Legacy sequels are common currency in Hollywood: from decades-removed follow-ups to popular TV shows, to the glut of IP-marinated servings at the box office, returning to a classic source has become a go-to for storytellers across all mediums. Only thing in, the quality of these new offerings vary wildly – for every fresh new take, there’s also a shameless grab at relevance and money that scrapes the bottom of the barrel for something even halfway decent. So lets look at two examples of when this trend is done right, and when it ruined or childhoods.
Good: Final Destination: Bloodlines
The Final Destination franchise has been doing the same thing, bar a few tweaks here and there, for over 25 years and Bloodlines, the first movie in the series for fourteen years, keeps that fine tradition going. The kills are creative, the humour is of the gallows variety, and the gap between movies allowed us to miss this very singular set of movies’ sheer insanity. A recognition and embracing of the franchise’s comedic value keeps things fresh enough to justify its own existence – no need to reinvent the wheel when we still laugh (and scream) when it takes someone’s head off.
Bad: Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Netflix’s embarrassing attempt to jam Leatherface into a conflict between idiot influencers (who actually might be the worst people in the whole franchise) and the small town they are trying to gentrify is frustratingly half backed – but that’s nothing compared to bringing back the original’s sole survivor to try and rake in that Halloween cash. It turns Leatherface into nothing more than a kill-delivery device instead of the genuinely interesting character he was in the first movie, and, despite the right-under-the-nose premise, manages to dodge any meaningful exploration of the country versus city divide that gives these movies so much of their staying power.
Good: Evil Dead Rise
The continuity of the Evil Dead universe is confusing – which is to say, there basically isn’t any. So, to some extent, it’s hard to say whether Evil Dead Rise is a reboot or legacy sequel- but, since Ash’s voice is on a recording, I’m going with sequel. Unlike Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Evil Dead Rise is firmly committed to standing on its own necrotic feet. A great director and great cast, with some horrid body horror that stand up to any of Ash’s previous misadventures, Rise echoes the best parts of the original through Fede Alvarez’ distinctive lens while feeling distinctly like a part of the same twisted universe.
Bad: The Matrix Resurrections
This movie should never have existed. It’s clear from the efforts that cast, crew, and especially director Lana Wachowski put forth that all Resurrections could ever do was dance on the grave of the original trilogy. Not only does it lessen the impact of the other movies, it also just looks like any bog-standard blockbuster, a veritable crime for a movie that was such a visual standout in its time. I’ll give Lana some credit, though- she knew the Matrix would come back with or without her and her sister, and decided to trash the franchise on her on terms. The contempt this film has for itself for even existing is a lesson in being careful what you wish for.
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By Kevin Boyle
(header image via Netflix)
No But Listen 