Basket Case 2 (1990)

39% of users liked it
(2,530 ratings)

Although it took eight years for cult director Frank Henenlotter to revisit the twisted world of Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck) and his basket-bound, mutant former Siamese twin Belial, this sequel picks up the plot mere moments after the original Basket Case ended, finding the… More Although it took eight years for cult director Frank Henenlotter to revisit the twisted world of Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck) and his basket-bound, mutant former Siamese twin Belial, this sequel picks up the plot mere moments after the original Basket Case ended, finding the psychically-linked brothers mangled but very much alive after the rather aggressive tiff that pitched them out a Bowery flophouse window. They manage to elude the authorities, escape the hospital (to avoid having to explain the dozen-or-so murders committed by gnarled, lumpy Belial), and eventually find sanctuary at the palatial home of Granny Ruth (jazz songbird Annie Ross), an eccentric activist who rallies the cause of "Unique Individuals" like Belial who have been ostracized by society for their horrific appearance and behavior. (Unique, indeed... Ruth's tenants run the gamut from a boy with 18-inch teeth to a woman who looks like ahammerhead shark in a summer frock.) Although the pair soon grow quite accustomed to their new home, they are eventually forced to confront their murderous past, thanks to a tabloid reporter and a cynical cop, both of whom come to regret sticking their noses into places where such appendages tend to get bitten off. Henenlotter deserves credit for exploring new terrain in this interesting follow-up, but his reliance on outrageous makeup effects diminishes the effectiveness of the "Monsters Are People Too" theme -- it's hard to work up much empathy toward Ruth's charges, depicted as mute automatons by actors wearing 70 pounds of foam latex on their heads. Not that Henenlotter doesn't return to grotesque form now and then -- particularly for the most disgusting love scene on record and the effective shock ending, which paves the way for yet another sequel. ~ Cavett Binion, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Frank Henenlotter
Genres: Horror, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1990 Wide
On DVD: Oct 30, 2007
Studio: Shapiro Glickenhaus

Critic Reviews

Bill Gibron, DVDTalk.com
Basket Case 2 is so endemic of the entire '80s direct to video dynamic that it should come in a crappy cardboard case with cover art having very little or nothing to do with the actual film inside.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Fans of Henenlotter's original will find things to admire.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Fans know exactly what they're in for. But make sure you see the Part 1 first ... it's a whole lot better.
Alan Simpson, Sex Gore Mutants
Henenlotter's obvious love for his flagship characters that ensures he delivers another great slice of schlocko fun.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jeff "

Considering this is a sequel to awesome Basket Case directed by Frank Henenlotter, you'd expect something great, right? Well the results for this film are mixed. . The film does have the weirdness you'd expect from the first film. The plot of the film is even more ridiculous… More
Considering this is a sequel to awesome Basket Case directed by Frank Henenlotter, you'd expect something great, right? Well the results for this film are mixed. . The film does have the weirdness you'd expect from the first film. The plot of the film is even more ridiculous than the first film, as Belial seeks true love. Just by saying that, you may ask yourself are you serious? I really am. In the world of Henenlotter's Basket Case, anything weird and bizarre can happem, often with very humourous results. It's predecessor was great, I mean it was original and fun and also disgusting and disturbing. Thats what made the first Basket Case film so enjoyable. In this sequel, Henenlotter decided to take an more humourous path, as the first one was a bit nasty and dark. What we have here with Basket Case 2 is a more slapstick vision of Basket Case. The sequel is more silly than the first, but it has something that makes it very good. This is definitely a sequel you can't easily dismiss, and I won't reveal the ending, but I'lkl say that in pure Henenlotter fashion, it's weird and above all it's a hoot. A terrific ending!
Anthony L

Another great slice of Frank Henenlotter. Basket Case 2 is not as original or as, ahem, believable as the original but it isn't without its own charm. In fact the ending is a nod towards the 1932 classic Freaks, which is funny as I?ve always thought of Henenlotter as being a… More
Another great slice of Frank Henenlotter. Basket Case 2 is not as original or as, ahem, believable as the original but it isn't without its own charm. In fact the ending is a nod towards the 1932 classic Freaks, which is funny as I?ve always thought of Henenlotter as being a cross between Tod Browning and Roger Corman, stuck in the neon of the 80's. I guess that's why I love his films so much!
Dr Blood

This is even worse than the first "Basket Case". Slow, dull and not at all what you'd expect from a horror film. I don't understand the appeal of something like this to anyone. Some kind of rubber monster in a basket is just not scary.
Cassandra M

Good sequel, but not that great
Matthew Y

Everything that made the original film a minor Horror classic is completely gone in this unnecessary and unwanted "straight-to-video" quality sequel surprisingly directed and written by the same cult director. The graphic unflinching nature of the violence, the poetic… More
Everything that made the original film a minor Horror classic is completely gone in this unnecessary and unwanted "straight-to-video" quality sequel surprisingly directed and written by the same cult director. The graphic unflinching nature of the violence, the poetic subtlety of the prosthetic and make-up work is replaced by typical cut-scenes and lighting effects (or as I like to call it the lazy-mans kill sequence) and a preposterous amount of latex and rubber masks for the many many unrealistic looking freaks. Did the deformities really have to be this outragious?! It doesn't help matters that the story sucks too. One incredibly campy and incredibly unnerving sex sequence is the only thing to write home about.
Ed Fucking H

After really enjoying Frankenhooker I thought I'd give the Basketcase trilogy another shot, and have to say my main complaints about the first one carry right over to this one. It's too silly to really be scary, but not funny enough to truly carry itself based soley on… More
After really enjoying Frankenhooker I thought I'd give the Basketcase trilogy another shot, and have to say my main complaints about the first one carry right over to this one. It's too silly to really be scary, but not funny enough to truly carry itself based soley on it's humour. Not to say there isn't funny portions here and there. The Opera singing freak was funny. So was the scene where the freaks arbitrarily where masks to "hide" their deformities and the stupid cop actually falls for it. And the sex scene between Blial and his lady friend were funny too I suppose. But a couple laughs isn't enough to raise this beyond the level of mediocrity I still associate this series with. It's not that I don't like these movies, I just don't think their great. Good for a couple laughs I suppose, but not funny enough to demand repeat viewings. Ah well, now I guess I HAVE to watch Basketcase 3 at some point. Won't be in a rush, but will get around to it eventually.
Marcus W

In which the brothers find themselves in a sanctuary for freaks. Belial falls in love, while Duane goes insane.
John M

"Basket Case 2" is a decent sequel to the 80's cult classic with less gore but with a significant improvement in special effects and technical aspects due to the success of the micro low budget first part estimated by that time in $35,000. Thought this sequels seems… More
"Basket Case 2" is a decent sequel to the 80's cult classic with less gore but with a significant improvement in special effects and technical aspects due to the success of the micro low budget first part estimated by that time in $35,000. Thought this sequels seems unneeded; it is a pretty entertaining which starts where the original end and keep the pace and the continuity of the story till the end.
Patrick D

The first was a classic, but Henenlotter takes the second to another level. I mean where else are you gonna go? Belisle (sp?) also looks a hell of alot better.
Barry L

Im sorry buyt I really loved basket case. I was young and reckless but you know how it is....Quality trash movie of the eighties.
Anthony V

Not quite as good as the original, but the mixture of horror and humor does occasionally work.
Leo L

excellent