Really great horror a prequel can be a difficult task because audiences know how the story ends and this can often take the tension out of the story. However, some incredible prequels have used these factors to their advantage to subvert audience expectations and richly develop the franchise’s mythology. Sometimes, some horror prequels even surpass their predecessors and become releases that can showcase a new direction for a series, adding new depth, character, and context to its cinematic world.
Like the best horror sequels, prequel films provided an opportunity to expand on previously known events, but this time look back and answer questions that have long been on viewers’ minds. Horror prequels can serve as origin stories for a franchise’s world, with films such as A Quiet Place: Day One or First cleaningwhile other prequels flesh out the backstories of mysterious characters such as Rosemary Babies Terry Gionoffrio Apartment 7A. Whatever the goal, if it is achieved well, The horror prequel could be a worthy addition to the source material.
10
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
Directed by Michael Sarnoski
When viewers were first introduced to the apocalyptic existence of humanity. in a quiet placethe world has already been ravaged by sharp-hearing and deadly aliens. With most of humanity already wiped out, it was only natural that viewers would be curious to see how it all started and what the initial invasion looked like. This is exactly what was delivered to A Quiet Place: Day Onea horror prequel that answers long-standing questions about the origins of the dystopian world.
WITH Lupita Nyong’o as pessimistic and terminally ill cancer patient Sam, A Quiet Place: Day One tracked her experience of surviving after a meteor-like object hit Earth and started the invasion. It’s a story rooted in humanity as those who survive the original murders discover the difficulties of their new world, making for immersive viewing. Although anyone who has seen another Quiet place The movies know there won’t be a happy ending for Sam and the rest of the population, but it was still interesting to see where it all began.
9
First Sign (2024)
Directed by Arkasha Stevenson
Since the release of the first film in 1976 Sign The franchise was a mixed bag, filled with one-off sequels, forgettable TV series, and lackluster reboots. With that in mind, it wouldn’t be too much praise to say it. First Omen was the best release in this series since the original. It was a prequel that showed there was still life in this demonic franchise, and while some aspects seemed to go against previously established lore, it was a truly effective directorial debut for Arkasha Stevenson.
In the setting of Rome in the 1970s. First Omen saw an American nun uncover a sinister plot to bring about the birth of the Antichrist in a Catholic orphanage. With a dark and sinister aesthetic, First Omen paid homage to the original film through callbacks and reference footage that can only serve to remind viewers of better days. But what made First Omen Worthy of the audience’s attention was Nell Tiger Free as the hysterical nun Margaret in a riveting performance that contrasted well with the priestly characters of Bill Nighy and Charles Dance.
8
Pearl (2022)
Mia Goth as Pearl
With release X In 2022, director Ti West launched an all-new horror franchise, which was quickly followed by a prequel later that year. Pearlan origin story that expanded and improved upon the idea of ​​the original. The first film centered on Mia Goth, playing dual roles as aspiring adult film star Maxine Minx and elderly farm owner Pearl. Bye X showed Pearl and her husband trying to kill Maxine and her adult film crew, Pearl was an origin story for a murderous villain.
Pearl demonstrated how Goth’s desire to become a movie star led to violence at her family’s Texas homestead in 1918. Thanks to the incredible, grandiose game, Pearl’s The success depended largely on Goth’s commitment to the role.which was aggravated by a bloody chill that caused X so effective. It’s clear that Pearl was created because the artistry of its story demanded it, and not as a sideline attempt to cash in on a recognizable IP like so many other horror prequels.
7
First Purge (2018)
Directed by Gerard MacMurray
Like the first movie Cleaning franchise that was not directed by James DeMonaco, there were concerns that the prequel series might lack the satirical edge of the previous installment. Set in a dystopian universe where once a year every crime, including murder, is made legal for 12 hours from the original recording, viewers are clamoring for more information about the political origins of the practice and how society could become so barbaric. Having much in common with real-life political issues, we have seen how rising unemployment, rising inflation and a housing crisis have led to First cleaning it was exciting.
McMurray faced the difficult task of directing. First cleaningas he had to answer questions that viewers had been asking since 2013. As an interesting allegory related to US politics and especially the Trump administration, First cleaning could delve deeper into his satirical political commentary nevertheless, it turned out to be a worthy prequel to the popular franchise. First cleaning served as a warning against straying too far from the social contract, demonstrating how America’s new Founding Fathers took advantage of contemporary economic, social and political anxieties.
6
Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
Directed by Mick Garris
Fourth recording made for television Psycho the series may not live up to the lofty expectations set by Alfred Hitchcock’s original, but for those interested in the psychology of Norman Bates, it’s a surprisingly underrated release. Anthony Perkins reprises his role as Norman. Psycho IV: Start was both a sequel and a prequel that used flashbacks to showcase the future serial killer’s unconventional childhood in the 1940s and 1950s. Many of the same ideas discussed in Psycho IV were later repurposed into the series Bates Motelwhich also shows how Norman became a killer.
