Hey, Everyone! Frank here again. This time to talk about, you guessed it, some great horror movie prequels! I have to admit, I’m a sucker for prequels. I love the idea of learning more about a universe or character by taking a look back at what led to the events of the first film.
It’s a unique opportunity to discover how things came to be, for example, how ‘Sheriff’ Hoyt in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre ended up running a one-man police force or what the very first Purge was like.
I’ve always believed good prequels — like the ones on my list — do this by expanding on the universe in at least one meaningful way and helping viewers appreciate the original (and sequels).
With that in mind, be prepared for spoilers ahead! I’ll do my best to keep them to a minimum, but it’s also next to impossible to talk about horror movie prequels without mentioning how they make the ‘later’ movies more interesting!
Let’s get into it!
Tremors 4: The Legend Begins (2004)
If you’re even remotely into horror, you’re probably familiar with Tremors. The sandworms first appeared on screen in 1990 and have exploded in popularity. In fact, there have been seven (7!!) Tremors movies total AND a TV show!
The latest sequel is called Tremors: Shrieker Island and, get this, was released in 2020 — a full 30 years after the original!
What makes this tidbit of information so impressive is that Michael Gross stars in every single film AND the TV show as hilariously badass survivalist Burt Gummer.
Well, that’s not entirely true.
In the first prequel on my list, Tremors 4: The Legend Begins, Michael Gross actually plays Burt Gummer’s distant ancestor, Hiram Gummer. With this in mind, I was very intrigued by this movie before I even hit play.
The “modern” Tremors movies all feature fancy equipment that helps people track the worms. In the year 1889, things are very different!
Hiram Gummer is basically the polar opposite of Burt Gummer. He doesn’t even know how to shoot a gun, let alone own a seemingly endless stockpile of weapons and ammunition. But he’s quickly forced to learn the ropes with the help of his new Wild West friends if he wants to protect his silver mine investment and the town of REJECTION. (I thought the name was hilarious and a fun subversion of expectations for the PERFECTION we’re all used to as the small town backdrop).
Another thing I appreciated about Tremors 4: The Legend Begins is they decided against overusing CGI and went back to practical FX. So, there aren’t quite as many graboids as in previous films, but they’re all very well done, and each encounter is fun and memorable.
Overall, Tremors 4 is worth your time if you’re a fan of Tremors, Westerns, or watching worms explode into comically messy piles!
Final Destination 5 (2011)
I know a lot of people either really love or really hate the Final Destination franchise. What I find funny is regardless of where you stand, the reason is usually the same: “They’re all basically the same movie with different settings.”
To that, I say, “EXACTLY!” That’s one of the things I love about the series. By Final Destination 3, I knew exactly what I was getting into before the movie even started.
A group of unfortunate people are going to end up in a crowded place, and something catastrophic is going to happen. One of them has a vision. After they all die in the vision, a small group escapes, and we get to spend the next hour or so watching Death hunt them down in unorthodox and sometimes goofy fashion.
Final Destination 5 is no different in that regard. Big structure set to collapse? Cue the North Bay Bridge. Premonition that leads to a group of co-workers and strangers leaving the bridge before the collapse? Check. Death hunting the survivors one by one? You bet.
Now, here comes the big spoiler: What makes Final Destination 5 a neat horror movie prequel is it doesn’t reveal what it is until the very end. Two of the remaining survivors are on a plane when they see a group of students and a teacher exit the plane after a fight. It turns out that, yep, they are on Volée Airlines Flight 180 from the first film.
It looks like Death was killing people in an often over-the-top, ridiculous fashion long before Alex’s vision in the original Final Destination! I’m very much looking forward to seeing what they do with Final Destination: Bloodlines, which has a release date of 2025!
The Munsters (2022)
The Munsters started as a TV show that took the “family sitcom” formula and turned it into something fun and different by following a well-meaning monster family that included the likes of Frankenstein’s monster as loveable Herman Munster, an old Count Dracula as the Grandpa Munster, and a werewolf son Eddie, among others.
It originally ran from 1964 to 1966. While The Munsters wasn’t around for a long time, it captured the hearts of many horror fans out there, so much so that it spawned multiple movies, TV one-shots, another full-fledged TV show called The Munsters Today, as well as the next movie on my list of horror movie prequels: The Munsters (2022).
I didn’t know what to expect going into it. All I knew was it was directed by Rob Zombie — which actually makes perfect sense when you consider his hit 1998 song “Dragula” was a reference to Grandpa’s dragster, DRAG-U-LA.
I also knew that the always-entertaining Daniel Roebuck was going to star as Grandpa Munster. Very exciting stuff!
