Slightly more often than not, horror film prequels don’t come close to matching the power of the franchise-starter. For instance, Tremors 4: The Legend Begins is no Tremors, Hannibal Rising is no Silence of the Lambs, Leatherface is nothing compared to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Psycho IV: The Beginning outright has no business existing. But every now and then there’s a horror prequel that gives the original film a serious run for its quality money. In fact, that’s not even relegated to the horror genre, as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, parts of The Godfather Part II, and X-Men: First Class are all prequels.
Videos by ComicBook.com
As for the horror prequels that give the original film some stiff competition, let’s go through now. In fact, one might argue that some of the following films even surpass their progenitor (which is nonetheless its chronological successor).
10) Amityville II: The Possession
There have been over 60 Amityville movies and, of that massive number, only 10 are actually part of the official Amityville Horror franchise. The rest are independent productions. What binds the official and unofficial entries, however, is that none of them are particularly good. But the first two have some merit.
The difference between The Amityville Horror and Amityville II: The Possession is that the latter takes some really big swings. Some of them make the film feel like a cheaper but equally atmospheric version of The Exorcist, which is fine, while others have to do with an incestuous relationship between a brother and a sister which is, well, not so good. Even still, there’s an argument to be made that The Possession is a better crafted film than its predecessor, even if that predecessor has better pacing.
Stream Amityville II: The Possession on Peacock.
9) Paranormal Activity 3
Admittedly, all of the Paranormal Activity movies have the tendency to blend into one another. So, when it comes to the first three (which are the best three), it’s not easy to say which is the best.
But it basically comes down to either Paranormal Activity or Paranormal Activity 3. In the franchise-starter’s corner is how it managed to take a micro-budgeted film and turn it into an event. Not to mention, when the first film started to expand nationwide, it was so fun in theaters because its scares felt surprising. Those scares would be repeated, including in the third film. Yet the third film works because it focuses on two children, who feel particularly vulnerable, thusly lending the film raised stakes. There’s also the neat hook that one of two said children ended up being the protagonist of the first film. Paranormal Activity 3 was a nice way to tie things and a bow and were it not for capitalism this would have been the definitive way to cap the franchise.
Stream Paranormal Activity 3 on Paramount+.
8) Alien: Romulus
Forget Ridley Scott’s Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, Alien: Romulus was the prequel the franchise deserved. That said, it’s only a prequel to Aliens, not Alien. In other words, it’s an interquel. But considering Aliens is just as revered as Alien, we’re counting it.
Romulus does a great job of interweaving the various aspects that have worked about the franchise throughout the years, even the more controversial entries like the aforementioned duo of Scott prequels. The film also has four major assets in its corner. Fede Álvarez’s direction is both tight and clearly fueled by love for the franchise, Cailee Spaeny continues to deliver performances that are nothing short of impressive, the frequent use of practical effects are a treat, and the movie’s focus on going back to the haunted house in space storytelling that worked so well for the film that started it all. It’s not as stone-cold excellent as Alien or Aliens, but it’s hard to say any other film is in the running for being the saga’s third best entry.
Stream Alien: Romulus on Hulu.
7) Final Destination 5
Without a doubt one of the best Final Destination films, Final Destination 5 brilliantly wasn’t even marketed as a prequel. In fact, those who saw it in theaters before spoilers started making their way across the internet were surprised to have that bomb dropped on them in the movie’s closing moments.
After the down notes that were Final Destination 3 and The Final Destination it really seemed as though this franchise was running on fumes. But Final Destination 5 (and subsequently Final Destination: Bloodlines) showed the merits of playing with this particular timeline. It also showed how valuable it is to cast likable performers in comparably likable roles.
Stream Final Destination 5 on HBO Max.
6) Saw X
While it’s unfortunate we won’t be receiving a direct sequel to Saw X, maybe that’s for the best. If there was a truly great way to send Tobin Bell out, it was with this character-focused prequel.
