What Makes a Really Good Sequel?

There is something amazingly disappointing about going to see the sequel of one of your favorite films, only to discover that the movie is downright awful. Most people will agree that sequels very rarely live up to the expectations of audiences; and few ever live up to the standards of the original film. Yet the sequel is one guaranteed way to pile audiences into theatres. And as a result, viewers are continually disappointed by the attempts directors make to keep the party going. Rarely though, do people ever stop to think about why most sequels tend to flop, while others are much more successful both in the box office, and in the minds of the people watching them.

Staying Connected

One problem with follow-up films is in their inability to remain connected to the original storyline. For instance, take "Halloween III: Season of the Witch." This third film in a long and fairly successful horror series is a prime example of a movie which is completed disconnected from its source. In fact, the main character, killer Michael Myers is nowhere to be found in the movie; and instead, the focus is placed on abstract ideas of witchcraft.

When directors choose to deviate from the main plot, taking the story into a completely different direction, it weakens the premise of the sequel entirely. In horror films specifically, it is difficult to "re-use" the same characters because many of them happen to die in previous films. But it's important that the plot of subsequent movies remains connected to the first. "Candyman", the 1992 film based on a Clive Barker novel included a multi-layered story that viewers could sink their teeth into. The killer in this film is supernatural, and almost all of the stars become his victims. But in the second installment, "Candyman: Farewellto the Flesh", the Candyman returns to claim new victims, who happen to have personal ties to him, ultimately. Although the storyline itself is completely different than the first, the film works both independently, and as a sequel because writers have not deviated too far from the plot of the first film.

The "Wow" Factor