While many critics in Hollywood have lambasted the horror genre for their excessive number of sequels, no other format of film has ever come close to garner such a fanatical fan base. Horror fans are simply the most passionate group of supporters in all of media. There is no outcry for sequels to award winning films such as, “The Notebook,” or “Driving Miss Daisey,” but any media news of sequels to “Terrifier” or “Scream,” and tens of thousands of horror hounds light up the internet. While most direct sequels find it hard to capture the glory of their original counterparts an odd occurrence has sporadically popped up through the years. That is the glorious gems unearthed by the third film in a franchise. Here are a few third instalments that rival and at times out do the original films.
THE EXORCIST PART 3
There can be no more daunting task in film than to attempt to make a follow up film to one of the greatest works of all time. In 1973, William Friedkin released his immortal classic “The Exorcist.” A film based on the bestselling book by William Peter Blatty about a young girl possessed by an ancient demon. “The Exorcist” became an international phenomenon and still sends shivers down the spines of audience to this day. Four years later Warner Brothers attempted a sequel to the masterpiece and failed with the 1977 horrific follow up “Exorcist 2: The Heretic.” The Heretic got lambasted by fans and critics alike and the consensus was that no follow up could ever live up to the original masterpiece.
Writer Blatty proposed a third film in the early 80’s, eventually passed on by Friedkin and the studio, he turned the treatment into another bestselling novel, “Legion.” Morgan Creek bought the film rights for the book bringing along Blatty to not only script the screenplay but direct as well. “The Exorcist 3,” follows Lieutenant Kinderman, returning law officer from the original, as he leads an
investigation into a murder that reminds him of the past. Kinderman’s pursuit of a copycat killer leads him back into the realm of the unholy supernatural in pursuit of answers both past and present.
“The Exorcist 3,” is one brilliant piece of art. Blatty brings forth tense emotion, several of the biggest jump scares in horror history, and even a few laughs. The film ties in perfectly with the original while presenting a horrific atmosphere that seeps through the entire picture. A walking nun and near decapitation scenes are just a few of many shots that will linger with the viewer for their eternity. With his background in writing, it is no shock that the plot of this third entry is much deeper and character driven than the original masterpiece. Two prequels followed many years later and a decent television entry based solely on the title have played well, but nothing has come close to this art house horror gem. Jason Blum now owns the rights to reboot the series. He has one hard task to bring anything of merit to compare to the work that Blatty has put out.
FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3
The original, The Final Chapter, and Jason Lives are usually the top picks for Friday fans anytime the age-old question gets asked, which Friday is the best? For some reason part 3 fails to garner the passionate support of some of the other entries, despite being a deeper and more developed film. Quick off the heels of the slaughter fest that was part 2, 1982 saw the return of one of horror cinema’s greatest icons. Originally scripted to be the conclusion to the series, this entry was going to have final Ginny (Amy Steel from part 2) return for a final showdown with Jason. Steel passed and the studio quickly re wrote a new plot, also bringing back iconic director Steve Miner.
Right after the events of Part 2, Chris Higgins and her friends travel to a family cabin located at Crystal Lake. After a bad run in with some locals, bikers, and the traditional town loon, the group gets settled in for a fun weekend in the woods. Chris meets up with her boyfriend Rick and explains that she has returned to confront the trauma caused by an attack in the woods two years prior. The antagonist behind her terror has returned as well. Back and bigger than ever, Mr. Voorhees welcomes the group to his woods while looking to reconnect with an old friend.
Part 3 perhaps gets quickly dismissed as a terrific entry due to the two events that stick out in the film. The 3-D original release of the film and the main man putting on his iconic mask for the first time. Shame, because this entry is arguably the deepest and most developed films in the series. While part 2 was a fantastic butcher fest, not much character development nor plot was put into the follow up to the original. Part 3 can be celebrated as a much deeper entry. First, there is social commentary, a Hispanic character shunned and insulted at a local grocery store. Second, there is a background story involving the effect on trauma victims as the lead final girl has survived an attack from Jason years earlier. Her precaution to the environment and lack of intimacy towards her boyfriend make Chris one of the best written final girls in horror history. Third, Jason himself is bathed in magnificent malevolence. We only know of the wild man in the woods as a scared man child with a sack on his head in the previous film. In Part 3 we see Jason as a very large, strong, man monster. Richard Brooker, an English stuntman, was brought in to make Jason more intimidating. Brooker’s physical performance is one of the best in the franchise. Not satisfied with deep characters, social subplots, director Miner does not hold back on the gore and kills as well. Original kills such as a crossbow bullseye, handstand slice, and bare hand skull crush set new highs in horror history. “Friday the 13th: Part 3” has been buried beneath the love of some other entries but fully deserves to be mantled up near the top with mother’s head and a nice red sweater.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 3
Oren Peli pulled off the greatest feat in all of cinema with his debut film “Paranormal Activity.” The film has divided audiences for years. While some admire the simplistic eloquence and creepy atmosphere of the work others have shunned the film for being a cheap jump scare jambalaya. Regardless, the film went on to do around 200 million in box office off of a 15,000 budget and spark a
billion-dollar franchise along with giving birth to horror juggernaut Blumhouse productions. The returns from the original quickly got a greenlight for an immediate sequel. Obviously, not an ounce of thought went into “Paranormal Activity 2,” as the direct sequel. Part 2 brought nothing new to the table and the predictable jump scares and first-person terror shots were waisted on an unlikable cast. As awful as Part 2 was, the film brought in more than 170 million from another small studio budget. Part 3 was immediately fast tracked to keep the terror train going. Expecting more of the same and perhaps an end to the series, the third entry became an instant classic.
A prequel to the series, Part 3 shows a young Katie and Kristi (main leads from the first two films) living with their mother and her boyfriend Dennis. A videographer, Dennis and his assistant start to notice weird anomalies from footage shot around the house, as well as strange behavior from Kristie, who has an all too real imaginary friend. After a few terrorizing demonic attacks, the make shift family heads to grandma’s house for safety, unbeknownst that is where the source of evil is coming from.
Fully expecting more of the same, “Paranormal Activity 3” brought a level of originality and intensity that escalates this entry to the pinnacle of the series. Top marks to cinematographer Magdalena Gorka for using 80’s style video presentation throughout the film, giving the work a perfect vintage visual look. Directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman do not hold back on the horror, taking a brave approach to show demon attacks on small children. Done with frightening style and original creativity which was sorely lacking in the second film. Franchise writer Christopher Landon gives the plot deep subtext and style with the film’s origin story. By subtly explaining the cause of these demonic events, Landon gives the audience a vetted interest in the development of the plot to match the unique demon appearances that everyone buys their tickets to see. Only the original is on par with the third’s entry in style and substance, all other films in the series are wash, rinse, repeat.