[Wrong Turn 2:Dead End]
Plot:Dale Murphy is hosting and producing his own reality T.V show called "Apocalypse:The Ultimate Survivalist," with six contestants who'll be thrown together for six days in a simulated post-apocalypstic wasteland. Located in a remote part of West Virginia, the contestants discover that they really are fighting for their survival against a family of hideously deformed inbred cannibals who plan to ruthlessly butcher them all.

Cast: Crystal Lowe, Henry Rollins, Texas Battle, Ken Krizinger, Erica Leehrsen, Aleksa Palladino, Matthew Currie Holmes, Steve Braun.

My Thoughts:Reality show in the woods of West Virginia = Bad idea.

Review:So after 4 years have gone by, 20th Century Fox finally decided to put out a sequel to that semi-cult slasher flick "Wrong Turn", which had a hot young cast of up and comers battling a trio of redneck cannibals in the woods of West Virginia. Not at their behest though, pretty much a situation that they were thrust into. After Jessie and Chris from that film escaped with their lives, now a whole new group of young people find themselves in those same ole' woods.

Only this time not as unwilling guests, but as participants in a survivor-styled reality show that's sort of like "Survivor" meets "Celebrity Boot Camp", and is hosted by one Dale Murphy, played by Henry Rollins, and the gist of the show is for the participants to survive a simulated apocalypse and come away with 100 grand. Of course the films opening scene clearly points out that there's more for the contestants to be worried about than just winning the 100 thousand dollar prize that's up for grabs, something our "gamers" find out soon enough. The thing to like most about "Wrong Turn 2" is it doesn't try to be anything it's not.

It plays very well off of the first film, and doesn't stray from the bloodshed, carnage, and limb-ripping mayhem that "Wrong Turn" splashed all over the big screen. And the movies opening scene which involves Kimberly Caldwell playing herself, does an excellent job of setting the tone for what comes after. The script is very well written, as are the characters in the movie. Erica Leerhsen as Nina and Texas Battle as Jake being the two characters with the most depth. That's one of the films strong points, which can be traced back to the first movie. This sequel, much like it's predecessor, has a chart of characters which starts at "more than one dimensional", and then works it's way down to "somewhere in between", and finally...."fodder characters".

There's really a nice blend of characters in this movie, which make the viewing experience alot more fun because there's a clear variety, and not everyone is a one-dimensional player just waiting to be sliced and diced. Not to mention close to 90% of the films characters are likeable so you kind of fele for them when their "time" comes. To top it all off, we get the heroic character who takes it upon themselves to save those who are left when the shit hits the fan, and deaths which are not only shocking in their brutality, but also in their order. This is one of the few slasher films where just as it's set up storywise for a particular character to emerge later on as a survivor, that character gets taken out.

A nice dose of variety and misdirection by writers Al Septien and Turi Meyer. "Wrong Turn 2" doesn't just spend it's time on bloodshed and chaos though, although there's plenty of that. It also fills in alot of the question gaps many people had after part 1. Such as the origins of the mutant-inbreds, their "breeding practices" (some of the films grossest scenes come here), and the motives of that pepto-bismol-guzzling gas station attendant from part 1. The inbreds, speaking of which, are alot more vicious this time around, and are led by a familiar face in the lone survivor of "Wrong Turn"...three-finger.

Their numbers are also alot larger, and these members of the clan are just as determined if not more than the trio from part 1, but more inclined to trap and surprise-attack their prey as opposed to the upfront style of the first films villains. Altohugh they do take the upfront attack approach from time to time. This film will certainly give blood and gorehounds all they can handle of the gory and gooey stuff, as we get limb-eating, limb-slicing, people shot with things, axes to the head, numerous stabbings, and even a complete body split. I dare to say that this film had alot more violence than "Wrong Turn" now that I think about it.

The films final act contains it's most intense moments as the numbers of the contestants thin out considerably, the villains begin to close in on their pray, looking to seal their fates, and alot of heroism comes into play. "Wrong Turn 2:Dead End" is a rareity in the horror genre, a sequel that lives up to what came before it, and in some ways surpasses it. A direct to dvd sequel which does all of this nonetheless. It's definitely a trip into the wilderness that all horror fans should enjoy.

Positives:Likeable characters for the most part, gruesome deaths, decent performances, and some nice music.

Negatives:There was one character who gets "whacked" that I felt deserved to live.

Overall:Excellent followup film.





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