A truly great horror sequel can be difficult to pull off, as much of the tension and suspense have already been exhausted in the first movie, although some incredible horror sequels from the 2000s have managed this feat. Whether it’s the terrifying pursuit of unstoppable slasher movie villains or less-definable foes in supernatural series, the very nature of horror movies opens the door for sequels, as it’s easy for a sinister force to reemerge to take on a new slate of unsuspecting victims.
Many of the best horror movies from the 2000s received sequels, and some were certainly better than others. The greatest follow-ups often led to the development of major horror movie franchises, like Saw or Final Destination, that still have upcoming releases to this day. The 2000s were a great time for horror movies and an era filled with many undisputed movie classics, such as 28 Days Later and The Descent, both of which received excellent sequels that acted as worthy follow-ups to the original.
10 The Descent Part 2 (2009)
A sequel to The Descent (2005)
The British horror The Descent Part 2 directly followed the original movie, as a traumatized and blood-covered Sarah Carter (Shauna Macdonald) escaped the terrifying cave system. Sarah was seemingly the only survivor after her friends encountered the cave-dwelling known as Crawlers, a group of blind and vicious humanoid creatures. Sarah suffered amnesia from the horrors she endured in the cave, but after doctors found the blood of one of her missing friends on her, she returned there with police and scientific specialists to try to find her.
The Descent Part 2 was a horror sequel that maintained the same unnerving tension of the original as Sarah unwittingly went right back to the place she fought so hard to escape. With the same claustrophobic suspense that made the original stand out, this second film may have lost the shock of the Crawlers’ initial reveal, but the fact that viewers knew what they lay ahead made for nail-biting viewing. While The Descent Part 2 was unable to outdo the original in terms of fright, seeing the after-effects of the cave’s victims gave it a uniquely sinister energy.
9 The Ring Two (2005)
A sequel to The Ring (2002)
The Ring was a cultural phenomenon when it was first released in 2002, as Western horror viewers began to recognize the truly terrifying remake potential of Japanese horror movies. While the future Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski helmed The Ring, the original Japanese movie’s director Hideo Nakata was brought on board for the sequel. With a keen understanding of this franchise’s mythology, Nakata kept the scares coming for yet another peek at Samara Morgan’s cursed videotape and the devastating consequences for those unlucky enough to cross its path.
With Naomi Watts back as Rachel Keller, after surviving the first film, this investigative journalist focused on Samara’s story in the sequel, trying to uncover how the tape came to be and how her son got sick with a mysterious ailment. With brewing evil, new curses, and an expanded upon mythology, like so many horror sequels, The Ring Two lacked the urgency of the original. However, this supernatural story had a truly eerie atmosphere, and no matter how used to horror movies a viewer was, after watching it they’ll never look at a ringing phone the same way again.
8 Wrong Turn 2: Dead End (2007)
A sequel to Wrong Turn (2003)
As one of the best horror movies that never made it to theaters, Wrong Turn 2: Dead End showcased this slasher franchise’s potential as a direct-to-video release. As a series that has continually paid tribute to horror movies of the past, such as The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, this story of reality show contestants facing off against a family of deformed cannibals may be the best movie in the Wrong Turn franchise. With punk rock legend Henry Rollins in the main role, Wrong Turn 2 was an effective homage to the very best of the 1980s horror movies.
While some viewers may criticize Wrong Turn 2 for being derivative of the first movie, it was also pure gore-filled mayhem that delivered completely on its concept. It’s fast-paced and self-aware in a way that makes for thrilling viewing as the victims are endlessly pursued by ruthless cannibals. For those with a love of gore who can’t get enough of slasher movies from decades past, Wrong Turn 2 will be the perfect callback whose makeup and special effects did not disappoint, especially for a non-theatrical release.
7 Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
A sequel to Paranormal Activity (2007)
The first Paranormal Activity took the horror world by storm as it showcased an effective, low-budget way to produce found-footage horrors that hit big at the box office. Grossing over $194 million against an initial $15,000 budget (via The Numbers), not only was a sequel guaranteed, but with that kind of budget, a sprawling, still-ongoing franchise was all but guaranteed. The first follow-up came three years later with Paranormal Activity 2, whose story was both a prequel and sequel, with events that take place before and after the first movie.
While the first sequel to Paranormal Activity could have been a quick cash grab after the original’s astounding success, it was actually an effective follow-up that delved even further into the found-footage style that made the first one work so well. While Paranormal Activity 2 didn’t break any new ground, it blended shock and suspense with some truly effective visuals. In a franchise packed with sequels, prequels, and spin-offs, Paranormal Activity 2 was one of the best ones.
6 Final Destination 2 (2003)
A sequel to Final Destination (2000)
The Final Destination franchise has always been unique, as its villain was not a physical entity but Death itself. With five installments, as an upcoming sixth movie titled Final Destination: Bloodlines, this series follows those who have survived a major disaster and are then systemically killed one by one as their circumstances were manipulated by Death manifested. Although its concept has been stretched pretty thin over the years, when Final Destination 2 was released in 2003, it still felt fresh, exciting, and horrifying.
