MOVIES 11 – 15
Child’s Play 2 (1990), which is more slasher with elements of humor than the mostly psychological horror of the original. This sequel is more slasher horror with elements of humor than the strictly psychological horror like the original. As history revealed, this (and the less effective “Child’s Play 3”) were the tipping point for the franchise’s increasingly campy self-parodyingThe iconic doll has a campy charm that’s never more realized than in this sequel. “Child’s Play 2” remains one of the more entertaining, energetic and well-paced installments of the series.
*Full review here; buy it here.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), one of the most disturbing films I’ve ever seen. Its disregard for common standards of good taste make it one of the more resonant horror films ever produced. The fast-paced narrative of this sequel makes for several diverging plot lines. Watching the film tonight could very well yield vivid nightmares years from now, as the images in “Hellbound,” for better or for worse, aren’t easy to shake off. If a shamelessly demented surrealist horror is what you’re looking for, look no further.
*Full review here; buy it here.
Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), which takes place about five years after the original. The fatalities in “Part 2” are a step up from the dirty, lower-budget set-ups from the original– even if none of them really seem to stand out. The most disturbing parts involve a shrine that Jason makes with his mother’s decapitated head in the center. “Part 2 is silly, a little dumb, and an apparent attempt at franchising the popularity of the original. But the folksy simplicity of the film’s general atmosphere and straightforward narrative makes for an enjoyable movie experience.
*Full review here; buy it here.
Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013), which succeeds as a modern possession movie, a haunted house thriller, a family drama and a parallel sequel to one of the most original horror movies of this decade. Whereas the original served as an introduction to the series’ malevolent spirits, “Chapter 2” allows us to get up close and personal. Carefully-staged and frantically-paced, “Insidious: Chapter 2” brings back the surreal, throw-back scares and atmospheric tension that make director James Wan such a compelling horror filmmaker.
*Full review here; buy it here.
Final Destination 2 (2003), which offers much more development of the franchises’ mythology. While Death is still an unseen but constantly looming threat, it is personified in the way that the characters learn to look for signs of its presence in attempts to stop tragic events before they happen. “Final Destination 2” provides the gruesome gore of a slasher film, the unnerving chase of a monster movie, and the pensiveness of a psychological thriller.
*Full review here; buy it here.
