This movie was a direct sequel and continuation of the 1982 "Basket Case" movie. However, I can't claim to be much of a fan of the first movie, but I had the chance to get to sit down and watch all three movies, so I did.

"Basket Case 2" was a step in the wrong direction for the series. Why? Well, because it went from being semi-adequate in the first movie with it being just Duane and Belial, to featuring an entire freakish array of creatures in this sequel. So why is that a bad thing? Well, simply because the creature designs were just too much, didn't even pass as being believable in any sense what so ever. It just has to be seen to give it any justice, because those designs are hard to describe.

Storywise then "Basket Case 2" was adequate, although I can't really say that I overly enjoyed the collection of freaks much, it just added a very silly comedy element to the movie. The story is about Duane and Belial coming to seek refuse with Granny Ruth, after having escape hospitalization, where they join with a group of freakishly deformed creatures. But news of their whereabouts and the possibility of exposing the freaks safe haven is looming around the corner.

Kevin Van Hentenryck is back in the role as Duane, and does what he does, like it or not.

I found "Basket Case 2" to be treading a slippery slope and it just took a turn for the worse and went in the wrong direction. I managed to stick with it to the end just because I wanted to see how it ended.

"Basket Case 2" scores a less than mediocre four out of ten stars from me.

Kudos to Frank Henenlotter for reviving his franchise some eight years after the successful cult hit of the original film, but it's a shame he didn't have better material to work with. BASKET CASE 2 points towards being a successful sequel, featuring as it does a storyline that goes elsewhere instead of copying the first, but sadly come the ending you realise virtually nothing has happened of interest throughout.

The problem with the movie isn't the ingredients, which are more than adequate, but the narrative. Henenlotter introduces a cast of outlandish freaks who are as memorable as a modern-day sideshow, but the trouble is he has no idea what to do with them. They hang around in an attic for much of the production, while the viewer struggles to come to terms with lead Kevin Van Hentenryck's obvious ageing (this movie is set directly in time after the first, although eight years passed between films).

In an attempt to make the narrative interesting some villains are shoehorned into the plot in the form of some unscrupulous reporters, but they're far from intriguing. The latter half of BASKET CASE 2 is particularly stultifying, lifted only by a clever and unexpected twist ending. Hopefully, BASKET CASE 3: THE PROGENY will close Henenlotter's trilogy on a more impressive note.

Actually one may claim even madder as the previous movie. Now since this is a sequel I am expecting you have seen the movie before - if not you get a short reminder at the beginning of the movie. The climax of the previous movie was ... out there! And fell down on its face ... literally. Anyway all the issues (techinical and otherwise) from the previous movie have been improved on. Which is mainly down to the budget.

The movie really ups the ante. There is more of the unknown ... more of the basket cases ... outside any basket that is. If you like horror movies that really defy any expectations ... and really don't care about any political correctness. Nudity, sex, blood and terror ... and a lot of all of it! And add the over the top acting from the first one ... this time with a couple of "real" actors added for maximum effect ... and you have a winner.