Imagine my surprise when I found out it was actually an origin story that shows how Herman and his wife from the show, Lily, met and eventually fell in love! There are a ton of amazing references sprinkled throughout the movie. You’ll learn how they got their pet dragon, Spot, how they found their instantly recognizable home at 1313 Mockingbird Lane, and much more!
I was very impressed and surprised by this horror movie prequel. You can tell that Rob Zombie and everyone else who worked on the film are very passionate about the Munsters. If you’re a fan, too, and haven’t seen this movie, check it out!
Jigsaw (2017)
Let’s get one thing straight — the Saw franchise has an intricate web of interesting lore, which means things are almost always way more complicated than they seem. It would be next to impossible to explain exactly what’s happening unless I were to write a full-fledged article about all of the Saw movies. (Who knows, maybe I will!)
With that in mind, here’s a big spoiler for Jigsaw: It’s both a prequel AND a sequel.
Half of the movie takes place in modern times. The other half of the movie is a full-fledged prequel that shows what John Kramer was up to well before the events of the first film.
The thing is, much like Final Destination 5, this isn’t explained until much later in the movie, and that’s part of what makes it so much fun!
I’m a big fan of the Saw movies, and this is one of my favorites. The traps are awesome. The characters are memorable. And I love the way they manage to (mostly) neatly stack new lore on top of already established lore with each iteration.
If you’re at all a fan of this series, move Jigsaw to the top of your “must watch” list of horror movie prequels!
Cube Zero (2004)
Cube (1997) is a creepy sci-fi horror franchise that has a strong parallel with the Final Destination movies. By that, I mean if you’ve seen the first Cube movie, you have a pretty good idea of what will happen in Cube 2: Hypercube (2002) and Cube Zero. However, I do think that the Cube franchise is WILDLY unappreciated (even more than Final Destination!).
Based on the title, it’s probably not surprising that all three movies take place in an intricate cube structure. Each cube is full of smaller cube rooms that have six entrances that lead to other rooms. Some rooms are safe, others are filled with deadly traps, and some seem to be time warps that show a grim future for the people trapped inside.
Cube Zero is a prequel to the first two films and follows a group of people who are trapped inside the cube while two technicians are watching them on video cameras from outside. However, it quickly becomes apparent that these guys might also be in a cube-like situation themselves!
One of the giveaways that this is a prequel is how “primitive” the cube is compared to later variations. The environment and traps are very cool to look at, and the deaths are gruesome. The main villain is straight out of a cartoon. It’s a good time.
The very end of the movie features another BIG reveal that ties the prequel to the movies that came “later” in the timeline. It’s a lot to cover here and there is an explanation for all this weirdness, but that’s going to have to be for another article at another time!
The bottom line is Cube Zero is mind-bending, pulse-pounding, bloody fun. Check it out!
Prometheus (2012) + Alien: Covenant (2017)
Alien is a pretty interesting franchise! Alien (1979) and Aliens (1986) were always my favorites. Up until very recently, I had seen all of the sequels (even Romulus the day before release!), but I never sat down and watched these two prequel movies.
I heard mixed things about Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. I wasn’t quite sure what to think, but one thing I DID know was that it was supposed to be an Alien prequel.
After watching both movies back-to-back, I’m happy to say that I actually enjoyed them BOTH! I will say this: they do ‘feel’ a little different from the rest of the franchise. By that, I mean they feel, at times, like they are trying to be philosophical. There are a noticeable number of “Where did we come from?” and “What do you believe in?” conversations throughout.
Once you get past that, you’re left with some very interesting, engaging movies that tell the story of how xenomorphs came into existence.
I found a handful of characters in each film that were very likable. The special effects were top-notch. There were some kills that made me say “WOW” out loud. Really great stuff!
And I really like how, by the end of the Covenant, there’s no question how the aliens multiplied and spiraled out of control. Both movies certainly add to the Alien lore and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the credits roll!
Cabin Fever: Patient Zero (2014)
If you read my article on horror movie sequels, then you know that Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever is one of my favorites. Which is partly why I decided to include the third movie in the franchise — and prequel to the original — Cabin Fever: Patient Zero, on my list of the best horror movie prequels!
For those who don’t know, the Cabin Fever franchise is about a flesh-eating virus that infects people through water and, uh, various bodily fluids. The people infected usually end up with their skin separated from the rest of their body in some truly horrifying and eye-catching special effects.
I first saw this horror movie prequel when it came out in 2014. I remember liking it but thinking it was “too serious” coming off of Spring Fever. I decided to rewatch it a week or so ago, and I’m glad I did!
It’s actually nowhere near as serious as I thought it was. I guess the environment is a bit more serious (a tropical island instead of a high school), but the things that happen in it are over-the-top and downright silly.
One of my favorite parts is when a guy…accidentally…removes the skin from his infected girlfriend’s arms from the elbow down. He holds up the skin and says something along the lines of “Don’t worry, we can fix this!” I laughed out loud.
