‘Mutilator 2’ VOD Review (Amazon Prime)
Stars: Eva Hamilton, Marco Reese Maldonado, Mark Francis, Dan Grogan, Ruth Martinez, Bill Hitchcock, Carl J Grasso, Terry Kiser | Written and Directed by Buddy Cooper
Much like other slasher movies of the era, the original The Mutilator felt like a much bigger deal here in the UK – mainly due to this country’s ridiculous censorship at the time, when the BBFC were much harsher on genre fare because they stupidly believed people would be influenced by what they saw on the screen and needed to be babied by the state. That obviously meant slasher movies came under the knife… a lot. But that censorship created a “must-see” or “controversial” aura about those films that were cut, even when it was not justified!
Today’s climate is a LOT different. Films are still censored, but mainly to appeal to a younger audience rather than for any legitimate reason. And yes, some films have been banned over the years: Reality Killers, The Bunny Game and Nerdly’s own VOD release, Hate Crime; but most genre fare is dumped to digital WITHOUT a BBFC certificate. Mainly due to the fact that there is no legal requirement for films released solely online to be classified by the BBFC, and also because distributors often tend to release films worldwide, especially on larger platforms like Amazon Prime.
Which is where Mutilator 2 recently appeared, without fanfare, right here in the UK.
Written (with NUMEROUS “additional writing by” credits) and directed by Buddy Cooper, who helmed the 1984 original, Mutilator 2 goes for a meta angle with it’s story, which is set 35 years after the original film and sees the cast of the film – including Ruth Martinez and Bill Hitchcock – come back to appear in a remake that is currently being produced in the original filming location of Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.
Set on the final day of production, Mutilator 2 plays out much like the original – a lot of talking, focusing on the characters and their (sometimes inept) interactions before, come the film’s wrap party, Cooper and co. finally unleash the gore as this movie’s psycho killer works his way through the partygoers with the same splattery, over-the-top kills that the genre, and the reputation of the original film, was built on.
Bolder, bloodier, scrappier, and with a chaotic energy that feels half-sequel, half-reunion special for fans who rented the crap out of the tape back in the day, this film isn’t trying to reinvent anything, but there’s something strangely charming about how proudly old-school this follow-up is. It’s so old-school that Mutilator 2 absolutely NAILS the tone to a tee!
Modern slashers often try to be self-referential or slick; this film leans hard into its roots with homemade “regional horror” vibes. It has the rough edges and BRILLIANT old-school practical gore FX that defined that particular sub-genre in the ’80s (a sub-genre that’s being rediscovered by many thanks to distributors like Vinegar Syndrome and TerrorVision). When limbs fly or bodies are mangled, you can practically smell the latex and corn syrup. It’s messy, but it’s the kind of mess fans of the original – like me – will welcome with open arms.
Absurd in places, always aware of its own existence, but with a vibe and – more importantly – a sincerity that works for both a sequel to the original AND a film built on nostalgia, Mutilator 2 is a welcome re-quel, that should please even hardcore fans of the original.
**** 4/5
Mutilator 2 is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video now.
