Director(s): Various
Writer(s): Various
Starring: Various
Release Date: October 31, 2014
Plot: Be ready to learn your ABC's again with 26 new directors and 26 new deaths bring your kids to a blood and gore filled horror so good your face will be blood red.
ABC's of Death 2 was a fun and entertaining ride that filled the screens with gore, blood, horror, strangeness and the occasional laugh. This time we were given 26 new letters by 26 new directors and, for the most part, they all do a successful job. Of course, there are a few that were at times completely dull and uninteresting. Overall, they all seemed to be of the same standard and that isn't necessarily a good thing. All the shorts were interesting, but they tend to keep this consistent quality that made for 26 unmemorable and in some cases lackluster films. Right after I watched the film in it's entirety I almost completely forgot what I had just saw on screen – with the exception of a few great shorts. Which was unlike the first. While it did have several uninspired and boring films. The ones that did stand out did so for a reason.
I wasn't entirely sure on how to go about reviewing this. So, I thought I'd pick three of my favorite films and talk about those. The three that I am choosing are ones that stood out immediately both during and after the film. These three had the ability to hold me interest and offered riveting tales of horror.
“D is for Deloused”
Delouse
Verb; To rid(a person or an animal) of lice by physical or chemical means. (I had to look this one up)
This short is from the insane mind of Robert Morgan who also made “Bobby Yeah.” The segment is a nightmarish and choppy claymation film about a cockroach(esque) bug that has the ability to regenerate the dead as it feasts on its body. After being stepped on, the bug resurrects as an even bigger bug. Which then begins munching away at a body that was part of some weird scientific experiment. Then that same body is formed into some kind of clone. In its new body the clone seeks out the experimenters to get revenge. The narrative was a bit unclear, but was one the more atmospheric films.It was a viscera filled blood bath that was more disturbing and petrifying than all the other 26 films. It's choppy style only added to the discomforting tone. It was really hard to wrap my head around this one. I just could not look past the absurdity that plastered the screen.
The bold and prominent shades of color were fantastic. It was only filled with dark reds and blues, but still felt like it was sculpted with a plethora of color. The overall style had me sold from the beginning. It was an insanely disturbing piece that can only be deemed a work of art. Art that is absolutely unsettling, but a work of art nonetheless.
And, it is a rare treat when animation has the ability to get this far under your skin. I'm not entirely sure how, but Morgan hit it right on the head. This is definitely a film that we should continue to examine and take notes from.
“R is for Roulette”This film is great. It is a gritty black and white period peace that gives a game of death life. The genuine authenticity that this film strives for is awe-inspiring.
The story revolves around a game of Russian Roulette being played by German soldiers – 2 male and 1 female. One of the soldiers and the female are romantically involved. This makes the film not only intense, but heartbreaking as well. Not to mention that they are playing in a barricaded basement. Hiding from something that is apparently far worse than the game. Zombies? Mutants? Infected? Who knows, but whatever they are hiding from has allowed them to find solace within a gun.
This short was a fresh take on an apocalyptic (sort of) story. The direction was fantastic and was a film that immediately stood out from all the rest. It was an enthralling narrative that forced the viewer to hold their breath from beginning to end. It was one of the very few films that got me to ask for more. Director Marvin Kren definitely was the light at the end of the tunnel and I hope to see more films from him.
“W is for Wish”
Probably one of the silliest and most badass shorts that the film had to offer.
Two kids, who after playing with their action figures, make a wish that demands they be apart of the world that their favorite heroes lived in. Unfortunately, what they got wasn't exactly what they were expecting. Instead of the glory they prepared for, they were thrown into what looked like an 80's toy commercial. Which had been taken over by the villain, Zorb. What started out as fun-loving infomercial quickly transforms into an orgy of lasers, gore, and death.
The short was completely goofy and forced more laughs than anything else. Yet those two things called for a badass short. It made absolutely no sense and I believe it was made for the sake of being weird. But, I see some beauty in that. This was an unabashed story that wasn't offering any apologies. Instead, it gave you what it wanted to give you and that made it ten times better. Its cheesy overtones and apparent 80's influenced style strung together to give us a film that was fun and cringe-worthy. Watching this slapped me with nostalgia and made me smile that there are some people who still love the style of the 80's horror film. I really hope see a lot more of that in the future.
ABC's of Death 2 did produce several successful shorts. Yet that wasn't enough to make up for the other half that tend to drag on and wander aimlessly through clouds of confusion. Like any anthology this one had its hits and misses, but even those that were hit offered nothing of value. The content was there. It just wasn't strong enough to be memorable or all that interesting. With that said, I still can and will proudly add ABC's of Death 2 into my list of favorite horror anthology films. So, pick it up and have fun with it. I'm sure you'll find something you like. \
Honorable Mentions:
H is for Head Games
M is for Masticate
N is for Nexus
V is for Vaction
Z is for Zygote
3/5 Tonies
Written by Anthony Centeno
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