Bye Psycho IV earned a reputation as a one-off entry in a franchise that never needed a sequel, it is much better than it was ever given credit for as it explores the traumatic effects of Norman’s mother’s schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. Giving context to the strange psychosexual relationship he had with his mother and the cross-dressing she subjected him to, the lonely, deranged and tormented man Norman became even more tragic. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but fans of Perkins’ performance and extended Psycho Universe, it was a hidden gem.
5
Final Destination 5 (2011)
Directed by Stephen Quayle
Bye Final Destination 5 At first it seemed like it was any other continuation of the long-running series, but it gradually became clear that it was in fact a prequel to the first part. When the final scene saw Sam (Nicholas D’Agosto) and Molly (Emma Bell) die in the crash of Flight 180, the franchise’s timeline came full circle and returned to where it all began. This clever retroactive twist adds new dimensions to the original and means audiences can return to the first film with a new sense of the original victims of the disaster.
Like a hidden prequel Final Destination 5 was unique because audiences did not expect it to be related to the original in any way. However, by demonstrating that the crash of Flight 180 included passengers who had already escaped Death’s grasp, it added an additional chilling layer to the idea that, no matter what, once the victims were sentenced to death, their demise would be inevitable. Final destination was a particularly dark franchise as Death’s existential nightmare manifested itself, made it even more terrifying.
4
Extraction (2022)
Directed by Dan Trachtenberg
Predator The franchise mixed action, horror and science fiction concepts in several sequels and even a spin-off. Alien vs Predator. However, it seemed that no matter how many times Yautja returned, nothing could compare to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s original film, and it seemed like the franchise was doomed to mediocrity. This was how it was before the release Productiona thrilling prequel set in 1719, and for the first time since the original, it seemed like it might offer something truly unique.
After so many false starts, the director Dan Trachtenberg cracked the code Predator franchise and offered an adrenaline rush with characters that really interested viewers. Amber Midthunder as Naru, a young Comanche warrior who defends his tribe from the Predator. Production reminded me of the heroism of Ellen Ripley from Stranger franchise. This is a prequel that opened the door to a whole new era in the franchise. Production was a must-see recording for those who have lost faith in Predator series for a very long time.
3
Apartment 7A (2024)
Directed by Natalie Erica James
First time hearing there was a prequel Rosemary’s Baby viewers could be forgiven for thinking it explored the origins of Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse’s relationship and how he became involved with a santa cult of demon worship. However, Apartment 7A went in a different direction and instead told the story of Terry Gionoffrio (Julie Garner), a minor character from the beginning of the original story who was found dead by the Woodhouses in an apparent suicide. Julie jumped out of the elderly Kastevets’ seventh-floor apartment.and its history has always been shrouded in mystery.
Apartment 7A cleared up any confusion regarding her character and portrayed Julie, rather than Rosemary, as the originally planned mother of Satan’s spawn. Similar to: Rosemary’s Baby, Apartment 7A explored themes of paranoia, women’s liberation, Catholicism and the occult, as Garner recaptured much of the frightening innocence seen in Mia Farrow in the 1968 original. Bye Apartment 7A While it doesn’t quite live up to the disturbing paranoia of the original, it’s a worthy prequel that answers the lingering questions surrounding Terry Gionoffrio.
2
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Directed by David F. Sandberg
The Conjured Universe began depicting the cases of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, and then began exploring a spin-off prequel centered around the creepy porcelain doll Annabelle. This creepy doll also originated from a true story about a children’s toy that was supposedly haunted. However, the first Annabelle The film failed to deliver any real scares and consisted mostly of cheap jump scares. This has led to incredible achievements Annabelle: Creation all the more impressive since it vastly outperformed its predecessor and helped The Hidden Universe pass the $1 billion mark at the box office (via Forbes.)
Annabelle: Creation was one of the rare prequels that was significantly better than the film that inspired it, as it stayed closer to the old school psychological scares that made the original Witchcraft so good to work. The ominous silence of Annabelle’s ominous gaze, mixed with the knowledge that an attack was imminent. Annabelle: Creation a heartbreaking lesson in suspense. While this franchise didn’t break any boundaries, it did demonstrate Annabelle viability as a standalone series.
1
Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
Directed by Mike Flanagan
Horror master Mike Flanagan, author of such films as Quiet And Doctor Sleep, as well as Netflix horror series such as The Haunting of Hill Housedemonstrated his ability to create the perfect prequel with Ouija: Origin of Evil. The action takes place before the events of 2014. OuijaThe story was set in 1967 Los Angeles, where a séance scam between a widowed mother and her daughter becomes reality after they invite an evil presence into their home. With better pacing, more character development and genuine scares. Ouija: Origin of Evil improved over its predecessor in every possible way.
With elements Exorcist mixed with Ghost, Ouija: Origin of Evil was as sincere as it was frightening in its exploration of the supernatural. Beautiful cinematography coupled with a gripping, suspenseful plot made this thrilling horror film far better than anyone expected. Considering his resume is full of horror films like Mike Flanagan, the only complaint is that he didn’t make more prequels to existing franchises, as only a true visionary would be able to pull them off at this level.
Source: Forbes