It’s not exactly a secret that I just didn’t think much of Aaron Koontz’s 2019 horror comedy anthology “Scare Package.” Despite its best intentions and love for the genre, as a horror anthology I just wanted something new and just more. The horror anthology is a difficult platform for a lot of filmmakers, and “Scare Package II” doesn’t re-invent the wheel at any turn. As a horror comedy that spoofs “Saw” (and a slew of other horror movies) wholesale, it’s a solid film. As an anthology, the wrap around narrative does little to compliment the four mixed bag horror segments.
Following the events of the original “Scare Package,” characters from the original are at the funeral of “Rad” Chad Buckley, who was previously murdered. Gassed, the mourners wake up chained in an isolated room and learn about Chad’s insistence on the group playing his twisted games (and orgy of horror movie references), delivered via a short film that contains clues about their lethal predicament. Now through his monitor he forces them to play his games, and forces them to watch the four segments.
The weakest of the bunch is sadly Alexandra Barreto’s “Welcome to the ‘90s,” set on Opposite Day in a slasher movie. Tony (Joshua Miller), the killer in a baby mask, is on the hunt…but this time he’s hunting final girls only, and ignoring the “Sure to Die” party house entirely. It’s an upside down meta-parody and it lands pretty much with a thud. Despite the solid acting from the cast, the whole gimmick is downright forced. There’s a funny reference to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” at the very least. Anthony Cousins’ “The Night He Came Back Again Part VI: The Night She Came Back” returns to the old killing grounds to face an invincible killing machine. This time, though, there’s a twist, as the Daisy, sister of the masked killer learns of a secret about her family and herself from the Loomis-like Doctor Castle.
As her brother Will begins wreaking havoc again, Daisy decides to fight back using her one big advantage. I dug the twist in this short, as well as the fun mangled body effects. Jed Shepherd’s “Special Edition” is a take on “The Ring” in which a group of girls inspect a Laser Disc of a classic movie to look for an alleged ghost caught on screen. A callback to the “Three Men and a Baby” urban legend, “Special Edition” is a neat albeit short segment with a very cool monster, that also shows a ton of love for the whole urban legend mythology of film. “We’re So Dead” is a fun “Stand By Me” spoof that tells the story of a group of young boys that stumble upon a dead body after a long trek across country.
But things don’t quite go their way as body parts begin to fly. Rachele Wiggins’ segment is a neat throwback to “Re-Animator” and “The Fly,” all things considered and I dug the final shot. I admit that I liked the wrap around story so much more than the various segments, and as one that loves a good Easter Egg hunt, “Scare Package II” is teeming with horror movie references from “Dream Warriors,” and “Hellraiser II” to “The Fly” and even “The Wicker Man” remake. I also appreciated the neat cameo from Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy the Mail Girl included. Despite the terribly uneven pacing, and its adherence to horror comedy, “Scare Package II” is an okay diversion;
Streaming Exclusively on Shudder.