Film Review: BASKET CASE 2

For horror fans the name Frank Henenlotter is not only synonymous with horror but also the strange and unusual and comedy as well…just all within the same film. Henenlotter first success was the original Basket Case but it would be with its sequel Basket Case 2 that he would set the horror world on fire with his offbeat sense of humor, characters, and gore.

After the apparent death of separated Siamese brothers Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) and Belial Bradley, the two are whisk away to a hospital where they are on their death bed and held captive for murder. They are rescued by Granny Ruth and her granddaughter Susan (Annie Ross and Heather Rattray, respectfully) who run a half way house for mutants and freaks like them. As Duane and Belial recover from their injuries Duane begins to feel that in a house of freaks he is the one who’s the real freak and starts to ponder a life outside in the normal world where he will no longer be looked upon as a freak. Trouble starts to arise when a nosy reporter starts snooping around and threatens everyone at Granny Ruth’s forcing Duane to choose between his brother and his old life and that of the life he wants to have.

The thing that makes Henenlotter’s films such great horror entertainment is that his films are not just about the outcasts of society (i.e. Frankenhooker and Brain Damage) but they also are the heroes of his films whereas the “normal” people are usually the villains despite the horrific nature of his films. Although Belial is a killer he never kills unless provoked or is protecting someone.

I’m a huge fan of films in which the “freaks” are the main characters of the film as some of my favorite films are Freaks (1932) and Clive Barker’s Nightbreed and my favorite stories are The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera. I must add though that Henenlotter’s films are an acquired taste as the gore and humor are very tongue in cheek. It’s takes a special type of horror fan to appreciate Henenlotter’s contribution to the horror genre.