williams travels to a secluded cabin in the woods with his girlfriend Linda where they find a tape recording of a professor and a book of evil. This unleashes a bunch of evil spirits that constantly terrorize Ash. Meanwhile, a journalist comes to the area to study the book of evil. Ash and her end up having to survive this swarm of evil until morning comes.
Evil Dead II is fascinating largely because it retreads the beats of the first film. It is, for some fans, the definitive Evil Dead film, expanding the scope and scale of the original’s promise with a larger budget and more confident filmmaking. It’s certainly my favorite film in the franchise, even if I’m partial to Army of Darkness, and it’s nice to know the supercomputer agrees with me. Gotta make nice before they take over the world, you know?
Other prominent sequels making the cut include 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), Terrifier 2 (2022), and Terrifier 3 (2024) in the next three spots, respectively. Love Art the Clown or hate him, there’s no denying he’s all but defined this generation’s horror scene. You can check out the results in full here.
Once you have, check in with me over on Twitter @Chadiscollins and share your thoughts. Did your favorite sequel make the cut? I want to hear all about it.
Categorized: News
