Orphan: First Kill has just come out, meaning that audiences will get to see the origin story of Isabelle Fuhrmann's Esther. This is far from the first prequel for a horror icon. In fact, the horror prequel has become its own subgenre and nearly every titan of terror has had its origins depicted.
These prequels have had a large impact on the horror community for better or worse. These particularly chilling prequels answer questions that fans were dying to know, or basically reinvented their respective icons.
Prometheus (2010)
Very few movie monsters are as intriguing as the Xenomorphs from Alien. So fans were thrilled to hear that Ridley Scott would be coming back to the franchise to craft a film that would expand the Alien mythos and explore the origins of the Xenomorph.
While it arguably raised more questions than answered, Prometheus is a deep dive into the world of Alien that is more of a spiritual predecessor than a direct prequel. While a Xenomorph is only on-screen in the last few seconds, fans were still largely captivated by the film's rich world-building, and the mythos of the Engineers and their relationships to the Xenomorphs sets a great stage for the Alien universe.
Halloween (2007)
While technically a remake, Rob Zombie's reimagining of the Halloween franchise also acts as a prequel by going to Michael Myers' origins as a child killer for at least half the runtime. That means that this film serves as much as an origin story for Myers(or at least, Zombie's reinvention of Myers) as it does a reboot of the franchise.
Its efforts in this area were largely polarizing, with many fans criticizing it for undermining Michael Myers' mystique. But other fans appreciated the bold direction, as it grounds Michael Myers and gives him a haunting psychosis that not only motivates his killings but adds a new dimension with a backstory full of family drama, sociopathic behavior, and truly sadistic killings.
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
The Creation took an old-school approach to create a film that wouldn't just be a Conjuring spin-off, but an excellent horror movie that both served as a paranormal thriller and a killer doll flick.
It was arguably this film that cemented Annabelle's status as a modern horror icon and really proved that this killer doll could carry a film. Much of the credit goes to Shazam director David F. Sandberg, who took inspiration from classic horror films to create a prequel with a timeless appeal and staying power. Annabelle wreaks such havoc and torment upon these young girls that it's no wonder she would become one of the most famous paranormal cases for the Warrens.
Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist
Because of troubled production histories and test screenings, there's technically two versions of this prequel to The Exorcist, one by Paul Schraeder and the other by Renny Harlin. While neither are wholly embraced by fans, the consensus appears to be that Schrader's version is the more appropriate and fitting tribute to the original classic, as it properly explores the first battle between Father Merrin and Pazuzu.
It follows a young Father Merrin who ventures out to South America as part of an archeological dig, where he confronts the demon known as Pazuzu for the first time. It's an atmospheric if not uneven prequel that gives greater weight to the events The Exorcist, and Merrin's journey from a world-weary man to a soldier of God is made even more resonant thanks to Stellan Skarsgård performance.
Hannibal Rising (2007)
Making a prequel for Hannibal Lecter was always going to be an uphill battle. Infamous for his cultured taste, sophisticated manner, and taste for human flesh, Lecter became one of the most legendary movie villains of all time partly due to his mysterious and enigmatic aura.
The team behind Hannibal Rising at the very least made a bold effort and delivered an origin story that might demystify, but still horrifies viewers, based on the prequel novel by Thomas Harris. The film reveals that Lecter, quite brilliantly played by the late Gaspard Ulliel, was the son of an aristocratic family that was slaughtered by Nazis. Hannibal Rising offers an origin story of unspeakable evils that is quite appropriate for the character.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning was the inevitable follow-up to the successful Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake starring Jessica Biel. But instead of giving fans a sequel and continuing the story, the production team decided to go back and show how the Hewitt family began their reign of terror.
This prequel goes to painstaking efforts to answer every possible question, such as where Leatherface got his chainsaw. But while some fans were less than impressed with this prequel's answers, the film introduced a number of disturbing concepts that gave another layer to the Hewitt family, namely that they picked up their cannibalistic practices from their time as a prisoner of war.
The Thing (2011)
This prequel to The Thing is chilling in every sense of the word. It follows a team of scientists that discover a shape-shifting extraterrestrial in the Antarctic, and must try and stop it from infecting the crew, and then inevitably, the world.
While the CGI effects, unfortunately, clash with the famous practical VFX of Carpenter's version, this still serves as a great set-up to Carpenter's vision as it continues to explore the biology of the titular monster, such as the discovery that it can't assimilate metal, while also cementing what a terrifying force it is.
Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)
Norman Bates' backstory and history with his mother were so integral to his character that it all seemed ripe for a prequel. In 1990, director Mick Garris delivered on this with a film that served as both a sequel and prequel, with half following Anthony Perkins as Norman, and another half going back to Norman's childhood, where he's played by E.T. star Henry Thomas.
Unlike most horror icons, Norman Bates' psychology and motivations were already a huge part of his character, so instead of demystifying him, it's actually quite disturbing to see Norman's warped adolescence and Oedipal relationship with his mother. After watching this film, it's no wonder why Norman ended up snapping.
Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)
One of the only prequels to be more acclaimed than its original, Ouija: Origin of Evil details the insidious beginnings of the sinister Ouija board of Ouija. To everyone's surprise, the movie far exceeded expectations critically and commercially to become one of the biggest horror events of 2016.
A period piece, this prequel follows a fraudulent psychic who became entangled in the evil influence of the Ouija board. With that clever premise, Ouija is one of those horror flicks that manages to stay a step ahead of the audience, all the while providing an origin story that's both satisfying and subversive.
Orphan: First Kill
Taking place two years before the original, Orphan: First Kill centers on one of Esther's original murder sprees. It was actually referenced in the original, making this feel like a justified addition to the series. Though this prequel had a few things going against it, namely that Fuhrmann has aged and the brilliant twist of the original has already been done.
So the production team had to work overtime to make First Kill land, but they managed to deliver a new twist that shocked fans just as much as the original. That's a rare feat for horror sequels, let alone prequels, and Fuhrmann's performance doesn't miss a beat. It elaborates on the original film in all the right ways and only reinforces what a sinister character Esther is, and what a twisted playground the Orphan films have to offer her.