In a nutshell, this prequel follows a bachelor party that’s destined to fail because they’re sharing the remote island with a lab where “patient zero” of the flesh-eating virus is being held. The characters are pretty good; the acting is so-so; the effects are awesome; and the way it all plays out is actually really interesting, all the way up to the end, when you find out how the virus reached the mainland.
The Thing (2011)
Next up: The Thing (2011) is a prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 film that goes by the same name. It answers the question “What went down at that Norwegian research station before the folks from the first film found it?”
I decided to double-feature both movies back-to-back, and I’m glad I did! It turns out the director, Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., had a computer with “a million” still images from Carpenter’s original film so they could make sure the camp was consistent with what was shown in the first movie.
The attention to detail shows not only in that instance, but all throughout the movie.
One of the things that I really appreciate about this flick is it has excellent pacing. As soon as you’ve met everyone, ‘things’ get weird; then they get downright chaotic all the way up to the thrilling conclusion.
There are still quite a few awesome practical effects (MUCH appreciated!) with a mixed bag of CGI. Overall, none of the CGI effects took me out of the movie because the entire movie is just so well done.
If you’ve forgotten about this hidden gem, I highly recommend you watch it as soon as you can. The ending sequence ties everything together in a way that manages to be both subtle and impressive.
A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)
A Quiet Place is a very unique horror franchise that experiments with the idea of a hostile alien takeover. The thing is, the aliens are totally blind. They hunt by sound and have no qualms about ripping anything that makes a peep to shreds.
The first two movies are great, tell one continuous story, and are 100% worth a watch.
A Quiet Place: Day One, on the other hand, is a standalone prequel. This makes it unique because unlike most horror movie prequels, you can watch it on its own and still enjoy it; but it’s even more fun if you’ve seen the originals.
As the name implies, A Quiet Place: Day One tells the story of the first days of the alien takeover in New York City. If you don’t like keeping track of too many characters, this is a great choice. There are only around 5-6 named characters — including a cat!
The environmental storytelling is incredible. The acting and effects are all top-notch. Plus, you get to learn a lot more about the aggressive, mysterious creatures hell-bent on eating anything that makes a sound.
If you didn’t catch this one in theaters recently, make sure you check it out when it comes to streaming!
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has had quite a few ups and downs since the first film was released in 1974. After shocking us with the original, we were…uh…treated to some fun and interesting sequels in 1986, 1990, 1995, and even a Chop-Top spin-off in 2000.
Things picked up again in 2003 when The Texas Chainsaw Massacre was reimagined. It has great ratings on Google (92% of people liked it) and mid to low reviews elsewhere. I thought it was great and a really good “refresher” for a series that was nearly 30 years old at the time.
Then, in 2006, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning was released. I have to say this is probably one of my favorite horror movie prequels. The story is interesting, the characters (fodder) are likable and hold your attention all the way to the end, and the effects are awesome.
I alluded to this in my intro, but what I appreciate the most is there are SO many little nods to the 2003 remake and, in many ways, the original film. You’ll find out what drove this family to cannibalism, how Bubba got his first chainsaw, and much more.
The bottom line is if you’re into The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and skipped this film, I highly recommend you circle back and give it a watch.
The First Purge (2018)
I’m not going to spend a lot of time talking about the history of The Purge. I covered all five films across almost 2,000 words when I binged The Purge films. You should check it out! 😀
The First Purge is another one of my top favorite horror movie prequels. Instead of it being a patriotic celebration across the country, the idea of “purging” is still new and strange to most of the country.
The film takes place on Staten Island, New York, and shows the government getting people prepared for the big night, mostly by offering cash incentives and trippy contact lenses that double as cameras.
Much like the films before it, a group of people who are all connected in one way or another end up outside during the Purge and have to do what it takes to survive.
You get to see and hear a lot of the conversations among government figures before and during the Purge. It adds an extra layer of realness to the situation, and they also go on to show how and why the Purge is so popular in the later movies. If you’re into seeing fictional social experiments play out, you’ll love it,
Put simply, The First Purge is suspenseful, action-packed, and well worth your time.
What Are YOUR Favorite Horror Movie Prequels?
I stand by the dozen horror movie prequels I’ve selected for this list, but there were definitely a few I left out. I’d considered including Saw X but it’s more like Saw 1.5 — a prequel to Saw II but not to the original Saw like Jigsaw is. And I know that fellow HorrorFam.com writer Christi Bandy loved Pearl, the prequel to Ti West’s X and MaXXXine! And my wife seemed to get a kick out of Red Dragon (2002) with its highly memorable food scene with Ray Liotta.
I’d love to know what YOUR favorite horror movie prequels are! Let me know in the comments or tag me on Twitter/X @FrankenSpear.
