Nowadays, horror movies rarely remain standalone installments. From Halloween, Scream, The Evil Dead, and so on, horror movies are known for their copious sequels that prove box office success, securing their longevity for years to come. While some horror movies rely on the ambiguity of their villains, others will briefly explain the origins of evil. In the spirit of spooky origin stories, here are ten horror movies that should get a prequel.
M3GAN (2023)
2023 started the year off on a strong note for horror with M3GAN. Though horror fans had already expressed their excitement over the film online--the viral TikTok of M3GAN's iconic dance number resulted in a theater sweep--with M3GAN being a complete box office success (much in part due to its PG-13 rating over its original R). M3GAN 2.0 is set to release in 2025, but, a prequel would also be an interesting installment in the series, considering not much is known about Gemma's journey to designing M3GAN, or Gemma's backstory, for that matter.
Hellraiser (1987)
Hellraiser is a bloody thriller through and through. While part of the horror to the Cenobites is their ambiguity, a predecessor to the 1987 classic would allow audiences to know more about their history, and notably, how Pinhead was born. Additionally, Julia and Frank's tumultuous relationship could be further fleshed out in the style of villainous origin stories such as Pearl and Hannibal Rising.
The Shining (1980)
The Shining is an excellent horror masterpiece that stands fine on its own. Nonetheless, hearing of the Overlook Hotel's backstory from Grady perpetuates an interest in knowing more. What was Grady's relationship to the hotel owner? What was his journey into madness like? Who is the man in the bear costume? Why did the owner share such an uncanny resemblance to Jack Torrance? There are so many unanswered questions that a prequel could easily cover.
Scream (1996)
Scream redefined the way horror movies, specifically slashers, were viewed by audiences, with the first installment poking fun at the tropes and clichés of the genre. The whole film revolves around the aftermath of Maureen Prescott's murder a year after the incident, with Sidney navigating her social life, being in the spotlight as Maureen's daughter, and her own internalized trauma. A prequel showing Maureen's final days, her affairs, her relationship with Sidney, and her grizzly demise would be something every Scream fan would pay to see.
Psycho (1960)
Psycho received a television prequel series, Bates Motel, that explored Norman's abusive relationship with his mother, his formative years, and his eventual descent into madness. Nevertheless, not much is known about Norman's life between the years after his mother's passing and the fateful night that Marion Crane checked into the Bates Motel. A prequel showing Norman navigating life without his mother, and the probable killings he enacted as a result, would be a chilling experience for fans of the Hitchcock classic.
The Evil Dead (1981)
The Evil Dead franchise has had a total of four sequels since the original was released in 1981. While the Book of the Dead is introduced along with the deadites in the original The Evil Dead, not much is known about their history--both these items are just the source of evil. A prequel exploring their origins would be a nice subversion to simply another Evil Dead sequel.
It (1990)
It has explored the history of the Losers through both their childhood and adult years. Nevertheless, aside from what the Losers discover about Pennywise through a textbook detailing Derry's origins, not much more is known about the murderous, shape-shifting clown itself. A prequel exploring Pennywise's origins, and his first killing spree in Derry, would be a delight for fans of the series.
A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)
The first A Nightmare on Elm Street installment mentions Freddy Krueger's history as a notorious murderer that's brought to justice by a small suburban community. Further installments explore Freddy's conception in an asylum, implying Freddy's inherited madness. A prequel showing Freddy as a troubled young man turned into a criminal, and lastly, destroyed and transformed into the supernatural killing machine that haunts people's dreams would be an eerie, genius, and an excellent way to revive the Elm Street series.
The Ring (2002)
The Ring horrified a whole generation of millennials when it was originally released in 2002. It's a masterful horror film with impeccable pacing, strategic jump scares, and a truly disturbing video that curses anyone who sees it. Samara's backstory has been touched upon, detailing the sadistic way in which she would torture animals and those around her for sheer pleasure, which resulted in her demise at the hands of her desperate mother. A prequel would allow a further exploration of Samara's childhood, the horror she enacted, and exactly how the cursed video was created in the first place.
Smile (2022)
Based on the short film Laura Hasn't Slept, Smile proved a financial success through and through, cementing Parker Finn as a capable director with a promising career ahead of him. Nonetheless, Smile left many unanswered questions regarding the curse that goes from host to host. Is the curse indiscriminate towards its hosts? Or is there something about certain people that makes them susceptible to it? A prequel could dwell deep into the origins of the curse, its first victim, and tie up any loose ends unaddressed in Smile.
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