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57%
Overall Rating
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Ranked #7,797
...out of 20,869 movies
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Three tales of terror: in "The Graveyard Rats" lovers murder the woman's older husband and encounter horror when they attempt to rob his grave; "Bobby" is the story of a woman who summons her son back from the dead; and in "He Who Kills" an African doll goes on a murderous rampage.
--TMDb
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The original film was released in 1975, and 21-years later, the sequel hit cable -- the USA Network to be precise. Karen Black was dumped in favor of actress Lysette Anthony, and this really is the only thing worth a damn that she's ever done. Had they chosen a stronger actress, the film might have worked better. But, there are some moments of "Trilogy of Terror II" that work. In 1996, they could get away with a lot more on cable than they could on regular television in 1975. So, the fright level is amped up more, though it does rarely connect.
THE GRAVEYARD RATS
Lysette Anthony stars as Laura, who is having an affair with Ben (Geraint Davies) behind the back of her elderly and very wealthy husband. Laura and Ben eventually conspire to have Ansford, her husband, killed and they eventually succeed, with the hopes of taking his inheritance. However, Ansford has had his money transferred to a Swiss bank account and the combination to retrieve the money was buried with him. Laura and Ben make a trip to the graveyard to dig it up, but discover a horde of bloodthirsty rats that live below the soil and feast on the remains of those put into it, and even those who attempt to violate their graveyard.
BOBBY
This is probably my favorite short of the entire franchise. Lysette Anthony stars as Alma, whose son Bobby (Blake Heron) drowned, his death ruining her life. She performs a dark and sinister ritual that is supposed to bring Bobby back from the dead. At first, she thinks it has failed. Soon, though, she hears a knock at her door, and when she answers, she sees her son standing before her. At first, everything seems normal and she thinks her prayers have been answered and the ritual worked. Soon, however, she realizes that it's not the same Bobby that she knew -- this ones angry and vicious and out for something more than motherly love.
HE WHO KILLS
The Zuni fetish doll is back! This picks up right after the events of the first film, when the doll is dropped off to Dr. Simpson (Lysette Anthony), who is supposed to examine it. Of course, the doll returns to his killing spree, but has a lot more freedom to cause havoc in 1996 than he did in 1975. Ah, thank God for censorship!
On the whole, the sequel probably works better than the original because it seems more fresh. "The Graveyard Rats" is an interesting enough story, though it's really a rip-off of "Graveyard Shift" by Stephen King. It has some nice moments and creature effects. "Bobby" is very well done and my favorite of the whole franchise, and features Lysette Anthony's best performance. This one really worked well. "He Who Kills" is a nice addition to the Zuni fetish doll tradition and keeps that whole thing going, but Lysette Anthony is very bad in this one and overacts worse than Karen Black, if you can believe such a thing.
Bottom line: this sequel is probably better than the original, but only because they could get away with more and it seems like everyone's having a bit more fun with the goofiness of the material. I would recommend you see this one over the original, and it does stand on its own, so that's good.
7/10.
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#1:
Griffinheart
- added October 23, 2007 at 11:58pm
Does that doll on the cover remind anyone else of
a Critter?
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#2:
Crispy
- added October 24, 2007 at 12:50am
No it doesn't. Why are you on such a Critter kick
all of a sudden.
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#3:
Griffinheart
- added October 24, 2007 at 1:47am
Just bought and watched Critters. Does two
comments a kick make?
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#4:
Crispy
- added October 24, 2007 at 1:54am
At this time of night: Yes, yes it does. ;)
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#5:
Ginose
- added October 24, 2007 at 2:12am
Indeed it does, but I will say, on the "TOT 2"
cover, Zuni does look a bit like a crite.
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#6:
Crispy
- added October 24, 2007 at 2:22am
Meh, maybe the mouth...? Nah, I really can't see
I'm buying it.
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#7:
Griffinheart
- added October 24, 2007 at 2:51am
It's the eyes as well as the mouth. Perhaps a
partially shaven/balding crite?
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