Review of Waxwork II: Lost in Time

Often cited as the first self-referential horror movie, 1988's Waxwork had everything that a horror movie fan might love: full of horror film references, over the top gorn, and amazingly accurate & professional looking sets & costumes. Considering the films low budget and campy factor, the movie was a surprising semi-successful movie when it came out. Due to this success, a sequel came out in 1992, call Waxwork 2: Lost in Time. It follows nearly that same escapism formula, but unlike the first film, it didn't take itself, too serious as it play off with the comedy, a lot more. Directed and written by Anthony Hickox, yet again, Waxwork 2 takes place immediately after the first film, Waxworks, with a recap and replay of the last moments of the film with reused footage. Then the movie kinda starts with an reenactment of final scenes with Mark Loftmore (Zack Galligan) and Sarah Brightman (Monika Schnarre) leaving the burning waxwork. Seeking revenge for the fire that cause the destruction to the Waxwork, a disembodied wax hand goes on a murderous rage and kills Sarah's father. Mark and Sarah manage to kill the creature, but the police don't believe them and accuse Sarah for killer her abusive father. Since, Sarah's case looks bad, both seek a way to prove her innocence by searching Sir Wilfred's (Patrick Macnee) place. Instead, of having the couple find another waxwork building, the movie goes a different route, by having the two characters find a magic compass that allows them to travel through another dimension call 'Cartagra' consisting of horror, sci-fi and fantasy stories that have want to become realities. Most of these sequences are pretty clever on how they were able to paid homage to the many horror films without breaking copy-rights laws. The crew of the Waxwork 2 change some of the other film references character's names, location or in many ways, redesigning the look of the creatures to make sure, it looks different, but has the same style as the original film. They all get a new treatment, but you can tell what film references, the movie is showing. Examples are 1931's Frankenstein, 1963's The Haunting, 1922's Nosferatu, 1941's Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, 1954's Godzilla, 1979's Alien and 1978's Dawn of the Dead. According to the movie exposition, these worlds comprise worlds where God and the devil battle over the fate of the world, each victory being reflected in events occurring in the real world. When Mark or Sarah appear in each reality, they take on the persona of characters in those stories. They often act like their character personalities and memories until they regain their senses. It's weird that plot, only makes one person forget, who they are; while the other, never forgets. Mark always knows that he's Mark when he enter the world, but Sarah always get lost in the sequence character roles. I know, that Sarah does this in the first movie, but gees… its way over killed, here. Mark had to wake her up, like 3 to 4 times, before she rejoin her conscious and her original memories. It's so annoying! Sarah is still the same stupid damsel in distress character with the emo attitude that makes her easily fall in love, with her abusers like the first movie. This movie made me, hate her character, even more, due to the new actress, playing her. Monika Schnarre is worse than the original actress, Deborah Foreman. She looks out of place, most of the time, due to her stunning model like looks, and awkward European accent. Zack Galligan as Mark is a little better than the previous film. I glad, they cut the jerk attitude of his, and made him into a more adventure driven type of a stock character. The supporting characters are pretty fun to have. David Carradine appears out of nowhere and gives absolutely straight and deadly serious, performance. He's a great actor. He brings a lot of weight to the character that he would have lacked otherwise. Alexander Godunov as Scarabus was very scary, and insidious. Well played. Bruce Campbell as John Loftmore had the comedy cuts and gave the movie, some charm by hamming it up. The movie is full of cheesy dialogue and he deliver on it. The movie comedy is a hit or a miss. It breaks a lot of four wall jokes, but none of it, seem that clever. Watching this movie with a group of friends is a real treat, and it was fun to just try and pick out all the references like 1981's Raiders of Lost Ark, 1977's Saturday Night Fever, 1982's Friday the 13th Part III, 1968's 2001: Space Odyssey, 1989's Back to the Future Part 2, and others. I love the action. The swordfight through multi-worlds was fun. As a movie of logic, it really fails in that. First off, why would Sarah's trial allow her to go anywhere, if she's a suspected for a death? I doubt, she was able to get bait. Another thing, why on earth, do they need to find evidence so that they can prove that she didn't do it; if she just going to escape and follow Mark into exploring the Cartagra, in the end. It's pretty pointless. The call for adventure is a pretty weak plot. Another thing, how can she get a package from Mark with the compass, if Cartagra isn't part of the real world!?! It's doesn't make sense. To make it more confusing, Jack the Ripper, a real life killer is in Cartagara. Just think of that. It's yet another Waxwork movie that can't follow its own rules. I know its nit-picky, but it's too jarring even for this silly film. I like how the movie doesn't match the title. There are barely any Wax works figures in this movie, at all. Overall: While the plot is pretty bad. It's a fun movie. Just turn off your brain when watching.