It’s a risky business making a sequel out of a genre-busting, fan-loving horror hit. Case in point is the belated follow-up to Eli Roth‘s flesh-eating gorefest, Cabin Fever.
Made five years after the original, shelved for three, and disowned by its director, you’d expect the worst from Cabin Fever 2. But when I sat down to watch the new Lionsgate DVD release, my reservations were soon forgotten.
From the outset – an incredible melting man (Rider Strong‘s Paul from the original) stumbles out onto a highway, gets splattered by a school bus, and all that’s left of him is a severed foot stuck in a tree – I knew I was going to be in for one helluva laughfest.
Welcome to Ti West‘s clever, comic horror that comes off like a live-action Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror episode – even the opening credits look like a nod to everyone’s favourite family.
At the local high school (it’s in a place called Springfield, no less) everyone is gearing up for the local prom. Meanwhile, the redneck cop cleaning up the mess back on the highway realises the flesh-eating virus released in the first film has made its way into the town’s water bottling plant. While the weedy cop tries to get out of town fast (he seems to have had a hand in the origins of the problem), the virus starts spreading – and soon puss and ooze is spurting everywhere.
With a big nod to films like Porky’s and Carrie – the climax is total homage – West weaves his unique talent with inspired camerawork, deep primary colours and a super soundtrack. The characters might be forgettable and the acting poor, but a perverse sense of humour shines through – a girl gives head with a dirty growth on her mouth; a janitor pisses blood into a punchbowl; while an Emo dude uses superglue to stick his severed penis back on. Sick? Yes! But a hoot, nonetheless.
Not since 1985′s Return of the Living Dead have a I enjoyed a horror sequel so much. And I for one can’t wait to see Ti West’s next project, The House of the Devil, a film he is very proud of unlike this one, in which he crafts a loving homage to the satanic horrors of the late-1970s. But until that release on 19 March, do give Cabin Fever 2 a try.
