Horror sequels are inclined to get a nasty rap, and for good purpose. There’s loads to get into with this, and all of it makes for nice debate, however one of the most neglected causes is the lack of dedication to continuity. What makes a good first horror film in a franchise is that it’s normally informed as a standalone story with none plans for sequels in the runup. Most slashers fall underneath this class, with Friday the 13th as maybe its biggest instance given the iconic Jason doesn’t even characteristic in the first film. He turns into the killer from half two onwards. When continuity is given a shot, as is the case in Halloween 2, the temptation to go greater and bloodier leads to much less character and fantasy work, issues that made the first film profitable.
Rio Youers and Tom Fowler’s Refrigerator Full of Heads manages to keep away from these pitfalls by committing to its function as a direct sequel to Joe Hill and Leomacs’ Basketful of Heads whereas additionally introducing new characters that flesh out the lore behind the magical Viking weapons at the heart of the story. They do a powerful job of it too, creating a really beneficiant gorefest with new monsters and inventive kills, however by no means at the expense of story.
Refrigerator Full of Heads follows Calvin Belinger and Arlene Fields as they head over to Brody Island for a soothing trip one yr after the horrible hurricane that hit there washed away the speaking severed heads and the magical axe that began all the chaos of the first ebook. Their arrival is shortly met with a bunch of bikers which are additionally visiting with the intention of discovering the axe. Calvin and Arlene discover themselves in the center of this hunt, however they slowly reveal their very own causes for their presence at Brody.
One of the successes of Refrigerator is owed to Youers and Fowler taking refuge in the “if it ain’t broken don’t fix it” rule, which instantly locations fans in a well-known setting with out a lot must dump massive quantities of info on how the world works. What they add to the rule is a bit of extra to maximise the grindhouse/exploitation movie components that made Basketful such uniquely enjoyable and gleefully violent romp.
For occasion, as a substitute of contending with the energy of a single magical axe, the sequel brings in additional mystical weapons into the fray, every with their very own powers. One weapon specifically, a sort of chest strap or belt constructed from the scales of an enormous snake from Viking legend turns those that put on it right into a monster with a slithery disposition. Youers imbues every weapon with a historical past that’s as mysterious and creepy because it is compelling, permitting Fowler to totally indulge the horror behind them to create some large-scale terror set items which are positive to make creature-feature lovers drool over the pages.
Youers’ script makes positive to honor the title’s promise, nearly doubling the quantity of heads chopped off by the axe this go-around. As was the case in the earlier ebook, every head retains the capacity to proceed speaking, however one specifically stands out for very surprising causes. After they’ve acquired the axe, Calvin and Arlene get attacked by a shark. In the scuffle, the shark will get its head separated from its physique by the Viking axe. The head retains on chomping, ultimately turning into a killing software that’s given its time to shine. This is Refrigerator at its most bonkers, the form of factor we’d see in sleazy Nineteen Eighties horror sequels had the price range allowed for it. Only right here it serves the function of worldbuilding, and it paves the method for just a few key sequences which are positive to go away an impression late in the story.
Basketful’s returning characters are additionally given the area to develop. Saying an excessive amount of would spoil some surprises, however their place in the story is carved in fairly properly and it by no means looks like their presence is mere fan service. That mentioned, Basketful of Heads is required studying for the full enjoyment of its sequel. The foundations for the issues that occur partially two have been already laid out by Hill and Leomacs in Basketful. Then once more, any purpose to read or reread the first ebook is a good one, and Youers and Fowler are glad to it.
Refrigerator Full of Heads achieves the uncommon feat of turning into a worthy sequel that honors the authentic, builds upon the world and its characters, and nonetheless manages to be extra violent and ugly than what got here earlier than it. It’s sensible in its execution and unreservedly vicious in the course of of dumping buckets of blood on its pages. It’s the perfect ebook for each horror fans and people wanting for an ideal exploitation-inspired ebook that is unafraid to throw monsters, darkish weapons, and chatty severed heads at readers for an expertise they’re not prone to neglect.
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