Basket Case 2 (1990)

Director:

Frank Henenlotter

Writer:

Frank Henenlotter (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Horror

Tagline:

Look who's back

Plot:

Frank Henenlotter's BASKET CASE 2 picks up right where the original BASKET CASE leaves off. After surviving the fall from their hotel room window...

Plot Keywords:

Mansion | Mutant | Gore | Sequel | Numbered Sequel

Cast

Kevin Van Hentenryck	...	Duane
Judy Grafe	...	News Woman
Annie Ross	...	Granny Ruth
Heather Rattray	...	Susan
Chad Brown	...	News Man
Beverly Bonner	...	Casey
Leonard Jackson	...	Police Commissioner
Alexandra Auder	...	Nurse Sherri
Brian Fitzpatrick	...	Cop
Gale Van Cott	...	Desk Clerk
Kuno Sponholz	...	Sick Old Man
Kathryn Meisle	...	Marcie
Dominic Marcus	...	Security Guard
Doug Anderson	...	Snoring Cop
Jason Evers	...	Lou the Editor

Also Known As:

House of Freaks (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18 | USA:R | Finland:K-18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Newark, New Jersey, USA

Trivia:

Director Frank Henenlotter stated in an interview that his original idea for this sequel was to have the character Duane Bradley from the original Basket Case (1982) have a small part and have the film focus more on the freak aspect. He also wanted to the call the sequel "House of Freaks." Shapiro-Glickenhaus Home Video wanted to call the film "Basket Case 2" and insisted Duane Bradley's character have a much larger part. Despite this Henennlotter was given freedom to put the freaks in a very different situation instead of just basically redoing the first film. Because of this Hennenlotter has admitted that he likes this sequel because it is a different film than the original.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the ending credits the title of "Faust" 's aria "Dai campi, dai prati" is misspelled as "Dai campi, dai 'prapi'".

Quotes:

Granny Ruth: I understand your pain, Belial, but ripping the faces off people may not be in your best interest.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Basket Case 3: The Progeny (1992)

Way more professional than the first.

The first "Basket Case" movie looked like it was made on a shoe-string budget. It also featured some horrible acting and directing. But director Frank Henenlotter obviously had learned since and gained more experience. The movie is more consistent this time, also in its pace.

There was obviously some more money to spend this time, compared to the first movie. The movie is overall more professional looking and so is the Belial character. There is more movement and detail in the guy. It's professionalism also makes this an overall more effective genre movie.

Luckily the movie obviously also doesn't take itself very serious, which in the end also is this movie its strongest point. It knows it's ridicules and it actually exploits this by putting in more ridicules new looking characters and silly moments and dialog and the actors also seem to be totally aware of this. It's also a reason why this movie is a totally pleasant genre movie to watch. It knows it's a B- and cult-movie and it doesn't resists against it. Not in the least of course due to the later success and cult following the first movie received.

Kevin Van Hentenryck is still as horrible as ever before in his acting but they cleverly resolved this by putting in way more characters this time, so the entire focus of the movie this time isn't just upon Duane and Belial. It also lets Duane act more as a psycho this time, which also allows Van Hentenryck to do his bad overacting and make him get away with it.

The story is of course silly but it also still is a notch up when compared to the first movie. It's at least more layered, also of course due to the fact that there are more characters in it this time. But no, overall you can't really call the movie anything more than just plain silly. Fun but silly.

Supriningly much better than the first movie, due to the fact it was made with more money and people involved and because the movie luckily doesn't take itself serious at all. It makes sure that you as a viewer also just can't take it serious at all and therefor lets you sit back and just enjoy the ride!

7/10