Basket Case 2

Last updated

Basket Case 2
Basketcase2.jpg
Promotional release poster
Directed by Frank Henenlotter
Written byFrank Henenlotter
Produced byEdgar Ievins
StarringKevin Van Hentenryck
CinematographyRobert M. Baldwin
Edited byKevin Tent
Music by Joe Renzetti
Distributed byShapiro Glickenhaus Entertainment
Release date
  • March 2, 1990 (1990-03-02)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2,500,000[ citation needed ]

Basket Case 2 is a 1990 American comedy horror film written and directed by Frank Henenlotter, and the sequel to his 1982 film Basket Case . [1] It stars Kevin Van Hentenryck reprising his role as Duane Bradley, who moves with his deformed, formerly conjoined twin brother Belial into a home for "unique individuals" run by their deceased aunt’s friend, eccentric philanthropist Granny Ruth (played by Annie Ross). [2]

Contents

The film spawned another sequel, Basket Case 3: The Progeny , in 1991.

Plot

After falling from a hotel window at the end of the first film, Duane Bradley and his deformed, surgically-separated conjoined twin brother Belial are taken to the hospital. Their unusual situation draws media attention, making it impossible to lead a secret life. They are rescued from the hospital by Granny Ruth, who saw their story on the news. She takes them to her home, where she and her granddaughter Susan care for an extended family of similarly deformed individuals. Among these individuals is Eve, who is similar to Belial in that she is a bodyless torso. Traumatized by how she has been treated prior to Ruth rescuing her, Eve is mute and spends most of her time in the attic. A few years pass and as Eve and Belial fall in love, Duane's resentment of Belial grows. He hasn't forgiven Belial for Sharon's murder and wishes to live a life without being surrounded by "freaks", as previously he had been unable to leave Belial due to their psychic bond.

During all of this a sleazy reporter named Marcie and her equally sleazy photographer Arty have been looking for the Bradley brothers in order to bring them to justice. Upon discovering the freaks, Marcie decides that she will expose them to the world, forcing Ruth and the others to stop her. They kill Arty, as well as a private detective named Phil who was assisting Marcie. Duane tricks Marcie into allowing the freaks into her home under the guise that Belial wants an interview; Belial mutilates her face, turning her into a freak as well.

That night the freaks celebrate their victory while Eve and Belial consummate their relationship in the attic. Seeing this as an opportunity to finally be free of Belial, Duane approaches Susan and asks her to run away with him. She is horrified that he would leave his brother and reveals that she, too, is a freak. She has been pregnant for six years as her baby refuses to leave her womb; upon revealing this, a grotesque lamprey-like creature emerges from Susan's surgical wounds where failed cesarean sections have been attempted. This shatters the last of Duane's psyche and he kills Susan by pushing her out a window. He then goes to Belial and forcibly sews him to his body. The film ends as Ruth and the others discover what Duane has done, and stare at him horrified.

Cast

Reception

The staff of Variety called Basket Case 2 "a hilarious genre spoof" that pays homage to the 1932 film Freaks . [5] Kevin Thomas of the Los Angeles Times complimented the film's atmosphere, which he felt was aided by the cinematography and score, and highlighted Ross and Van Hentenryck's performances. [6] He wrote that Basket Case 2 "has everything it needs to become the cult film that its 1982 predecessor has been: outrageous dark humor, bizarre horror, driving energy and genuine pathos." [6]

Joe Kane of the New York Daily News gave the film a mostly positive review, commending its "dark wit" and exploration of Duane and Belial's romantic pursuits. [1] He wrote that, "While the interior-bound sequel lacks the original's sleazy Times Square ambience, and most of the flick's secondary freaks are more whimsical than menacing in design [...] Basket Case 2 stacks up as fun fear fare for Basket Case cultists, fright-film fans and adventurous viewers of every stripe." [1] The New York Times ' Caryn James wrote, "As cheap horror spoofs go, this one isn't all bad", but lamented a perceived deviation from an initial "tongue-in-cheek approach" as the film progresses, writing, "Twenty minutes or so into the movie, there is very little left to surprise you, except an exceptionally tacky ending." [7]

In his 2011 book Horror Films of the 1990s, John Kenneth Muir opined that Basket Case 2 was "disappointing" and that it "eschews all the qualities that made the down-and-dirty, low-budget original such a great pleasure." [8]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 71% based on seven surveyed critics, with an average rating was 6.3/10. [9]

Home media

Basket Case 2 was released on DVD by Synapse Films in October 2007. [10]

Sequel

Related Research Articles

<i>The Last Picture Show</i> 1971 film by Peter Bogdanovich

The Last Picture Show is a 1971 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich and co-written by Bogdanovich and Larry McMurtry, adapted from the 1966 semi-autobiographical novel by McMurtry. The film's ensemble cast includes Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Ellen Burstyn, Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman, and Cybill Shepherd. Set in a small town in northern Texas from November 1951 to October 1952, it is a story of two high school seniors and long-time friends, Sonny Crawford (Bottoms) and Duane Jackson (Bridges).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joi Lansing</span> American actress (1929–1972)

Joi Lansing was an American model, film and television actress, and nightclub singer. She was noted for her pin-up photos and roles in B-movies, as well as a prominent role in the famous opening "tracking shot" in Orson Welles' 1958 crime drama Touch of Evil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Roman</span> American actress (1922–1999)

Ruth Roman was an American actress of film, stage, and television.

