Phantom Limbs: Dissecting Horror's Lost Sequels and Remakes

by Jasons Jenkins

phantom limb /ˈfan(t)əm'lim/ n. an often painful sensation of the presence of a limb that has been amputated.

Wasn't there going to be a faithful film adaptation of Resident Evil in the late 90s?

Did you know that Mike Flanagan was going to do a spinoff of The Shining after completing Doctor Sleep?

Whatever happened to the rumored sequel to Texas Chainsaw 3D?

Based on the popular Bloody Disgusting web column of the same name, Phantom Limbs takes a look at intended yet unproduced horror sequels and remakes - extensions to genre films we love, appendages to horror franchises that we adore - that were sadly lopped off before making it beyond the planning stages.

Here, writer Jason Jenkins chats with the creators of these unmade extremities to gain their unique insights into these follow-ups that never were, with the discussions standing as hopefully illuminating but undoubtedly painful reminders of what might have been.

This inaugural volume features twenty-five chapters covering such projects

Jigsaw's Twisted Tales by Marcus Dunstan & Patrick Melton
Hellraiser by Todd Farmer & Patrick Lussier
Hallorann by Mike Flanagan
Thirst by Mick Garris
The People Under the Stairs by F. Javier Gutierrez
The Plantation by Adam Marcus & Debra Sullivan
Resident Evil by Alan B. McElroy
Texas Chainsaw II by Scott Milam
The Hitcher by Jeffrey Reddick
Zero.Dark.Thirty by Stephen Susco
and many more!

Genres: Horror, Nonfiction, Media Tie In

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[Books For Decaying Millennials · Rating 5 out of 5]

Notes From a Decaying Millennial:

I read an ARC of this book that I received from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
This is Not a Paid Review
-

I've been a fan of films since I was in my Grub phase. It wasn't just a love of watching movies, it was a fascination with the process, different parts that come together to bring a film to screen. One phase that always intrigued me was pre-production. Concept art showcasing different visions of what could be. makeup tests and storyboards for versions of films drastically different than what hit theaters.
The skeletal core of Phantom Limbs was, as authorJason Jenkins explains, a series of articles written for Bloody Disgusting. The book that grew from those articles is a true double hitter. Jenkins invite the reader to delve into the realm of counter-factuals, looking at reboots and sequels of Horror (and horror adjacent) films that could have been. At the same time, this book is a collection of different writers interactions with strange and at times occulted world of film studios and the inner workings of film production. Of those showcased by Jenkins, no two people seem to have the same experience. Jenkins also includes a series of examples of concept art, and pre-production poster mock-ups, from a number of the films discussed. As a whole this book is an enriching treat inviting readers to think about films that could have been, and clearing away some of the obscurity behind why a film does or doesn't get made.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. Each chapter follows a set structure, but I didn't feel like it was repetitive. The films that the book covers are varied, and each film had a unique element that contributed to them not being made. I was unfamiliar with the original films for four chapters, and it didn't hurt my enjoyment any. The author does a good job of telling the reader only the information about the original film that they need to understand the remake or sequel. It does mean that a few chapters have really big spoilers because the context is necessary. If you have only recently started to develop an interest in horror films, I think it might be a good idea to check out the table of contents and watch any films that interest you before starting their chapter.

[Molly Henery · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly fascinating read! Through research and interviews Jason Jenkins tells the untold stories of horror sequels, prequels, remakes, and reboots that never made it to production. This book even includes a number of very detailed synopses of the films that could have been. I found myself totally engrossed from start to finish, but also sad that I will never get to see many of these great film ideas brought to life. An absolute must-read for horror film fans!

[Steph Mckenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Encyclopocalypse Publications and the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun little book for genre enthusiasts! Some horror readers may well be familiar with the Bloody Disgusting column of the same name; for those that aren't, Jason Jenkins presents a collection of interviews with industry creators about horror sequels and remakes that reached a certain point in their planning, but were never produced. The so-called 'phantom limb' effect of an appendage that has been sadly amputated.

There are 25 chapters, all of which tackle films that weren’t covered in the original Bloody Disgusting column, so you aren't purchasing a repeat of what can be sourced online. I loved the anecdotal nature of these short articles and the detail of the stories that these creators had envisioned: you get a great flavour of these unproduced stories and the weird and wonderful directions they would have taken them in! If only, eh?

A great choice for any horror movie fan who loves to contemplate the ‘what ifs’ of some of their most beloved films and franchises.