It’s common for successful horror movies to get sequels – often many! This happens more than with other types of films because they can be made relatively cheaply and still earn a lot of money, so studios naturally want to build on that success. However, occasionally a horror film with a truly memorable villain remains a standalone story. More often, it’s the film itself that doesn’t get a follow-up, or if it does, the sequel lacks the original’s compelling villain and isn’t nearly as good.
Here are seven horror movie villains who were truly memorable – even iconic – despite only appearing in one film. It’s time for a sequel, and fans agree!
7) David from The Lost Boys
In the movie The Lost Boys, the vampire gang leader David appears to die. But the comic book sequel, Lost Boys: Reign of Frogs, explains that he actually survived – the antlers that pierced him didn’t hit his heart, allowing him to return.
The 1980s film The Lost Boys is a beloved classic, and a new sequel – one that disregards the existing direct-to-video sequels Lost Boys: The Tribe and Lost Boys: The Thirst – would be fantastic. If a sequel were made, it would be great to have Kiefer Sutherland reprise his role; he perfectly captured David’s cool, charismatic, and frightening personality.
6) Mister Babadook from The Babadook
As a huge fan of psychological horror, I think The Babadook is brilliant because it works so well on a simple level – it’s a scary story about a mother and son dealing with a truly frightening creature. But what’s really clever is that creature isn’t just a monster; it feels like a physical manifestation of their grief after losing the father. And then, in the final act, the son says something that really stuck with me: after his mom seemingly ‘becomes’ the Babadook and spits out this dark, gooey substance, he points out you can’t actually destroy it. It’s a powerful moment because it suggests grief itself can’t be truly erased, only managed.
The movie makes it very clear the villain isn’t truly defeated, and the way the mother traps it – in the basement of their house – strongly suggests what the next movie will be about. It’s easy to imagine a new family moving in, facing their own difficulties, and the villain returning as a result.
Stream The Babadook on Hulu.
5) The Headless Horseman from Sleepy Hollow
The Headless Horseman in Sleepy Hollow is a demonic creature originating from Hell. At the film’s conclusion, he returns to Hell, taking Lady Mary Van Tassel with him – the woman who had been secretly manipulating him all along.
Ultimately, the Headless Horseman made a deliberate choice – he kept his own controller instead of using the one given to him, the one that compelled him to kill. While it seems unlikely he’d return to Earth now that he’s reconnected with his head (which Mary used to control him), perhaps the town of Sleepy Hollow has changed over time, with new residents disrupting its original character, and this motivates him to seek revenge. Regardless of how he’s brought back, the Headless Horseman deserves another film, and it would be perfect if Christopher Walken reprised his role, scowling and showing off those iconic teeth throughout.
Stream Sleepy Hollow on MGM+.
4) Leslie Vernon from Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
The movie Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon ends by showing that Leslie prepared for his night of terror by learning how to convincingly fake his own death. He also covered himself in a special gel to protect against burns.
To definitively show Leslie Vernon survived the fiery barn showdown at the end of the movie, the final scene reveals him sitting up on an autopsy table as the credits roll. It’s surprising he hasn’t followed up with a sequel, considering he’s still around.
Stream Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon on AMC+.
3) Cropsy from The Burning
A sequel to The Burning is probably unlikely, as it would have only happened if the original film had been successful. However, even though it wasn’t a hit when it came out, it’s since gained a dedicated fan base, so you never know what might happen in the future.
If they ever make a low-budget sequel, it would be great to see the terrifying Cropsy return. He took a lot of damage when he was axed, but this is the kind of movie where anything goes – the usual rules don’t apply!
Stream The Burning for free with ads on The Roku Channel.
2) Black Phillip from The Witch
Black Phillip is a goat that’s possessed by a powerful evil force, most likely Satan. The idea of a seemingly harmless farm animal terrorizing a family is genuinely frightening and deserves to be explored in another story. It’s a really compelling concept.
And it’s not like the entity possessing Black Phillip is defeated by the end of The Witch. In fact, it’s more like it succeeds in its goals.
Stream The Witch on HBO Max.
1) Sam from Trick ‘r Treat
Michael Dougherty’s Trick ‘r Treat is a widely loved horror anthology film, known for its darkly funny and gruesome scenes. The movie revolves around a mysterious, small figure named Sam.
Sam, the creepy but strangely endearing little demon from the 2000s horror film, is a well-crafted icon of the genre. People have been hoping for a sequel for some time, and it would be surprising if Sam wasn’t included.
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2025-12-02 05:13