Sometimes it feels like the creators of great films intentionally close the door behind them, delivering an epilogue that clearly signals there’s no room for a sequel. But then, the production becomes a massive success, and the studio demands another hit to fill their coffers. “Come on, just come up with something! It’s got to work!” the writers are told, pressured by the allure of a lucrative paycheck. Forced into creative gymnastics, they attempt to extend the original story in a way that makes sense. Unfortunately, the results don’t always hit the mark.
1. “Speed 2” – A Fast Disaster That Couldn’t Keep Up With Its Predecessor
Let’s not kid ourselves – the plot of the first Speed wasn’t exactly groundbreaking. After all, we’re talking about a movie where a bomb planted under a speeding bus forces the driver to keep the pedal to the metal. If the vehicle slowed down, it would explode, depriving audiences of the thrill of this wonderfully over-the-top action flick. Add to that the charming Sandra Bullock behind the wheel of this multi-ton machine and Keanu Reeves playing the helpful cop, and it’s no surprise that the original was such an enjoyable ride.
The bomb? That was just a plot device, a clever excuse to let the tension between the two leads simmer and grow. The chemistry between them practically leapt off the screen, and the final scene of Speed gave a satisfying release to all that pent-up energy. The two characters embraced, leaving no doubt that their romance would continue to blossom.
Fast forward three years, and a sequel hit theaters. Keanu Reeves, after reading the script, had the good sense to recognize it for the train wreck it was bound to be and declined to return. Sandra Bullock, however, reprised her role, while her character’s love story was conveniently rewritten with a breakup to explain Keanu’s absence. To patch the gap, a new love interest was awkwardly introduced, as if that alone would appease audiences. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. The sequel completely dismantled the charm of the original, flushing all its magic down the drain.
2. “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” – A Nightmare of Resurrection
While I Know What You Did Last Summer might not hold a candle to the likes of early Freddy Krueger films or the Friday the 13th series, it was still a fun watch. The movie worked as a love letter to classic ’80s slashers, adhering to the genre’s rules while embracing every trope and cliché in the book.
The film’s success naturally called for a sequel. However, there was one glaring problem: Julie—the original’s most likable and prominent character—met her untimely demise in the final scene, a strikingly executed sequence that paid homage to Hitchcock’s iconic shower scene from Psycho.
Yet, in the sequel, Jennifer Love Hewitt’s character unapologetically reappears, perfectly alive and without so much as a scratch. Her death is either conveniently ignored or waved off as a figment of her paranoid imagination. Sure, cinema has bent reality more than a few times, but this particular twist leaves a lingering sense of dissatisfaction that’s hard to shake.
0 Comments