Customer Reviews

Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I saw the original PUMPKINHEAD years ago, but with the advance of arcus senilis, I can't remember too much about it, other than I thought it was good. Hence, PUMPKINHEAD 2 isn't as bad for me as other reviewers since the first wasn't fresh in my mind. With that said, though, I admit the acting was pretty bad, particularly with Linnea Quigley, Steve Kanaly (Dallas), Roger Clinton (the hairy mayor?), and J. Trevor Howard (the villainous Danny). You can telegraph every death, but the effects are allright, if you keep your expectations at a lower level. The monster itself looked good sometimes, and bad at others. However, I've seen worse (for instance, TAIL STING..Now THERE'S A HORRORBLE MOVIE!!). Anyway, rent it sometime, but don't spend money on it.

Okay let me set a few things straight to clear some confusion. 1: Pumpkinhead in this film has no connection to the first film. (which by far was superior to this weak attempt of a sequel.) This is not Ed Harley nor his son come back from the dead as some seem to think in other reviews. And in some ways it is an expansion on the legend. Hence my 1 star rating. The first film was dark and rich in the flavor of the demon being a relentless killer. This should really be dubbed a prequel. It supposedly is the creature Ed Harley digs up but if one crunches those numbers it doesn't exactly add up. Now on to the things that really disappointed me about this film.

I was blown away by Pumpkinhead. Being a long time fan of Mr. Winston's works behind and in front of the camera. Stan Winston's Pumpkinhead was a work of genius that should have been revisted yes but, not by someone of far less caliber of the original creator. Pumpkinhead of the first film seemed so lifelike and down right nasty in manner and appearence was do to Stan's amazing animatronic demon. PH2 is badly noticeble as a man in rubber suit job.

The story was great (the background story not the ill handled plot) it added more to the legend when the research into the myth went on. The story of the myth itself was great but the story placed around it as the outer shell and ultimately lacking movie. It was made to obviously splash gore and sex into the film. The first left these elements out and stuck close to some of the old school formulas of horror. PH2 goes clearly for the 90's and mid 80's belief which still holds true to todays horror films I might add that sex and gore are the big draws to horror. Which in this reviewers mind can actually be a draw back to horror films. One scene with yes, that was the scream queen in this drivel of a sequel humping with a victim in a scene so badly thrown in just for the sake of having such a scene in this film.

This follow up is a huge let down in many ways. It isn't even so bad it's good. I've seen movies so badly thrown together that they are worth watching to pick on but this one isn't such a film. The only redeeming quality is the deeper exploration of the Pumpkinhead lore.

I advise watching Stan Winston's Pumpkinhead. This badly thrown together expansion is worth a watch for the moments we get a further peek into the demon's legend. As other viewers of this film put it: Pumpkinhead as mortal is a let down. The bad effects are a let down. The by far most heinous crime of this film would be the badly slapped together plot and acting and even directing of this movie. The only reason I will add this film to my collection is the fact that in all I am a Pumpkinhead fan and would ike to own it for the fact that it is related to the more superb first film. I am distrubed that a great horror film was mocked by this sequel. Most who saw the two and had expected more of the second film because of the first know how I felt upon seeing this picture. I wish sometimes that I never discovered that Pumpkinhead was followed up. Laters- Ace

I should give this movie 2 stars, but it is not quite that bad, though it is bad enough. The original movie was imaginative and creative, but the sequel seems to fall into B-movie land without a look back. Worse, the legend of Pumpkinhead was rewritten, though it need not have been.

This movie stays solidly in horror movie cliché land from beginning to end. A group of teens torment a deformed little boy, eventually dropping the lad into a well. Years later another group of teens awaken the lad, only now he has turned into the evil Pumpkinhead. Murder and mayhem ensue.

The two big problems with this movie are that the basic plot shows little imagination and the acting is awful. Other than that, the movie is pretty good. Of course, the acting and the plot are the majority of a movie, and the special effects are nothing to write home about, so you have to start wondering whether two stars would have been a better choice. However, this movie is somewhat redeemed by a "boo" factor. Pumpkinhead appears (or throws bodies about) in a periodically scary way. Nothing like a monster jumping out from behind a building to give you a jump.

