Horror movies have always been a fascination with film fans since the beginning of motion pictures. Audiences enjoy a good scare and the genre has produced some of the best and most popular films of all time. The genre does sometimes have a reputation of building franchises out of everything. Great horror films can sometimes spawn countless sequels until you're just sick of seeing them.
Of course, not every horror film warrants a sequel. Some just don't connect with audiences, but sometimes even the most beloved on horror movies fail to get a follow-up. Though these movies have plenty of fans, their stories appear to have stopped at one. Here are some horror films that never got a sequel.
The Crazies
The Crazies is one of the most underrated horror movies of the decade and one worth seeking out for fans of the genre. The film is set in a small town where a mysterious illness begins to spread among the population, turning them into emotionless killers. As a group of survivors tries to escape their town, the military takes extreme measures to contain the issue.
The film was only a modest hit but seems to be finding a larger audience as time goes on. The ending of the film set up the possibility of the story continuing and things going from bad to worse.
It Follows
It Follows is one of the most creative horror movies of recent years. The story centers around a young woman who, after sleeping with a boy on a date, is cursed with having a deadly entity stalk her and try to kill her.
The movie was an intense and stylish entry into the genre that felt different from everything else that was being made. The ending left a lot of potential for the story to continue, but with a premise like this, it might have been just as exciting to focus on new characters. But it seems like they didn't want to ruin a good idea into the ground and no sequel has materialized.
Sleepy Hollow
The tale of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow is one that has been told and retold countless times in books, television shows, and movies for years. However, the most popular take on Washington Irving's legend was by Tim Burton and starred Johnny Depp as Ichabod Crane.
In this version, Ichabod is a lawman sent to the titular town to investigate a series of murders the townspeople claim have been carried out by a headless spirit. It would be easy to see Depp's version of Crane return for further paranormal adventures. While Depp and Burton would reteam several more times, they never did revisit this story.
Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers is one of those stories that Hollywood seems to love remaking and the 1978 version is regarded as the best of the bunch - even better than the 1956 original. It is a paranoid story set in a small town where the people are slowly being duplicated and replaced by alien creatures.
Despite the desire to retell the story through remakes, there were never any attempts to continue the story that was started in the 1978 film. It would be interesting to see the invasion on a bigger scale or see what happened following the bleak ending of this film.
The Sixth Sense
M. Night Shyamalan became one of the most exciting new voices in horror films with his incredible and mind-blowing ghost story The Sixth Sense. The movie stars Bruce Willis as a child psychologist who begins treating a new patient who claims to see dead people walking amongst the living.
The movie does not rely on gore or masked killers but lures audiences in with its slow-burn approach before delivering an emotional, creepy and shocking horror film. Given the surprise ending of the film, a sequel would have a hard time achieving the same success. But it would be interesting to revisit this world and the people with this gift.
Don't Look Now
Don't Look Now isn't as well-known as some of the other classic horror films of the 70s, but it is beloved by those who know of it. The film stars Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie as two grieving parents who recently lost their child. They try to escape their tragedy by traveling to Venice but find themselves haunted by strange sightings.
The movie's creepy feel is unforgettable and makes the whole story feel like it takes place in a surreal nightmare. Despite its cult status, it is another twist ending that might make it difficult for the story to continue.
Let The Right One In
Let the Right One In is one of the rare horror films from outside the United States that managed to make a big impact with that audience. As the vampire genre was making a comeback, this film came along that told the story of a young outcast boy who meets and forms a bond with a mysterious young girl who is a centuries-old vampire.
The movie was a more grounded and bolder take on a vampire story, resulting in a mesmerizing film. The movie ended in a way that made for a satisfying conclusion to this story while also leaving the door open for the story to go on. It seems like the filmmakers decided to go with the former option.
The Babadook
The Babadook is an Australian horror film that gained international acclaim for one of the most terrifying horror movie monsters in recent memory. The movie follows a single mother who recently lost her husband and struggles to raise her young son. As the son begins to act out, she begins to feel she is being haunted by a mysterious entity known as Mister Babadook.
The movie is more of a psychological horror film than a monster movie which makes it all the more fascinating. Though there would certainly be worries about ruining a great film by revisiting it, it would be interesting to learn more about Mister Babadook.
The Thing
The Thing has been called that best horror film ever made by many film fans. John Carpenter's paranoia-filled movie is set in a remote research facility in Antarctica who are hunted by an alien creature who can distinguish itself as any living thing it comes in contact with.
The Thing is, in fact, part of Carpenter's so-called "Apocalypse Trilogy" along with Prince Of Darkness and In The Mouth Of Madness. There was also a poorly received prequel in 2011 and a 2002 video game which served to continue the story of the original film. Shockingly, the film that is considered a horror masterpiece has no direct sequel.
The Cabin In The Woods
The Cabin in the Woods is a film made by people who obviously love the horror genre but also want to poke fun at all the tired tropes of the genre. It follows a group of good-looking friends who go to spend the weekend in an isolated cabin deep in the woods and unwittingly unleash unspeakable horror. If that sounds familiar, it should.
The movie is hilarious and clever in its dissection of the genre. It is a blast to watch a definitely rewards multiple viewings. The movie is believed by horror movie fans, becoming a cult favorite. But the ending sure does make it difficult to make a sequel.