MOVIES 16 – 20
Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987), which is one of my all-time favorites. While many other manic-style slasher flicks will often show a chase scene in quick, violent spurts, Raimi will give viewers a long, uncut take from the perspective of the demon chasing Ash through the house– back through narrow corridors, diving through windows. Expertly mixing horror and comedy, “Evil Dead II” is everything you’d want out of a sequel to the original classic– more slapstick gore, more self-parodying and above all– more Bruce Cambell as Ash.
*Full review here; buy it here.
Jaws 2 (1978), which picks up right where Steven Spielberg’s classic left off. Though still considered the best of the “Jaws” sequels, “Jaws 2” didn’t live up to the original in any of the ways that made the Spielberg-directed gem so iconic. Spielberg applied his grandiose directing flair to the original. Nevertheless, “Jaws 2” remains an underrated sequel for those who can’t get enough adrenaline-fueled shark attacks.
*Full review here; buy it here.
V/H/S 2 (2013), which is composed of four sickly clever short horror films sewn together by a terrifying framework. If you saw V/H/S 2’s predecessor, you know what to expect– sickly clever short horror films sewn together by a terrifying framework that will keep you on edge and shocked. V/H/S 2 took a winning formula for a disturbing horror anthology and improved on it with more ambitious narratives without loosing its raw, low-budget allure.
*Full review here; buy it here.
Phantasm 2 (1988), the sequel to the surreal 1979 mini classic. “Phantasm 2” follows a trio of heroes who hunt down a villain dubbed the Tall Man, who digs up dead bodies and reanimates them into an army of troll-like minions. With a cleaner and more polished overall presentation, “Phantasm II” has grander ambitions than its predecessor– both in narrative scope and special effects. For fans of abstract horror, the “Phantasm” series should not be overlooked.
*Full review here; buy it here.
The Last Exorcism Part II (2013), which explores a single protagonist’s attempted recovery from demonic possession with an effective mix of drama and suspense. Thanks in part to Nell’s peerless knack of switching between charmingly child-like and devilishly perverse, “The Last Exorcism Part II” is a paranoia-driven treat for those who can handle the change in direction from the original.
*Full review here; buy it here.