"Pumpkinhead 2" is not an awful movie. The movie does provide a few minor chills. However, the choice of the movie name is unfortunate. Other than the general appearance of the creature, reinventing the mythology is confusing for those of us that liked the first movie. Perhaps they should have called it "Pumpkinhead: Resurrection," and explained that Pumpkinhead creatures came from certain circumstances that are now repeating for the second time. Oh well. The movie is in the can and you have to either take it, warts and all, or pass it by. It's worth at least one watch if you are a diehard horror movie fan.

Note:may contain spoilers.

The original Pumpkinhead,although extremely underrated,is truly a ground-breaker in the horror genre and stays true to the genre (check my review).I was very excited about the sequel. I'm a HUGE fan of the original,so I just could not wait to see P2.I finally found a rental copy and P2 is quite disappointing compared to the brilliance and creativity of P1.However,the second time I watched it,it was actually quite enjoyable. The acting is pretty good (especially by Andrew Robinson) and it has a good story that's "refreshing" to P1.A tormented boy who's badly deformed and is killed by bullies,then returns as Pumpkinhead to exact his revenge.Very good. Pumpkinhead is still very scary and looks cool. The photography is very dark and adds plenty of suspense.The music is good and the film is overall quite entertaining.The ending is actually quite heartbreaking.Pumpkinhead is gunned to death just when he becomes good.I hate to admit it,but I actually cried when he died.You actually feel sympathy for him while he's on his rampage. P2 does have some flaws,though.The human characters are quite under-developed and the script is a bit weak (though the story is strong throughout).Some scenes are also very comedic (like when the present teens are together early in the film.)It turned me off,because P1 was very scary and suspenseful and P2,though scary in parts,is also a bit comedic is places,whereas P1 wasn't one bit funny.I sometimes felt myself not liking the film,but giving it a chance,it was fun to watch.Overall,P2 isn't nearly as entertaining as P1,nor scary,but I still liked it.I actually give it 3.5 stars (4 1/2),but I oddly don't have that option.Rent P2 to kill some time.Rated R for some violence and bad language.

An aggressively average horror film, mildly enjoyable but forgettable, its few smallish rises matched by some minor dips. What distinguishes Pumpkinhead 2 is its journeyman cast of minor "names." No real stars, just the B-list and Z-list. But ... so many of them!

Click any cast member at the Internet Movie Database and a ream of credits follow. Part of the fun of watching Pumpkinhead 2 is trying to remember where you've seen this or that familiar face before. I knew I'd recognized the sheriff from somewhere. Turns out he appeared in Hellraiser -- though I confess, I probably recognized him from the ABC soap, Ryan's Hope, which I watched for about a year in the 1970s.

Most of Pumpkinhead 2's cast has soap credits, daytime and nighttime. Dallas fans will recognize Steve Kanaly, who plays a corrupt judge in Pumpkinhead 2. Soleil Moon Frye ("Punky Brewster") is a surly teen. Roger Clinton (brother of Bill) has a few lines as the mayor. Z-starlet Linnea Quigley (whose minor cult following baffles me) has a few lines during her topless cameo.

Much of this "name cast" only has a few lines. Just enough to grant some bragging rights. The video box brags: "Featuring Cameos From Horror's Hottest Cult Faves! KANE HOLDER as Hockeymask in Friday The 13th Part VIII. R.A. MIHAILOFF as Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw Massacre III."

I didn't even know that Kane played "Hockeymask" in Friday The 13th Part VIII, much less that he was one of "Horror's Hottest Cult Faves!"

But, peruse this cast and you may discover some of your own personal favorites. Mine is Caren Kaye. Back when I was a teen in the 1970s, I'd predicted Kaye would soon be big. It was the Age Of Farrah, and Kaye had that layered blond "look." She appeared in several TV pilots but, defying all odds, they all flopped. Her longest regular gig (as best I recall) was on Celebrity Charades, a syndicated game show, sort of a cross between The Gong Show and The Hollywood Squares. That lasted a few months. Kaye was a recurring TV guest star in the 1980s (Fantasy Island, Love Boat, New Love American Style). She is probably best known as the "older woman" in My Tutor, although horror fans might know her from 1990's Satan's Princess.