The second entry in this long-running series focused on the Route 23 highway pile-up that Kimberly Corman (A. J. Cook) miraculously survived after having a premonition of her own death. With plenty more gore-filled fatalities and elaborate death sequences, Final Destination 2 proved that nobody was safe, as it even killed off survivors from the original movie. With a powerful blend of brutal cynicism and lighthearted comedy, Final Destination 2 leaned into the unique nature of this series by providing plenty of mean-spirited laughs.
5 Saw II (2005)
A sequel to Saw (2004)
Although the ending of the original saw revealed John Kramer as the villain Jigsaw, it was not until its sequel that he truly got to step into the spotlight. Saw II expanded upon this franchise’s mythos, and Tobin Bell gave a strong performance as the sadistic killer who trapped a group of convicts in a house to solve a series of horrific tests before a deadly nerve agent killed them. With plenty of terrifying traps, including the infamous needly pit and box full of razor blades, Saw II upped the stakes in this sequel.
Saw II was the true beginning of Bell’s now iconic performance, and he was even nominated for Best Villain at the 2006 MTV Movie Awards for his role as Jigsaw. While the gruesome gore on display may be too much for some viewers to stomach, the extreme nature of this series was also a big part of its longevity. Saw II was the movie that turned the story of Jigsaw from a once-off movie to a still ongoing franchise as it laid the groundwork for Jigsaw’s reputation alongside fiction’s most notorious killers like Hannibal Lecter or Se7en’s Joe Doe.
4 Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed (2004)
A sequel to Ginger Snaps (2000)
Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed continued to the werewolf horror antics of the original to follow Ginger’s sister Brigitte Fitzgerald (Emily Perkins), who, following the events of the first film, has also been damned to the same supernatural fate as her late sibling. While the first Ginger Snaps was a biting satire of teenage life packed with feminist themes and some Cronenberg-style body horror, Ginger Snaps 2 managed to follow up this saga with a worthy follow-up that avoided the cliche-ridden trappings of so many other horror sequels.
Picking up right after the events of the first film, Ginger Snaps 2 saw Brigitte escaping from her rehab center and desperately trying to ward off the effects of lycanthropy that had turned her sister into a werewolf. While early scenes of self-mutilation may turn off viewers before the story even gets going, those who stick around will be rewarded with a truly effective sequel. Ginger Snaps 2 was a thoughtful sequel that added to the franchise’s mythology and will please fans of the original.
3 [REC]² (2009)
A Sequel to [REC] (2007)
The Spanish horror Rec stood as one of the greatest found-footage horror movies ever made. With a compelling concept around a mysterious infection spreading through an apartment building, Rec 2 was a direct follow-up that focused on the soldiers and scientists tasked with investigating the cause of the outbreak. With several returning actors appearing as infected versions of their characters, Rec 2 was an eerie sequel that carved out new ground for the franchise.
As a truly terrifying zombie franchise, Rec 2 blended science and the supernatural with an engaging mix of horrific suspense and heart-racing action. With strong visuals, make-up, and plenty of gore, Rec 2 proved that this Spanish horror’s success was not just a one-time event. The faux documentary style of this series only added to its intensity and realism as Rec 2 made viewers confront the terrifying potential of a mysterious, deadly outbreak.
2 28 Weeks Later (2007)
A sequel to 28 Days Later (2002)
The zombie outbreak depicted in Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later got a worthy follow-up with the release of 28 Weeks Later. With a new cast, this sequel focused on NATO military forces’ attempts to maintain a safe zone in London as the apocalypse attempts to entrench one of the last remnants of something resembling society. However, all hell broke loose when two siblings broke protocol, and the Rage Virus was reintroduced into the safe zone.
Although 28 Weeks Later lacked the strong characterization that made the original an undisputed zombie classic, it was still packed with energy and stood as one of the best horror sequels ever. As a brutal and exhausting viewing experience, 28 Weeks Later took viewers into the heart of its apocalyptic story and the terrifying existence of those left behind. With a long-awaited sequel titled 28 Years Later in the works, it remains to be seen whether the third installment will be able to live up to the lofty expectations set by this franchise.
1 The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
A sequel to House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
In a clever twist on horror sequel cliches, rather than retreading the original film’s story with a new set of victims, The Devil’s Rejects instead turned the murderous psychopaths from House of 1000 Corpses into villainous protagonists. As the follow-up to Rob Zombie’s incredible horror debut, The Devil’s Rejects centered on three of the previous film’s villains on the run and gave more time over this intriguing psychotic family. As a true cult classic, The Devil’s Rejects was the best horror sequel of the 2000s and an improvement over its predecessor.
The Devil’s Rejects showcased Zombie’s development as a filmmaker, as his skill for brutal, relentless, and nasty horror movies only became more impressive. By paying homage to horror movies of the past like The Hills Have Eyes and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Zombie emerged as a new and exciting voice in horror for the 21st century. Although the third installment, 3 from Hell, failed to live up to the legacy of this film, The Devil’s Rejects was a masterclass in how to subvert audience expectations for an exciting horror sequel.
Source: The Numbers
