Sunday Scaries: Do You Prefer Horror Remakes/Reboots or Sequels?

Sure, we all prefer when a film is an original. Horror (or really any other genre) really does shine brightest when it’s depicting something new. That’s not always the case, however, and in recent decades, franchises have littered the cinematic landscape. Plenty of these movies are inferior, but not all are. Among the reboots, remakes, and sequels out there, a handful of been top notch. This week’s Sunday Scaries piece is taking a page from the Awards Radar Community question and posting a query, relating to the release of the newest Candyman flick. We want to know if you prefer horror reboots/remakes or horror sequels?

Candyman is just the latest high profile horror effort this year to not be an original but a reboot, remake, or sequel. There also was Spiral: From the Book of Saw (existing somewhere in between), alongside sequels like Don’t Breathe 2 and The Forever Purge. This fall brings Halloween Kills, too, so these titles aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, that’s for sure.

For what it’s worth, if you missed my review of Candyman (here), I addressed this topic a bit:

Candyman is a a sequel, as opposed to a remake, but does toe the line between the two. Truly, it feels like a legacyquel (coined by colleague Matt Singer) at its core. Largely ignoring the sequels, but referencing the plot of the first film, this tries to go in a new direction. You’ll clearly know that it’s a part of the Candyman series, but it does stand out. That being said, it’s arguably far less satisfying than the first one, or the sillier sequel Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (the less said about Candyman: Day of the Dead, the better). Its more elevated moments are compelling, but they don’t mix well with the rote horror ones, or the stupidity of some of the characters. Overall, we have a mess here, one that can’t fully satisfy.

In the corner of reboots and/or remakes, you have the concept of wanting fresh takes on something. This is a more original, at least potentially, situation. Sure, going back to the start for a series can definitely backfire, but sometimes, it leads to a new look at old fare. In a way, it’s like the Greatest Hits version of a film property. There’s comfort in that, to be sure.

As for sequels, or really anything of that ilk, it’s about progression. Even when something like the latest Halloween ditches the sequels it felt didn’t work, the overall story is still moving forward. Obviously, there’s always a point where the dividends in a franchise are no longer really paying off, but that varies greatly. Some can barely handle one sequel, while others have closer to a dozen, if you can believe it. Especially if you want a complex mythology, like with Saw, sequels can be where it’s at, in particular if they’re closer to Spiral than Jigsaw.

The choice is now yours now on this Sunday Scaries…do you like it best when your latest horror effort is a reboot, a remake, or a sequel best? Again, originals don’t count, sadly. Make your voice known below in the comments!

Do you prefer horror reboots/remakes or sequels? Let us know!