Saw X works so well because it isn’t trying to top its predecessors in the gross-out department. That seemed to be the franchise’s goal for a long time (most notably in Saw III and Saw IV) and it resulted in what amounted to particularly nasty CSI episodes. X wants to explain why John Kramer ended up becoming Jigsaw, and it does the best job of that out of all the Saw movies. Saw and Saw II still have the edge on X, but it says a lot about a franchise’s potential that its tenth installment can end up being the third best.
Stream Saw X with a STARZ Apple TV+ channel subscription.
5) Pearl
The middle installment of Ti West’s X trilogy, Pearl, is considered by quite a few to be the best of the bunch. But what is most impressive about West’s trilogy is how all three installments connect to one another yet, tonally, stand far apart.
This tonal disparity makes it difficult to really compare the films. Most agree that MaXXXine is the weakest of the trio, yet it too is quite solid. So, what gives Pearl the edge? It features what is without a doubt Mia Goth’s best performance as either Pearl or Maxine. It may very well even be her best work to date.
Stream Pearl on HBO Max.
4) Prey
Sometimes it’s the movie we expect that ends up being the one we really wanted all along. For instance, Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey, a period piece that is so dead set on being character-focused you don’t mind at all when you’re watching scenes without Yautja action.
But there is also quite a bit of Yautja action, so Prey also manages to check the IP’s most important box. And thanks to the human protagonists (and antagonists) lack of formidable weaponry, this is the first time the Yautja has felt like it’s holding all the cards since the original film, when we knew as little about it as the grenade launcher and minigun-toting paramilitary rescue team. Toss in a wonderful performance by Amber Midthunder and this is the one Predator follow-up that gives John McTiernan’s film a run for its money.
Stream Prey on Hulu.
3) The First Omen
With thoroughly drawn characters, excellent acting, and haunting ambiance, The First Omen was a surprise critical success. And, since its release, it has been cited as one of the best horror prequels of all time. To that point, this would rank higher if the original film weren’t still a superior work. Even still, one could look at The First Omen as the other truly great installment of the franchise (though, while not great, Damien – Omen II continues to fly under too many radars).
Unfortunately, The First Omen was the lowest grossing of the five movies at the domestic box office, and that’s without even adjusting for inflation. Here’s hoping this movie’s underperformance doesn’t dissuade Hollywood from continuing to greenlight horror prequels with much on their mind.
Stream The First Omen on Prime Video.
2) Ouija: Origin of Evil
Here we are. We’ve firmly entered the territory of horror prequels that are through and through superior to the movie they’re leading into. On one hand, Ouija: Origin of Evil fits this particular bill because Ouija is such a generic, unscary, cheesy slog. On the other hand, Origin of Evil greatly benefits from the presence of two very talented individuals. Clap those two hands together and this prequel is a night and day improvement over the film that inspired it.
Those two talented individuals are Lulu Wilson, who was also the star of the next entry here on our list, and director Mike Flanagan, with whom Wilson would collaborate on The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of the House of Usher. The impact of the movie is also buoyed by its atmosphere, which is undoubtedly one of Flanagan’s many talents.
1) Annabelle: Creation
Technically, Annabelle: Creation is the prequel to a prequel. And while Creation isn’t better than The Conjuring, it’s a far sight superior to 2014’s bland, forgettable, and cheesy Annabelle. In fact, on the whole, it’s one of the stronger installments of the franchise.
A lot of things work in Creation‘s favor. The isolated farmhouse setting lends the tone a hopelessness that always works for horror, Lulu Wilson and Talitha Bateman have great chemistry as the two young leads, and there are a few jump scares (a Conjuring staple that the franchise usually manages to do well) that are effective jolts, most notably when the demon poses as Sister Charlotte and runs the wheelchair-bound Janice (Bateman) into a shed.
Stream Annabelle: Creation on HBO Max.
Most Viewed
-
Image via THQ Nordic -
image courtesy of 20th Century Studios -
A closeup of a PlayStation 5 with a controller on top.
