Welcome to ‘Review Rewind’, where I review older films (at least 10 years older than the year we are in) that I have either seen before or watching for the first time.
For October/31 Days Of Horror I will be doing relaxed reviews/mini reviews for the films I’ll be watching and the theme for the month with ‘Review Rewind’ is 90s horror!
90s Horror Review Movie 03
Basket Case 2 (1990)
There exist sequels that repeat the same formula as the first and then there are sequels that do something completely different and that is the case with Basket Case 2 (1990). The first film Basket Case (1982) is a low budget, grimy horror film with an outrageous premise, lots of blood and a killer that certainly is unique with Belial. The sequel was written and directed by Frank Henenlotter, continuing the story of Belial and his brother Duane, despite the fact it appeared they died at the end of the first … they in fact did not and make their return. This is explained early on as the film starts with the ending of the first, Duane and Belial are alive and are being treated in a hospital, this is where Basket Case 2 lets the audience know this is going to be a very different type of follow up and my gosh it is a completely different experience and I certainly was not prepared for this one. I was expecting more of the same, but this film had a bigger budget, it doesn’t have that grime feel of the first and the tone does a 180 with this one having more of the goofy/campy feel like with Frankenhooker (1990), which was made around the same time.
Despite taking place right after the events of the first Kevin VanHentenryck as Duane clearly looks older, it is good to see him back and he brings the same Duane with a different attitude. The story continues on after Duane and Belial are taken from the hospital by a lady who calls herself Granny Ruth (Annie Ross), they are brought to her home to be looked after. Granny Ruth as it turns out looks after people like Belial, people with facial and body differences who get referred to as ‘freaks’ and she just wants to give them a safe space. As Belial and Duane settle in, Duane gets feelings for Granny Ruth’s granddaughter Susan (Heather Rattray), the brothers begin to drift apart and Duane feels like he doesn’t belong where as Belial as found love with Eve who has the same form as he does.
I think what caught me off guard as I sat down to watch this is how vastly different the film is from the first, the tone is completely different and at times it feels like a Troma film with money behind it and that isn’t a bad thing as sequels can play it safe by repeating but here Henenlotter took a chance and changed it up. This complete change is a huge positive about the film, it leans into camp cinema a lot more with a great balance between the horror and comedy aspects. The new additions to the film with Granny Ruth and the ‘freaks’ are much welcome, they added so much more to the world building and Annie Ross is camp gold as Granny Ruth. I don’t like referring to Belial’s new family as ‘freaks’, they are humans with differences and they are portrayed as everyone else, I believe their look was made to be over the top as to not compare them with anyone real or feel like it was mocking anyone. The film deals with ableism, I do believe the intention to highlight this was there as Freaks (1932) is very much paid homage to throughout the film and there is a direct reference from ending of Freaks to reporter Marcie (Kathryn Meisle) and her fate.
Whilst I think some themes could have been taken further and the ending didn’t have the right tone, Basket Case 2 is an enjoyable and strange sequel, it does have a lot to offer in terms of an unexpected type of sequel and completely unpredictable. This film may go down in history as having the most bizarre sex scene of all time, if you thought the puppet sex in Meet The Feebles (1989) was something nasty, prepare yourself for Basket Case 2! If like me you have only seen the first film, please go out and see this, it is worth the experience!
RATING
90s Horror Review Movie 04
Basket Case 3 (1991)
In the final film of the Belial and Duane (Kevin VanHentenryck) trilogy, Basket Case 3 (1991) picks up where the previous film left off complete with recap (with scenes you may not have wanted to see again) and Belial and Duane have been separated again (after Duane stitched them back together at the end of 2), the duo try to mend their relationship whilst Duane tries to work out his life and whether he belongs with Granny Ruth and the family, however Belial’s life is going to change and his beloved Eve is pregnant and Belial is set to become a father. With all of this going on, the family go on a road trip in a bus to provide Eve with a safe space to give birth at Uncle Hal’s (Dan Biggers) place. There is a random musical number thrown in, they get the attention of the sheriff and crew from in town and Granny Ruth has a secret son called Little Hal (Jim O’Doherty).
Basket Case 3 is the weakest of the trilogy, it follows with the tone of the second film but the camp, comedy and goofiness is turned up to the extreme. This plays as more of a comedy than anything else, it is tonally unbalanced and it feels quite apparent watching the film that this not the product they wanted to create. Some scenes and effects don’t feel complete and at parts it can be unintentionally funny, then there are scenes that go way over the top and camp it up as much as possible. Still, for the flaws that are very much there it’s a strangely enjoyable film, where those flaws do add to the weird experience of watching this. The best part of the film is the twelve baby Belial’s, they are kind of cute and it is quite something to see these puppets move around and there being so many of them. Basket Case 3 is certainly worth a watch, it is a bizarre trilogy that some how mostly works despite some missteps. Love these films or hate them, credit to Frank Henenlotter for creating an extremely unique and memorable trilogy.
RATING
Review written by Marcella Papandrea (Super Marcey)
The Super Network 