Numerous horror films, which could have sparked series, failed to do so, either due to mixed public responses or simply because audiences didn’t attend. This is particularly noticeable in the slasher subgenre. After the success of films like “Halloween” and “Friday the 13th”, numerous other “man in a mask” movies were produced, but only a few, such as “Sleepaway Camp” and “Prom Night”, received sequels. The rest did not. While these films may not be exceptional slashers, they possessed an additional factor that many one-time productions lacked, making them slightly more memorable.
For a sequel to be possible, the storyline of the slasher movie should have some unresolved elements or loopholes. This means that the ending shouldn’t be definitive; for instance, the killer shouldn’t necessarily be dead, or there might be room for resurrection according to the film’s rules. Simply put, the film shouldn’t end like movies such as The Burning or Fade to Black, where everything is neatly wrapped up and there’s no room for continuation.
1) Blood Rage
The relatively obscure 1987 slasher film, Blood Rage, showcases an engaging plot, with Louise Lasser, formerly of Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman fame, taking the lead role. Mark Soper delivers strong performances in his dual roles, and the kills are particularly impressive. Moreover, the ending leaves room for interpretation due to its ambiguity.
The story centers around twin brothers Todd and Terry. Terry, who turns out to be a psychopath, commits a murderous act following their mother’s affair at a drive-in theater. He frames his brother Todd for the crime, leading to Todd’s hospitalization in a mental health clinic for ten years. Upon escaping, Todd returns home, unaware that Terry’s violent tendencies have resurfaced. Fear grips everyone except their mother, who mistakenly shoots and kills Terry thinking he is Todd. Believing she has rid her family of the bad influence, she takes her own life. Though technically the killer is dead, the story leaves us questioning Todd’s sanity and whether he might continue his brother’s deadly legacy.
Stream Blood Rage on Night Flight Plus.
2) Curtains
The story, titled “Curtains,” is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie whodunit, but with a twist: instead of a group of potential killers in a mansion, we have a gathering of eager actresses, each fiercely competing for the same coveted role. Any one of them could be the culprit.
The central idea is that Patti O’Connor’s driving forces are ambition and dislike for competition. This becomes clear over time. In the movie, only Patti survives, and the closing scene shows her being admitted to a psychiatric hospital. There was potential for her escape in a future film, or even a twist like in Halloween II, where the action takes place within the hospital. Although it might seem predictable or formulaic, when a live human antagonist is left standing at the end, it usually means they’ll reappear later.
Stream Curtains on Prime Video.
3) My Bloody Valentine
One of the top-notch slasher movies for holidays, “My Bloody Valentine,” stands out as the most outstanding film within its subgenre that never spawned a sequel. Although there was a remake in 2009, it doesn’t qualify as an extension of the original 1981 movie’s franchise.
In the movie, it appears that Harry Warden, the infamous miner who supposedly returned from the dead, is behind the recent murders. The killer dons a miner’s outfit and seems to be celebrating the anniversary of his gruesome spree. However, this isn’t the case as Harry Warden is deceased; instead, one of the main characters, Axel Palmer, is the real culprit. As the film ends, Axel can be seen dragging himself away with only one arm, shouting that he’s not finished yet. This final scene leaves audiences wondering about Axel’s fate, but it was evidently intended to set up a sequel. Unfortunately, My Bloody Valentine failed to reach the same level of success as Friday the 13th (another Paramount production) had achieved the previous year.
Stream My Bloody Valentine on Kanopy.
4) He Knows You’re Alone
The movie “He Knows You’re Alone” didn’t quite catch the speed of success as “Friday the 13th,” but its enigmatic ending hints at possible sequels due to its ambiguity. To add, the film’s antagonist is left alive in the final scene, leaving room for further stories.
The story begins by portraying a man killing his ex-partner on her wedding day, following her decision to move on with another man. In the film’s conclusion, Amy, initially involved with Phil at the start of the movie (who plays a minor role), breaks up with him. She is now engaged to Marvin, who appears frequently throughout the story. In a dramatic scene, Amy, wearing her wedding dress and standing before a mirror, turns around and asks, “Phil, what are you doing here?”, followed by a terrified scream.
Ray, the primary antagonist of the movie, is not killed by Amy. Thus, a sequel could feature Ray, Phil, or even both characters as potential killers or key figures. To add an interesting twist, it would be intriguing to have Tom Hanks reprise his role in the sequel and contribute more significantly to the narrative, rather than having a brief, inconsequential appearance like he did in the theme park scene that lasts for about 20 minutes before his disappearance from the story.
Rent He Knows You’re Alone on Amazon Video.
5) Shocker
Prior to creating terror in the ’90s with Scream, the late Wes Craven was wrapping up the ’80s with Shocker. It was an effort to recreate the success of A Nightmare on Elm Street, and unfortunately, that didn’t happen. However, it does have its devoted followers.
In a twist of horrifying scenarios, Horace Pinker, much like Freddy Krueger, doesn’t stick to the realm of the waking world. Instead, he finds his existence in electricity, having been electrocuted. The electric chair claimed his life, yet it was his demise that opened up a new dimension for him. By the movie’s conclusion, he seems trapped within a television screen. Interestingly, much like how Nancy thought she had vanquished Freddy, making Nightmare a solitary tale, Shocker could have potentially spawned a sequel. Given that both Craven films didn’t adhere to the norms of reality, it wouldn’t be surprising if Pinker resurfaced if the movie had been successful. However, with only $16.6 million in earnings, it fell short. Fortunately, Craven bounced back with The People Under the Stairs, a film that was both critically and commercially acclaimed.
Rent Shocker on Amazon Video.
6) Slaughter High
Despite its low budget quality that resembles a VHS tape (making it easy to watch but hard to find a pristine copy), and some questionable acting, “Slaughter High” is a classic throwback slasher film. Notably, it features music by Harry Manfredini, whose work in the “Friday the 13th” series gained iconic status. Interestingly, snippets of his music from those films are briefly incorporated here, and the overall soundtrack shares certain similarities with “Friday the 13th: A New Beginning”.
In a reunion of ten former classmates from their high school days, who had relentlessly tormented a classmate named Marty, the group encounters a shocking turn of events. Their cruel bullying left Marty disfigured years ago. Ten years later, they’re invited to a reunion, but find out that their old high school is now closed. At the event, Marty appears in a jester costume and exacts his revenge one by one on each of them. By the movie’s end, only Marty survives, suggesting potential for a sequel where he continues his quest for justice.
Stream Slaughter High on Tubi.
7) The Final Girls
Instead of directly stating that sequels could have been made for these slasher films, we’ve been suggesting that there was a possibility for sequels. Some movies in this genre are better off as standalone productions, and in this case, it couldn’t be truer than with the film The Final Girls.
In this story, I, Max Cartwright, am at the heart of the tale. My mom was an actress who graced our screens in a slasher flick reminiscent of ‘Friday the 13th’, titled ‘Camp Bloodbath’. Tragically, she met her end three years prior to the events depicted in this film, in a car crash. The local theater is now screening ‘Camp Bloodbath’, and me and my pals decide to watch it. However, things take a turn for the eerie when we’re mysteriously drawn into the movie itself. For me, this situation offers a bittersweet mix of emotions. On one side, I find myself given an opportunity for some closure with my departed mom. But on the other, I and my friends have to confront a masked killer. As the credits roll, we manage to flee the movie, but in the final moments, we, along with the audience, discover that our ordeal is only the beginning of ‘Camp Bloodbath 2: Cruel Summer’.
Stream The Final Girls for free with ads on The Roku Channel.
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2025-08-16 03:46