But aside from its cast from Memory Lane, what's Pumpkinhead 2: Blood Wings about?

As the title implies, the film is an (unnecessary) sequel to the respectable but unremarkable Pumpkinhead (the object of another minor cult following that baffles me). Both films feature a demon named Pumpkinhead, the stuff of mountain lore (Appalachian, I suppose). If someone wrongs you, you can summon Pumpkinhead to take vengeance. But afterwards, Pumpkinhead goes on a killing spree, attacking innocents, and you'll be damned for eternity. Something like that.

The plot is jerrybuilt from the flotsam and jetsam of a hundred mediocre horror films. There is the shunned freak living in the woods. There are fratboy bullies. The "prank that goes wrong." The mountain witch in a cabin. The small town legend. The respectable town elders "with a dark secret in their past." The "bad girl" daughter who rebels against her straight-laced folks. The drunken teens. The sex in inappropriate public places. The redneck vigilantes in pickup trucks. And against this rustic tableau, there is Pumpkinhead, trouncing about and ripping off everyone's heads.

I'll give the film points for this: not all its gun-crazed redneck vigilantes are white. And director Jeff Burr does create a few nice visuals. Atmospheric sepia shots to evoke the 1950s. Colorfully glowing mist to convey demonic magic. The gore is generous and well-done. Pumpkinhead's hands and feet are stiff and rubbery, but one can live with it. Horror films have a long tradition of "rubber suit monsters."

More problematic is the witch's pointless makeup. One wonders ... why? I'm guessing Burr wanted the witch to appear old. Well, why not just cast an old woman? Maybe he did, but we can't see it. The actress playing the witch is heavily layered with "age makeup," making her indiscernible. Her face looks like a plaster mask. Maybe Burr wanted the witch to look really, really old. She doesn't. She looks really, really weird.

Pumpkinhead 2 is an enjoyable but unremarkable gorefest, as watchable as a hundred other horror films out there. And if you get bored between killings, there are plenty of minor "names" to keep you playing "Where have I seen him before?"

well the first one was better than this one and everything it was ok but i should have done something with the first one like continue the story not start a whole new one with the retarded kid who is pumpkinghead but it is a good story line for a starter movie not a sequel.

This film lacks all the nessesary sequel reqierments. First of all the original is not even mentioned. Pumpkinhead should have been the one Ed Harley turned into in the first one. The movie wasn't even made by MGM Studios. It just isn't worthy of the Pumpkinhead name.

I liked this continuation of the legend, though like the original, it has its flaws.

The story is about a crime that took place in the 1950's, and is only now being avenged. The demon is out to kill those who tortured and murdered a deformed man, and at the same time seeks to kill those resposible for the burning of the old woman who cared for him in life.

The sequel does a better job of using music and character development to create the proper atmosphere. In addition, the monster is a good deal more vicious and brutal in dealing with its victims.

Like the original, not a bad movie.

The original "Pumpkinhead" was a brilliant movie. This sequel is an insult to the original. The backwoods setting is moved to what looks like the suburbs and the kids all know where the withc lives!! Even in the original Ed Harley had to get help finding her. The plot is juvenile and the effects are nowhere near as creepy as the original. Don't even bother with this one, just watch the original again.

jeff burr has gotta be one of the most underated horror movie directors around. he also directed the EXCELLENT "night of the scarecrow". this movie was just as good. i last saw it about 2 years ago, so i can't remember every detail. the movie opens with an atmospheric flashback to the origins of the demon. flash forward to the present - a gang of teens are up to no good. the movie isn't as moody & evocative as the original but has a dark, eerie atmosphere of it's own. the creature effects are awesome & there's plenty of gore. i felt pretty emotional too near the end. check it out.