BASKET CASE 2

In the wonderfully hallucinatory world of cinema, where deceit is the ultimate goal, there exists a 'type' of film that delights in excess, seeking to compensate for lack of originality or quality with an abundance of attitude . . . and purposefully campy, rude, even irreverent humor. Combining Shlock with 'shock,' director Frank Henenlotter rose the bloody standard of independent horror filmmaking with the cult classic Basket Case, his ode to sibling love and mutant missives. He did it on a shoestring. He did it with attitude. More importantly, he crafted in this fundamentally simplistic monster movie of hard knocks a perversely elegiac love song to psychological deviancy and love, making the absurd strangely serious and the dramatic wet with blood. A back closet hit with true horror fans, it took years for the sequel to come out, and even longer for the beast to get his due on DVD. Don May and friends at Synapse ride to the rescue as they release a basket full of drooling, horny treats. Yup, that's right, this time Belial is sporting a hard-on, and he wants something more than brotherly love! Shot back to back with Frankenhooker and Basket Case (3), this lewd and often downright disgusting (did I mention downbeat?!) ode to bad taste is back. And while it doesn't equal the original, it shows as much attitude and chills as one could want. Give it to a trick-or-treater . . . If you want to be arrested!

Featuring all the rubber puppets, monster madness, strange sex appeal, and slime one could want, Basket Case (2) also sports an eccentric cast of characters. Taking place after the depressing events of part one, Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) and Belial, his Siamese twin (now separated), seek solace from -- not the roaring mobs of degenerates who clamored for their blood before -- but journalists enamored with their freakish story. They are saved by one Granny Ruth (Annie Ross), an eccentric old woman who runs a home for outcasts and freaks in the wilds of Staten Island. Duane and Belial fit in rather easily with this freak show, with Belial finding comfort with others of his kind, particularly Eve. Duane, meanwhile, suddenly clamors to be 'normal' and therefore gravitates to the only other human in the house, Susan (Heather Rattray), daughter of the dotty old Ruth. When a reporter named Marcie (Kathryn Meisle) comes sneaking around, and old jealousies flame up, we know that this story isn't going to have a happy ending!

Investing an inventive and empathetic story-line with gore, sex, and other tools of exploitation, Basket Case (2) also gives its anti-heroes sympathy, making it as much a study of their outsider natures and struggle to have relationships as it is an admitted freak show. Claiming in both its story and approach an affiliation with so-good-they're-bad filmmaking, this eventful flick is as tragic and tender as it is shocking. Henenlotter's lack of blood is somewhat compensated for by the parade of creature effects, and the beasties in Granny's home are a tribute to monster kids the world over. Eschewed lighting and odd angles lend further menace to the film's macabre tone. Tod Browning's Freaks, the justly esteemed expose of outsiders, is more evident this time around in the source material, but the director's explosive humor and wonderful bad taste makes the story all his own.

Synapse graces Basket Case 2 with a new anamorphic 1.78.1 widescreen transfer. In short, it looks great, with vivid, bold colors, loud lighting, and sharp, explosive hues. Skin tones are realistic (when they are meant to be), and what little grain is evident is negligible. Audio is featured in English language Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, and is free from distortion.

Extras are a guilty pleasure, clearly up to Synapse's standards. First off we have "Behind The Wicker," a featurette hosted by FX guru Gabe Bartalos. This segment includes intensive behind-the-scenes footage, photos, and clips of both effects and locations. Also included here are Henenlotter and James Glickenhaus, who both recall their experiences on set. Behind scenes clips from Frankenhooker are next, men talk about their experiences on the film and share some fun stories. The Man In The Moon Mask comes next, and explores David Emge's time playing Half Moon. An insert poster rounds out this welcomed release.

Review by William P. Simmons