Wrong Turn 2

For my first review I will talk about Wrong Turn 2. I first saw it when it first came out and for whatever reason didn't think much on it. But after watching Friday The 13Th 4 which has a commentary from Wrong Turn 2's director Joe Lynch and Hatchets director Adam Green, they're enthusiasm and general knowledge of horror, how could such a cool guy make a bad movie. So I decided to re watch WT 2 with my roommate and I am glad I decided to revisit it.

Wrong Turn 2 is a sequel to the original Wrong Turn staring Desmond Harrington and Eliza Dushku. A Deliverance type of film in the backwoods, where attractive people are attacked and eaten by cannibalistic hillbilly's. These hillbilly's are also mutants. Part Two has no returning characters to speak of and is it own beast.

This time a reality t.v. show based on surviving the Apocalypse is being staged in the mutant cannibals wood. The cast is likable enough led by Henry Rollins and Blair Witch 2's Erica Leerhsen, who was also in the redux of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.Rollins is a former and the shows host while the latter is a contestant. In the opening minutes we are treated a great and grisly opening followed by a show of horror that pulls no punches.

Granted when watching it, you realise Lynch truly is a child of 80's Horror. It is all slightly over the top but only in gratifying ways where he wants make the audience cheer and sometime squirm with delight.The characters are likable enough where you do feel bad when the mayhem and carnage is perpetrated on them. Its a clever balance of wanting the characters to get away but at the same time getting the bloody pay off you pay your money for you.

As far as being the director's freshman project everything is shot with enthusiasm and it looks great with no small help from DP Robin Loewin and the make-up effects of Optic Nerve Studios. His enthusiastic direction also shows in the performance of the actors.

In the end I really feel it is a love letter to the Splatter movies he and so many of us have grown up on. He knows his stuff when it comes to horror whether making movies or discussing them. The only things I'm left wondering about it 1.Why it was dumped to Direct to Dvd and 2. Why Mr.Lynch does not already have another movie out.

Good news on the latter, he has started Production on his next feature called Knights Of Badassdom, staring Summer Glau and Ryan Kwanten. I cant wait to see what he does with a original project.