{"id":30112,"date":"2019-01-10T00:02:32","date_gmt":"2019-01-10T05:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=30112"},"modified":"2019-01-10T00:11:53","modified_gmt":"2019-01-10T05:11:53","slug":"silent-night-deadly-night-2-1987-collectors-edition-blu-ray","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/10\/silent-night-deadly-night-2-1987-collectors-edition-blu-ray\/","title":{"rendered":"Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 (1987): Collector\u2019s Edition [Blu-Ray]"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>According to sources, Lee Harry\u2019s \u201cSilent Night Deadly Night 2\u201d was given a horrible budget, and was asked to re-cut the original film to make it look brand new. What we get is basically a barebones plot about the brother of the original murderer\u2026 for about thirty minutes or so. About seventy five percent of the film is a highlight reel from the original film with everything from the origin of the series, to every single murder that ensues, right down to Linnea Quigley\u2019s famous death. While that amounts to nothing, Eric Freeman works overtime to make this \u201csequel\u201d a worthwhile viewing experience, and he accomplishes that.<\/p>\n

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Years after Billy Caldwell went on a murder rampage, his little brother Ricky, who survived the night of his parents death also grew up to become a vicious psychopath. Now under the order of a mental asylum, on Christmas eve, a doctor tries to figure out how he descended in to murder and torture. Ricky recalls everything that happened to his brother inexplicably, and then tells us his story, which involves falling in love with a girl, and taking pleasure in murdering people he deems sinners, punishing them with the severe of deaths he can chalk up.<\/p>\n

\u201cSilent Night Deadly Night 2\u201d skates by on the fact that Eric Freeman\u2019s performance is so over the top it becomes gradually entertaining. The moment he\u2019s on screen, he can barely deliver a line of dialogue without looking like a cartoon, but it\u2019s invariably becomes charming. Freeman hits every bit of dialogue like William Shatner, and he\u2019s a lot of fun to watch. It\u2019s a big task that director Lee Harry asks of star Freeman who has to recall everything we\u2019ve already seen from the original film with some sense of excitement. Once you figure out the movie is just a clip show for the original movie, it gets boring very quickly, but Freeman has a good time, nonetheless. A lot of the film\u2019s fun is also pointing out how hopelessly silly and low budget the premise is.<\/p>\n

How can Billy recall every single murder his brother took part in, beat for beat, when he was never even there with him during those moments? And what exactly was the doctor hoping to accomplish by interviewing Billy? You have to appreciate the big gun massacre where Ricky has a good time offing random passersby, as well as his murder of a theater patron in the middle of what looks like an office dressed to look like a small theater. Once we finally do get to Ricky\u2019s own killing spree, it\u2019s more dark comedy you can\u2019t help but laugh at, as he has a showdown with a nun in a wheelchair. Despite the director\u2019s best efforts he can\u2019t derive too much tension from the confrontation, but again, star Freeman sells the experience with as much enthusiasm as is possible. \u201cSilent Night Deadly Night 2\u201d is terrible, but I get why it\u2019s a cult classic, so I can\u2019t hate it too much, in the end.<\/p>\n

The new edition from Shout! Factory features an audio commentary with director Lee Harry, and actors Eric Freeman and James Newman. There\u2019s also an audio commentary by co-writer\/director Lee Harry, co-writer Joseph H Earle and actor James Newman. \u201cSlay Bells Ring Again: The Story Of Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2\u201d is an exhaustive seventy five minute documentary produced by Justin Beahm\u2019s Reverend Entertainment. Included are extensive interviews with with co-writer\/director Lee Harry, actors Eric Freeman, James Newman, Elizabeth Kaitan, Darrel Guilbeau, Kenny McCabe and makeup effects artist Christopher Biggs.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a very detailed and lengthy exploration of the film\u2019s production, behind the scenes photos, and some very detailed accounts of working on set. \u201cI Don\u2019t Sleep\u201d is an hour long interview with makeup effects artist Christopher Biggs, who discusses how he got his start, and discussing his career film by film. There are also behind the scenes test photos and looks at effects. \u201cGarbage Days Are Here Again\u201d is a nineteen minute segment revisiting the various locations of the film from Southern California where it was shot. Star Eric Freeman joins the trip to provide some insight. There\u2019s the eight minute \u201cRicky Today Short Film\u201d directed by Justin Beahm and written by Eric Freeman. Finally there\u2019s the original theatrical trailer, and the trailer for \u201cFinding Freeman,\u201d an up coming documentary about actor Eric Freeman.<\/p>\n