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CRAZY FAT ETHEL 2(1987)
(Directed by Nick Millard)
Plot: Everyone’s favorite obese killer Ethel is released from the insane asylum again and placed into a half way home. But soon people start getting in the way of her food, and she starts killing them again. At least this is a subplot, the main plot is just visions of the last movie.
Review:
“Crazy Fat Ethel 2” is also known as “Criminally Insane 2”, so naturally, is a sequel to that. I’m calling it “Crazy Fat Ethel 2” because…..I think it’s a much better title. Even though my rating wasn’t very positive, I actually think “Criminally Insane” was an accomplished little slasher. Unfortunately for this sequel, no one even tried.
I watched an interview on the DVD where the director(Millard) talks about what he attempted to accomplish with the first film. He seemed to know what he was talking about, as he stresses that the locations are always important. He stressed the use of shadows, and mixed in with the actual movie, came across as someone who knew how to direct horror. So what happened here? It’s shot on video, and looks like he just bought the cheapest kind for this movie. It simply looks bad, and the audio is often muddled as well. Oddly, he mentions this a few times in the interview, but never goes into detail on the production.
Millard doesn’t even bother trying to fix the crappy look. He directs as if he simply wants to get done. Even Bruno Mattei tried harder than this and his repertoire was getting done with production ASAP! The films mistakes are also ridiculous(when the half way home owner picks up the phone, it’s unplugged) and no one seemed to bother choreographing this. When Ethel starts chasing this guy, he doesn’t seem like he wants to run. It looks like a light jog! Seriously, this woman clearly isn’t going to be able to run that fast! You could easily get away!
The movie even tarnishes what the last one did right. The dialogue is straight up atrocious, occasionally being funny for all the wrong reasons. The acting somehow manages to be worse. Does any of these supporting actors have any talent? Priscilla Allen(Ethel) does okay with what she has to do, but even she can’t save this drivel. Everyone else sucks, no exceptions. Speaking of Ethel, she’s become a cackling cartoon. She’s just no longer scary. The other characters vary from bland(the home owner), to stupid(the spider guy), to wasted potential(another crazy who is much smarter than Ethel). Was there even a score for this dreck? Well, there is one in the stock footage……
Then we have the final nail in the coffin: The stock footage. Oy, most of this movie is flashbacks of the last movie. Now this REALLY pisses me off. It’s one thing to make a bad movie, but when you simply use clips from other movies, you’re cheating your audience. To me, that’s the most unforgivable sin a movie can make. Most of this movie is Ethel remembering the events of the last movie, Ethel eating, characters walking around doing mundane things, more flashbacks, more eating, and finally a boring kill. Yes, above all, this movie is very sleep inducing. You know, maybe I shouldn’t bitch about the stock footage, because watching “Criminally Insane” again is better than the actual 20 minutes of film they got here….
Does the movie do anything right? Well, the blood looks more realistic this time around. Unfortunately, that’s it.
Violence: There are a few new kills that are okay, as well as the kills from the last movie, but nothing to jump up over.
Nudity: None.
Overall: “Crazy Fat Ethel 2” is embarrassing. Compared to this, the first movie was a great accomplishment in cinema. It just goes to show that even though critics hate some of the more popular slashers, they have not seen this kind of dreck. Millard, you’ve betrayed us viewers and I have lost all respect for you.
ZERO/4 Stars
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