I think we can all say a sequel to the 1984 slasher The Mutilator may not have been on our bingo cards 12 months ago, but here we are.
Original director Bud Cooper is back in the directing chair for this meta-sequel to his only other directing gig, 40 years ago. While there is definitely some ring rust in terms of the filming style, this is a gory slasher that will win over the audience its going for.
Anyone after something deep and meaningful, with outlandish themes best stick to A24 as Mutilator 2 is here for the gore and boy does it bring it buckets.
Cooper has invited the original cast back to the 1984 filming location, to attend the wrap party for a remake to his film. Unless you are a super fan of the original, it may be difficult to fully remember all of this cast, but they all do a solid nostalgic job.
Sadly, we don’t get a cover or throwback to Fall Break, but having said that, given the themes of the sequel it wouldn’t fully fit other than for a cheap nostalgia pop.
The newer cast, playing and filming the remake is slightly hollow but that doesn’t count for much, especially in the final half-hour when the blood really starts to spill.
At times Mutilator 2 does play like a black comedy, poking fun at slashers and the genre in general, but its clear that everyone here is in on the joke. Genre mainstay Damian Maffei turns up as a cop, investigating a possible murder on the set, and you can tell he’s happy to go along with the absurdity of the plot because this isn’t meant to be a serious horror film.
Our killer gets creative with fish hooks, harpoon guns, swordfish ornaments and plenty more weapons, with a real commitment to practical effects. Unless it’s well disguised, I couldn’t detect any CGI with these set pieces.
Mutilator 2 is a love letter to slasher loyalists, and as long as you can get through some lulls in proceedings the kills are definitely worth it.
Look out for more news on the release of Mutilator 2 soon.
Bloody Flicks 