28 Weeks Later (2007)
The Horror Movie: Twenty-eight weeks after the initial outbreak of the highly-contagious Rage virus, London is under US military quarantine in an attempt to restore order to the country. When a survivor appears to be resistant to the virus, all hell breaks loose and the infected go on the run.
Why It Needs A Sequel: The climax indicates the virus has reached much farther than originally anticipated. When the helicopter lands in France carrying two survivors, a horde of zombies race towards it. The containment has been unsuccessful, the virus is still spreading.
Plus, those Usain Bolt-esque zombies are terrifying.
Potential Plot: Twenty-eight months after the initial outbreak, the virus epidemic has infected the entire globe. With the remaining human survivors living in a series of subterranean tunnels, a small group come together to track down a rumoured cure which may be accessible inside the militarised zone. Now, if they can just get there.
Slither (2006)
The Horror Movie: A meteorite crashes into a small town and unleashes a host of evil parasites intent on turning all citizens into zombie hosts via a fleet of slimy, slithering slugs. Who then have to contend with Nathan Fillion.
Why It Needs A Sequel: With the whole town supposedly free from the infection, a post-credits scene suggests there’s more to come when a stray cat licks the brains of the dead parasitic leader, Grant.
Potential Plot: Sheriff Pardy and Starla return to battle the parasitic body-melders as the little terrors spread further out of town this time, in the shape of giant felines. All thanks to that pesky stray cat.
Army Of Darkness (1992)
The Horror Movie: Ash Williams, legendary fighter in the war against the Evil Dead, is pulled through a time portal to 1300 AD and enslaved upon arrival. The only way for him to return to his own time is to retrieve the Nectronomicon Ex-Mortis.
Why It Needs A Sequel: Who doesn’t love Ash? His wise-crackin’ one liners and fearless bravado would suit any given situation. Sure, he’s returned from Arthurian England, but his connection to the Deadites is a life-long commitment.
Potential Plot: Back to his regular life as an S-Mart employee, Ash is contacted by an old crone who informs him that he’s not meant to be here. As his destiny is that of a great warrior, he must use the Necronomicon to venture into the future, wherein he will meet a girl called Mia who needs his guidance to fight the dead.
The Fog (1980)
The Horror Movie: A sleepy coastal town in California becomes immersed in a dense fog, carrying the ghosts of a shipwreck. They're back from the dead to have their revenge on the town of Antonio Bay.
Why It Needs A Sequel: If John Carpenter can terrify audiences with bad weather, then that deserves another outing. Especially in light of the lacklustre 2005 remake, which instead should have served as a follow-up the events of the original, starting with THAT ending.
You know, the one where the fog-baddies scarper then turn up again moments later to decapitate Father Malone.
Potential Plot: With the events of the first film transformed into coastal legend, the grandchildren of those who died at the hands of the fog-ghosts seek revenge. In their attempt to resurrect the sunken ship, they discover more treasures and rouse the dormant ghouls again.
Planet Terror (2007)
The Horror Movie: After a bio-chemical agent is released into the air, turning the locals into deranged blood-thirsty nutters, a misfit gang band together to prevent the zombie invasion from spreading, while tracking down the man responsible for exposing them.
Why It Needs A Sequel: Ending on a positive note, with a survivor’s paradise set up on a beautiful Mexican beach, the actual outbreak is never contained. There’s the entirety of Tarantino and Rodriguez’s universe ripe for inclusion in a follow-up.
Potential Plot: Cherry and Dakota, the two leaders of the survivors’ group, form a resistance against the infected but seek a new refuge after their original location is compromised. Hitting the road they bump into a couple of guys headed for a bar named the Titty Twister.
From Dusk Till Dawn/Planet Terror crossover pre-sequel anyone?
The Last Horror Movie (2003)
The Horror Movie: Psychopathic wedding videographer Max tapes over a movie from the video shop with moments from his life as a serial killer. Piling on the meta-referencing, he talks to the audience, under the assumption that we’ve just rented it and are the next intended victim.
Why It Needs A Sequel: This little-known Brit horror’s ending hints towards Max’s life past the original storyline. What happens at the end, after he completes his first set of killings? More importantly, what happens to the audience?
Potential Plot: After watching The Last Horror Movie with a bunch of friends, a teenage lad heads home, with the sneaking suspicion that someone is watching, and maybe even recording him.
Troll Hunter (2010)
The Horror Movie: In this found-footage chiller, three students out investigating a bear poacher end up uncovering something much more dangerous than grizzlies, after they begin following a real-life troll hunter.
Why It Needs A Sequel: The first sighting of a troll should be enough for anyone with the power to green light projects to throw their hands up and shriek yes! Err... to a follow-up, that is.
With the fate of the remaining two students unknown, and the last shot of a press conference in which the president makes a passing reference to trolls.... surely this one is a shoo-in for a sequel.
Potential Plot: Hans the Trollhunter is back on the case, having discovered that the gigantic Jotner troll he and the students defeated is but one from a huge clan who’re intent on getting friendly with the locals. And we don’t mean buying them a drink and some cheesy Wotsits...
Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon (2006)
The Horror Movie: In the same meta-universe as Freddy, Jason and Michael, a documentary film crew follow slasher villain wannabe Leslie Vernon as he fills them in on his elaborate plan to off a bunch of teens while sticking rigidly to horror lore.
Why It Needs A Sequel: The concept alone warrants a sequel; a horror villain aware of the rules without any self-referential film banter, all wrapped up in a clever mockumentary.
Oh, and the fact that having your head squashed in a cider press then being engulfed in flames never stopped a killer. Round two of Vernon’s plan sounds good to us.
Potential Plot: Recovering from her traumatic experience, journalist Taylor assembles the raw footage shot for the documentary and discovers hints Leslie had left behind, pointing towards his next series of killings. Leslie, in the meantime, has sidled up to a gullible film school kid who’s desperate for an edge on his final year project.
Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)
The Horror Movie: Two elderly gents in a retirement home claiming to be Elvis and JFK battle a re-animated ancient mummy intent on sucking the souls from the home’s residents.
Why It Needs A Sequel: While their deaths might signal to some an ending to the story, Elvis and JFK were old timers with a whole lifetime behind them. Who’s to say their quick-thinking, slow-movin’ ways weren’t influenced by earlier adventures?
To be honest, these two could collect their pensions and we’d be game.
Potential Plot: During one of his tours back in his heyday, Elvis battles a convoy of sexy zombies who can only be stopped if he can get his hands on an ancient remedy kept under lock and key by the President.
Beetle Juice (1988)
The Horror Movie: When Barbara and Adam Maitland realise they’re ghosts after driving their car off a bridge, they call on bio-exorcist Beetlejuice to help rid their home of its new occupants; the insufferable Deetzes.
Why It Needs A Sequel: The Maitlands and the Deetzes finally put their initial squabbles aside in order to co-exist happily, but what about Beetlejuice?
Potential Plot: After spending many, many years knocking about in the Afterlife trying to drum up new business, Beetlejuice takes a new job as an Afterlife Avon representative whose first client is an elderly Lydia Deetz.
