Writer/director Frank Henenlotter decided to bring the separated Bradley twins back for one last adventure in Basket Case 3: The Progeny. You’d think that after the events of the last film that there was nowhere else for the franchise to go but Henenlotter has decided to give the deformed Belial Bradley brother a brood of his own.
The final film in the trilogy begins right after the events of the previous film in which Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck) has accidentally killed the love of his life Susan and going a little crazy has decided that it is better if he and his brother Belial no longer be separated so he surgically connects them together again. In the new film Duane is just a little crazy having been re-separated from his brother by Granny Ruth (Annie Ross) who decides to pack up all the “freaks” of the house and travel to Uncle Hal’s (Dan Biggers) home because he is the only one who may be able to deliver Belial’s brood without harming the mother. Things begin to get out of hand when Duane decides that it’s best that he and his brother escape Granny Ruth but his attempts at escape bring the unwanted attention of the police. When the police break into Uncle Hal’s home they discover the existence of Granny Ruth’s freaks and decides to take Belial’s brood hostage. This doesn’t sit too well with Belial or Duane or Granny Ruth and the rest of the freaks as they set out to avenge the death of Belial’s mate and the kidnapping of his brood. It’s an all out battle between the freaks and the normals and nothing will ever be the same as Granny Ruth and the rest of her brood refuse to remain hidden from the world.
Not one to repeat himself Henenlotter decides to evolve the story of freaks everywhere as this is a film in which Duane must come to terms with his place in the world whereas Belial has already found his place and he will stop at nothing to protect his own and his family. Whereas in the earlier films it was Belial protecting Duane it is now Belial protecting his children and Duane protecting Belial and all of his fellow freaks. The story comes full circle in the third film.
Fans of Henenlotter should not be worried as the film is filled with over the top gore and humor from beginning to end and a fitting end to one of the horror genre’s most imaginative trilogies.
CITY GARDEN - "The Old Woman & The Park"
On the set of the short film "A Gift"
Showing posts with label Frank Henenlotter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frank Henenlotter. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
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.
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.
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