Basket
Case 2
(1990) + 3:
The Progeny
(1991/Synapse Films Blu-rays)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: C+/C- Film: C+/C
Basket
Case 2
Not
all films have to be cinematic masterpieces, some of them are meant
to be plain silly and fun. Playing upon themes that date back to the
era of Todd Browning's Freaks
(1932), Director Frank Henelotter returns for the sequel, 1990's
Basket
Case 2
featuring a cast of colorful and odd-looking characters, brings back
some key players from the first film and some new faces including
Kevin Van Hentenryck, Annie Ross, Kathryn Meisle, Heather Rattray and
Jason Evers.
Separated
during a bizarre experiment from his odd-looking identical twin,
Duane Bradley (Hentenryck) barely survives from a tragic fall out of
a window and wakes up in a hospital. His strange Aunt, Granny Ruth
(Ross), is secretly a host to a bizarre family of freaks and takes in
Duane's twin, Belial, and they end up in hiding from a tabloid
reporter that seeks to expose them. Love begins to blossom between
the Belial and another freak that lives in a basket that results in a
bizarre love scene that has to be seen to be believed. This film
isn't concerned with taking risks and pushing the boundaries of
exploitation to almost the heights of a Troma film.
Vastly
improving upon its original VHS and DVD releases, Synapse has
restored the film in stunning 1080p high definition with a widescreen
aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and a lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0
Stereo track that brings the film up to modern standards, looking as
good as it possibly can. If you're a fan of the series, then you'll
definitely want to check this disc out.
Special
Features include:
The
Man in the Moon Mask
Beyond
the Wicker - Behind-the-Scenes Featurette from Special Effects Makeup
Artist, Gabe Bartalos
Reversible
Cover art with newly commissioned front piece by Joel Robinson
Aside
from many cheesy effects moments (many of the freaks features are
obviously latex masks with goofy teeth) and some so-so acting, Basket
Case 2
has some heart at its core that makes up for the ridiculousness of
its plot. If you're in the mood for something fun, gory, and cheesy
then you will want to give this a spin.
Basket
Case 3: The Progeny
While
not quite as strong as the first or second films, the 1991 third
installment of the Basket
Case
series, Basket
Case 3: The Progeny
reunites us with Director Frank Henenlotter, who picks up again where
the first film ended, this time using the angle of a freakish
childbirth to spice up the series. I'm sure the producers of Bride
of Chucky
gave this film a gander before writing the script! The film stars
returning cast members and a few new faces in Kevin Van Hentenryck,
Gill Roper, Denise Coop and Annie Ross.
They're
going to need a bigger basket when Belial ends up getting separated
from Duane (Hentenryck) yet again and finds himself a host to a
bizarre family of deformed freaks. Playing, no doubt, off the
success of Gremlins,
Critters
and even the It's
Alive
trilogy, this entry features wild newborns that threaten local humans
and will stop at nothing until their thirst for human flesh is
subsided!
Presented,
much like its predecessor, in a 1080p high definition restoration
from the original film elements, the film is presented in 1.78:1
widescreen and a clear-sounding, lossless, English DTS-HD MA (Master
Audio) 2.0 Mono track that brings the film to life on disc like never
before.
Special
Features include only a Theatrical Trailer and new artwork from Joel
Robinson.
While
not quite as strong as the first two films, there's still a lot to
love about this third silly installment of the series, seen here like
never before and vastly improves upon previous DVD release we
reviewed a while ago. It's too bad all three films couldn't be
released in a box set, but perhaps that is in our future. In the
meantime, here's the link to our coverage of the original Basket
Case
nicely restored on Blu-ray...
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11189/Basket+Case+(1981/Something+Weird+Video/Ima
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
