D: Frank Henenlotter. Kevin Van Hentenryck, Annie Ross, Kathryn
Meisle, Heather Rattray, Jason Evers, Ted Sorel. 1990. Shapiro
Glickenhaus Home Video. Rated R.

There's just something about a good old fashioned carnival, you know?
It's carnival season here in my hometown now, and the whole county is
buzzing with the promise of the rides, the games, and, of course, the
side shows. I've never been much for side shows, myself. I think it's
a real shame when people are treated like freaks of nature just because
they were born a little different from everybody else. And considering how
many of my friends fit into that category, it's pretty amazing that I'm not
a freak show exhibit myself.

That being said, I have to admit that there are some times when it
might be a good idea to keep "freaks" behind bars. A good example
would be Belial, of the Basket Case trilogy. Separated from his Siamese
twin, Duane, at a very young age, Belial is a misfit in both appearance
and temperament: that is, Belial is deformed and he likes to kill people.
After surviving an attempted suicide/murder by brother Duane (he jumped off
a building with Belial), Belial takes control of Duane's mind to
escape from the hospital where he is imprisoned. He kills the rent-a-
cop at the door and Duane stumbles off on a broken leg with Belial
tucked under his arm.
Outside the hospital, the brothers are rescued by noble souls Susan
and Grannie Ruth, who take them to live at their commune of, well,
freaks. Grannie Ruth loves her "children" dearly and protects them from
any perceived attack with any and all means. She makes the homicidal,
sociopathic Belial into a sort of holy executioner among the inhabitants
of her home, much to his pleasure, especially when he gets to wreak
his holy vengeance on just about anybody.

When a snoopy reporter comes to speak with the brothers, she meets
with deadly resistance, and what secret does Susan hide from her new
love, Duane? All these questions and more (although why anyone would
want to ask them, I certainly do not know) are answered in Basket
Case 2.

Body Count: 7. Rent-a-cop (throat crushed and perhaps torn out by
Belial, who is somehow able to cling to walls without the use of
arms or legs), Mr. Barker (torn apart by Belial as some sick form of
therapy), Arty the Photographer (torn apart by Belial to protect the
greater community of freaks), a bartender (in preparation for), Phil
the PI (never go into a bar full of freaks, especially if one of
them is Belial), Marcie Elliot, the snoopy reporter (twisted into
freakishness herself), and Susan (fortunately no relation to my wife,
pushed out a window by Duane).

Survivors who actually saw the monster: God save me from slasher
films with messages, but who, really is the monster here?

Classic Quote: A quote? From this piece of trash? I'd need a PhD in
Film Science.

Overall Rating: .5 Blood Purity. There's virtually no redeeming value
to this movie.

That's Basket Case 2. Until next time, this is Dannis Ken saying,
"So why did I watch it twice?"