Bodo
BASKET CASE 2 picks up right where the plot of the first movie left off. This time around, Duane and his deformed brother find shelter with "Granny Ruth", a woman who has dedicated her life to take care of those "freaks" that otherwise find no place in society.Just as with its predecessor, the movie focuses on the theme of social rejection and "trying to fit in". The sequel is more comedic, more actively making fun of itself. There's some better make-up effects but also, just as was the case before, some really tacky ones as well. Overall, this movie has some light-hearted fun to offer while at the same time succeeding in asking some deep questions about the nature of our society.What I found most enjoyable was Annie Ross's performance as Granny Ruth, which was hilariously over-the-top. She's quite a character in the movie and certainly carries it at times. Comparatively speaking, Duane and his brother play less of an important role this time, as the story branches out to include more characters and more "freaks".Go and watch it if you liked the first installment of the series.
Neil Welch
The lad and his freak twin who fell out of an upper floor window in the first film and were seen at the end lying, bleeding, dead on the ground, apparently didn't die after all. In fact, the freak looks better than he did in the first one.The reason for that is a substantially larger budget (due to the success of the first movie), enabling a much better quality monster to be created to the same basic design. This larger budget also stretched towards constructing other freaks/freak makeup, and having a Name in the cast list (Scots jazz singer Annie Ross, who played Robert Vaughn's sister in Superman III).The story is different but not a lot better. The acting is a bit better, and the film is more professionally made, hence I rate it higher than its dreadful predecessor.
Tromafreak
First, let me point out that I don't hate this movie. It's not bad. No, really. I mean, for what it is, Basket Case 2 ain't bad. That said, I really, really wish that this movie didn't exist. That pretty much sums up how I feel about the first sequel to Basket Case. I just can't understand how anyone who claims to be a huge fan of the original, could approve of this. And that's what I am; a HUGE fan of Basket Case. I saw that movie, as a kid, on USA Saturday Nightmares. An experience that would trigger an obsession for (almost) all that is B-cinema. I've already reviewed the original; now, I guess I should say something about this unfortunate, unnecessary sequel. This won't be easy...Alright, so, Henenlotter is playing the "freaks" card for everything it's worth . Whatever. Somehow, Duane and Belial has survived. A friend of their dead aunt, Granny Ruth, rescue the bickering brothers from the hospital, and takes them back to her place, a sanctuary for... you guessed it, freaks!! Whatever. Like I said before, not a bad movie, at all. Just nowhere near good enough to be associated with greatness. Anyway, back to Duane and Belial. So, anyway, the brothers are stuck in a house with over a dozen irritating freaks. Seriously, these guys are a whole lot more messed up than Belial. Hell, even more than Duane. Duane wants to ditch these guys, and take Ruth's granddaughter with him, and Belial is cool with hanging out there, especially since he, too has found someone. When a tabloid reporter tries to expose the freak house, Duane, being the swell guy that he is, sticks around to help his new friends defend their turf. Whatever.What I really hate about Basket Case 2 is that it's like a real movie. It's completely devoid of that grainy, sleazy, inept charm that the original just kinda ended up with. A quality that was pretty much non-existent by 1990. Come to think of it, nowadays would be a more appropriate time for a Basket Case sequel, with all the decent, modern Exploitation to come out of the last decade (Gutterballs). But, once again, if I had my way, there would never be a sequel. Much less, a part 3, where the gang take it down to Georgia, and whatnot. I never said don't buy Basket Case 2. Definitely support Henenlotter, simply because the guy is awesome. But if you just recently saw the original, and you got the Henenlotter fever, the next logical step would be to check out Brain Damage. Now, that you're hooked, now would be a good time to try out the sequel that never was. With hard feelings and resentment aside, I do have one last positive thing to say about Basket Case 2. No spoilers, but just so you know, the ending makes it all worth it... Almost. 7/10
