Nearly 40 years after the release of their ground-breaking splatter film BLOOD FEAST, Herschell Gordon Lewis and producer David Friedman dissolved past differences and came together to produce this quasi-remake of their own cult-classic. Fuad Ramses III has returned to take over his grandfather's old catering business, but after becoming possessed by the ancient statue of Ishtar in the backroom, he sets off on a vicious murder spree to gather the necessary ingredients he will need in order to throw another Egyptian blood feast! Thanks to the advent of home video and unrated film releases in recent years, Lewis has been given a free pass to include as much mindless violence and gratuitous nudity that he can come up with. To say that he has outdone the original BLOOD FEAST in the sheer amount of gore would be a gross understatement. On top of a few familiar kills that have been carried over from the first film, the younger Fuad scoops out girls' eyeballs, removes their intestines, grinds their hands and arms into pate, scoops out their brains, and peels off their faces before things really start to get ugly! With the exception of FEAST, few films in recent years have even come close in the gore department. Not surprisingly, the unimaginable amount of splatter is the only thing worth noting in this otherwise mindless spoof. Lewis' directing style has hardly improved in the last three decades, and his choices for the new cast, while nice to look at, are beyond terrible. The one exception would be in the overstated performance by unknown J.P. Delahoussaye, who brings back much of the classic camp to the picture. John Waters also sneaks in a brief cameo as the pedophilic priest set to marry the unfortunate couple in the end. While much of the humor falls flat in this unintelligible remake, gore fans cannot afford to miss what could be H.G. Lewis' last gore opus!
Rating: 5/10.
Entertainment: 7/10.
Gore: 10/10.
If you liked BLOOD FEAST 2, check out:
TERROR AT BLOOD FART LAKE, FEAST, THE UH-OH SHOW!
As you know, Carl, I was really let-down by this movie. I can- and have- defend a lot of H.G. Lewis films, but not this one. It took you thirty-plus years to return to cinema and you chose this script? It would be like if James Cameron made 'Ghoulies V' instead of 'Avatar.'
ReplyDeleteWhat's worse is that he has yet to really put out a serious film since. He has some sort of new film out, but I'd hardly compare it.
Just make 'The Gore Gore Girls 2' and we'll all be happy. Well, everyone except Carl and anyone with good taste.
The first time I saw this it was the edited cut, which is absolutely the most worthless version of any film I have ever seen, since it literally removes all of the gore and much of the nudity. The unrated disc has so much god damned gore it is ridiculous, they are two entirely different films. This is by all means a horrible, horrible film, but most of Lewis' films are. For the gore alone, I still say this one is well worth the watch.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try to hit GGG and Wizard of Gore again soon, but I haaated GGG last time. Hoping to like it better this round. I'm actually really looking forward to his newest, The Uh-Oh Show, the trailer looks ridiculous so I'm in =D
I totally echo the sentiments expressed here. I think your description of this as 'mindless' is spot on Carl. I personally didnt feel any sense of being let down or disapponted, it was after all directed by H. G. Lewis (a very elqoquent and intelligent man) but utterly incompetent behind the camera. A showman and nothing else, Blood Feast 2 is barely watchable.
ReplyDeleteNever got around to this one. May have piqued my curiosity a bit, C-note. I'll be sure to avoid the sissy 'rated' version.
ReplyDeleteI still haven't bought this one. I passed after the many negative reviews of it. Actually, Lewis was hyping this thing as far back as the late 80's/early 90's. If I can find the Fango issue, he stated in an interview he wanted to direct the goriest movie ever and include a scene where he destroys a human body ie removing the skin from a victim still alive, etc.
ReplyDeleteJ. and V, at the very least it is time for a rent. The film is by all means terrible, but it gives Piranha 3-D a run for its money in the crazy amount of gore.
ReplyDeleteIt does do that, sure. You get to see more blood than in the entire film 'There Will Be Blood.'
ReplyDeleteI like the Blood trilogy and 2,000 Maniacs. Oddly, I've had nothing but disdain for all of the remakes (2001 Maniacs, The Wizard of Gore and this film). The originals weren't great, but they had their own merit to them. Those films...not so much.
You really should give The Gore Gore Girls another look, Carl. If you can approach it as an ironic horror film more than a straight one, you'll appreciate it more. I actually got more enjoyment out of my re-watching than I did the first time.
As far as The Wizard of Gore is, it's good for the blood, but not much else. They pretty much explain nothing in any real way.