<i>Novocaine</i> (2001 film) 2001 film by David Atkins

Novocaine is a 2001 American black comedy thriller film written and directed by David Atkins and starring Steve Martin, Helena Bonham Carter, Laura Dern, Lynne Thigpen and Elias Koteas. It was shot in the Chicago, Illinois area. The film premiered at the 2001 Toronto International Film Festival and went on to screen in limited release in the United States on November 16, 2001. It was a box office bomb and received mixed to negative critic reviews.

<i>Brain Damage</i> (film) 1988 American horror comedy film

Brain Damage is a 1988 American comedy horror film written and directed by Frank Henenlotter. It stars Rick Hearst in his debut acting role as Brian, a young man who becomes acquainted with a talking parasite known as Aylmer that injects him with an addictive fluid that causes euphoric hallucinations; in return, Aylmer demands that Brian allow him to feed on the brains of other humans.

<i>Basket Case</i> (film) 1982 film by Frank Henenlotter

Basket Case is a 1982 American horror film written and directed by Frank Henenlotter in his feature directorial debut. Produced by Edgar Ievins, the film stars Kevin Van Hentenryck as Duane Bradley, a young man who seeks vengeance on the doctors and nurses who performed an unwanted surgery that separated him from his deformed conjoined twin brother Belial, whom Duane hides in a large wicker basket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloria Talbott</span> American actress (1931–2000)

Gloria Maude Talbott was an American film and television actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blossom Rock</span> American actress (1895–1978)

Edith Marie Blossom MacDonald, also known as Blossom Rock, was an American actress of vaudeville, stage, film and television. During her career she was also billed as Marie Blake or Blossom MacDonald. Her younger sister was screen actress and singer Jeanette MacDonald. Rock is best known for her role as "Grandmama" on the 1960s macabre/black comedy sitcom The Addams Family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen Drew</span> American actress (1914–2003)

Ellen Drew was an American film actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Gwynne</span> American actress (1918–2003)

Anne Gwynne was an American actress who was known as one of the first scream queens because of her numerous appearances in horror films. Gwynne was also one of the most popular pin-ups of World War II. She is the maternal grandmother of actor Chris Pine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marianna Hill</span> American actress (born 1942)

Marianna Hill is an American actress who is known for her starring roles in the Western films El Condor (1970) and High Plains Drifter and the cult horror film Messiah of Evil, as well as many roles on television series in the 1960s and 1970s.

<i>Basket Case 3: The Progeny</i> 1991 film by Frank Henenlotter

Basket Case 3: The Progeny is a 1991 American horror comedy film written and directed by Frank Henenlotter. It is the third and final installment of the Basket Case series. It was released on DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment in 2004. Synapse Films released a new DVD on October 9, 2012. Troma Entertainment released the film on its streaming service Troma Now! on October 1, 2021.

H. M. Wynant is an American film and television actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Ford</span> American actress and model (1911–2009)

Ruth Ford was an American actress and model. Her brother was the bohemian surrealist Charles Henri Ford. Their parents owned or managed hotels in the American South, and the family regularly moved.

The demon Belial, or characters named for him, have appeared in many examples of modern culture. This is distinct from medieval culture and Milton where Belial was related to the character in Jewish sources.

<i>Superman/Batman: Apocalypse</i> 2010 superhero film

Superman/Batman: Apocalypse is a 2010 American animated superhero film based on the Superman/Batman comic book storyline "The Supergirl from Krypton" and is a standalone sequel to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. The art style is partly based on that of Michael Turner, who penciled the Superman/Batman comic book arc. Directed by Lauren Montgomery. it is the ninth film of the DC Universe Animated Original Movies. The film stars Andre Braugher, Kevin Conroy, Tim Daly and Summer Glau. Despite the title, the film focuses primarily on Supergirl and Superman, with Batman playing a supporting role.

"Orphans" is the tenth episode of the fourth season of the anthology television series American Horror Story, which premiered on December 17, 2014, on the cable network FX. It was written by James Wong and directed by Bradley Buecker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanda McKay</span> American actress (1915–1996)

Wanda McKay was an American actress and model.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jan Wiley</span> American actress (1916–1993

Jan Wiley was an American film actress.

Jeannine Alice Taylor is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is best known for her role as Marcie in Sean S. Cunningham's 1980 horror film Friday the 13th. From 1980 to 1981, Taylor portrayed the lead, Madame Trentoni / Aurelia Johnson, in Robert Kalfin's Off-Broadway production Hijinks! and has had roles in several stage productions including Jenny in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1979) and Henrietta in Robert and Elizabeth (1984).

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kane, Joe (March 2, 1990). "'Basket Case 2' weaves slick, sicko spell". New York Daily News . New York, New York. p. 37. Retrieved December 8, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ Aldwinckle, Nick (March 17, 2016). "The Bottom Shelf: Basket Case Trilogy and Audition". Den of Geek . Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 "AFI Catalog - Basket Case 2". AFI Catalog. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Interview: Kevin Van Hentenryck, Star of BASKET CASE". STARBURST Magazine. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Review: 'Basket Case 2'". Variety . 1990. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  6. 1 2 Thomas, Kevin (April 13, 1990). "Movie Review : 'Basket Case 2' Has Makings of Cult Success". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  7. ↑ James, Caryn (March 2, 1990). "Belial and Other Oddities Return in 'Basket Case 2'". The New York Times . Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  8. ↑ Muir, John Kenneth (2011). Horror Films of the 1990s. McFarland. ISBN   978-0786484805.
  9. ↑ "Basket Case 2 (1990)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  10. ↑ Gibron, Bill (2007-10-28). "Basket Case 2". DVD Talk . Retrieved 2014-09-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.