That’s not an insult — that’s context. It was 1988. The sequel industrial complex was cranking out horror follow-ups like a factory with a head injury. Friday the 13th was on its seventh installment. Nightmare on Elm Street had turned Freddy into a punchline with a glove. Sequels existed to extract money from brand recognition and disappear quietly into the VHS discount bin.
Part II had other plans.




