Sometimes sequels are just there to cash in on a brilliant movie. Sometimes fans feel that the sequel surpasses the original (see The Empire Strikes Back, Godfather 2). In the case of horror franchises, some fans seem to want every installment to be a rehash of the original but with different kills, and a sequel may get a bad rap if it doesn't do just that. The following five movies may not have copied the first movies in their respective series, but as time goes on the more discriminating fans seem to revisit them anyway.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge - Wait a minute, isn't Freddy supposed to be killing people while they're asleep? So why the hell is he possessing the kid who moved into Nancy's old house? Folks were seriously pissed when Nightmare 2 came out, and to be fair the excitement over the return to form in Nightmare 3 made the third installment into a huge success, so there's that. But beyond analyzing the heck out of part 2 to see if it has gay themes, nobody wants to give it a chance. I say, after re-watching it for the first time in 25 years the other day, that it's a good movie on its own. Freddy wasn't joking around yet so he was still scary. I personally like the way the entire film has a nightmare quality: sometimes the kid is dreaming and sometimes he's awake but the nightmare continues, and you're never really sure which is the case. If nothing else, it's definitely the perfect 80s time capsule.
Psycho 2 - This is not a bad movie. Whoever got the ball rolling on this one had some big brass balls to want to do a sequel to the Hitchcock classic, to be sure. But this movie does something really groundbreaking. It makes the viewer sympathize with the monster Norman Bates. He's served his time in the insitution and is ostensibly sane, but is he going nuts again, or is somebody messing with him? Maybe both, and it's fascinating to watch. It's got good acting from Meg Tilly, and Tony Perkins was always super hot even as an old dude.
Day of the Dead - Fans really give this one no love. They say it's boring. I say watching all the character buildup is the perfect way to spend the movie as the tension ratchets up for the zomb-o-rama of the last thirty minutes. Zombie films are not always known for making you think, but this one touches on so many themes, like gender relations and scientific ethics. Plus there's Bub the sympathetic zombie character, which was almost unheard of at the time, but has since been used successfully in, among other movies, Fido and Shawn of the Dead.
The Exorcist III - This one never had a chance. It was intended to be an adaptation of the novel Legion, then the studio made them slap the name Exorcist on it and it backfired. But it's actually a freaking scary movie, especially the scene in the hospital hallway with a certain huge surgical instrument. Hospitals are such a great setting for a horror movie, and this one does not disappoint. It's a mystery as well as a terror flick, and you may be kept guessing as to the killer's identity. Heavy hitter George C. Scott really shines in a late career performance and Brad Dourif is creepy as always. The late, great Jason Miller returns as Father Karras.
Demons 2 - This is not just Demons in a high rise. It takes the basic premise of the first one and translates it to: what if this wasn't happening to complete strangers? What if it was happening in a close-knit apartment community, and among good friends at a party? The main couple is two adults in an established, loving relationship with a baby about to arrive, rather than some kids who get attracted while fighting to stay alive. Their baby is coming any minute and you have to spend the whoile movie wondering if it will be born a demon. It's a lot of fun to see Bobby Rhodes in a similar part as the one he played in the first one. Plus, there's a demon kid. You didn't see evil little kids in the movies all that often back then so that was controversial. One of Lamberto Bava's best efforts, even if Argento as producer was standing over him cracking a whip.
