Wrong Turn 2 Movie Review

Bad horror movies can be good. However, horror sequels tend to be just plain bad and Wrong Turn 2 is no exception. From the opening sequence, we can tell that this is going to be a very long 93 minutes. It’s mostly the acting that throws off what should be a hook for the audience. Kimberly Caldwell’s performance provides no hope for the viewer that this might actually be an enjoyable horror film. Although watching her get chopped cleanly in half is rather hilarious because of the excessive unrealistic gore, this is not enough to save us from what follows.

In the same vein as other recent, horrendous horror sequels (The Hills Have Eyes 2), this film discredits and shames any merit that may be associated with the primary. Besides this film being heavily influenced by Wes Craven’s original The Hills Have Eyes, Wrong Turn 2 borrows from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and becomes a cheap imitation just like so many other horror films that focus more on gore rather than the horror. Granted, ridiculously gory films can be entertaining but that is only when that is their sole intention. This film tries to have some story and intense gore but loses itself and becomes a muddled piece of spat out Hollywood garbage.

It’s a shame that a story with such a decent premise, as far as horror goes, can go so hideously wrong. We have an inbred family of “hillbilly freaks” who use unsuspecting visitors for their twisted cannibalistic delight. Sounds fun. Even the much too obvious sequel plot of a reality show being shot out in no man’s land has its fit. The not so subtle parallel between the post apocalyptic show premise and the imminent real apocalypse provides, at the very least, a semi-interesting way to get the ball rolling. Unfortunately, the story quickly loses any audience draw and plays out as a story struggling to stay afloat.

The weak “industry” jargon and forced allusions to celebrities during the beginning slows down the pace and becomes a distraction when we should be the most engaged. It’s much too obvious and we’re left to wonder what an A-list actor would have said had he/she been forced to say such superfluous lines. Keep in mind, this is barely a half step into the first act. Already, there is inconsistency in tone. The opening had a humorous feel with the gore and familiar characters but then we switch gears as if someone said, “Okay, that was fun. Let’s try and make a real film now.” Trying to run after a shot in the foot never ends up well.

Besides the many obvious plot holes (Like: Why the entire complex setting of the reality game was setup without any interruption but as soon as it’s necessary, freaky cannibals show up for some fun. Maybe they just weren’t hungry yet), this film falls flat due to poor production quality (overused pans and revolving camera techniques; different visual feel than the predecessor) and, for lack of a better word, lame characters. Everyone is so stereotypically awful that we find ourselves rooting for them to be brutally murdered. Mara is the only person who there is a true sympathy for but that’s simply because she’s not an overdrawn pompous archetype. Plus, we don’t see that much of her so instead we’re stuck watching useless people run and perform unnecessary sexual acts that add absolutely nothing to the film. Not even shock value. I must say, fans of Henry Rollins will enjoy him in this film and find joy in seeing him fight his way through the lack of horror.

The story and writing of this film live up to the current idea that good horror has disappeared. With weak plants and payoffs, overly predictable twists (if we can call them that), and a forced backstory that adds a few minutes too many, Wrong Turn 2 fails to live up to the original. The forced ending and explanations by the grandfather try to say too much and ultimately fail at trying to paint these disgruntled freaks with a humanistic and understandable touch.

The DVD Extras are meager: an expected commentary with creators and cast, Making Gore Look Good (a behind-the-scenes look at gore effects), and a theatrical trailer. Making Gore Look Good was the only interesting extra and offers some insight on what goes into make people blow up, get shot, etc. To be perfectly honest, this special feature was more enjoyable than the film itself.