If Wrong Turn is a lesson in map reading, then Wrong Turn 2: Dead End is a lesson in planning. The second movie in the series has the cast and crew of a survival reality show, being shot in the brothers' forest, using their skills to fight for their lives. And the brothers have family.
Wrong Turn 2: Dead End has six contestants vying for the $100,000 prize; actress Kimberly (Singer and correspondent Kimberly Caldwell), skateboarder Jonesy (Steve Braun – Harold and Kumar go to Whitecastle), vixen Elena (Crystal Lowe – Black Christmas), artist Nina (Erica Leerhsen – Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2), ex-NFL hopeful Jake (Texas Battle – Final Destination 3), ex-army officer Amber (Daniella Alonso – The Hills Have Eyes II), and when Kimberly is a no-show (guess who gets it before the beginning credits are finished), the writer/director Michael (Matthew Currie Holmes – The Fog) gets girlfriend and show producer Mara (Aleska Palladino – Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) to round out the cast. Retired Colonel Dale Murphy (Singer Henry Rollins of the Henry Rollins Show) is the show's host and knows a thing or two about survival.
Joining Three Finger (Jeff Scrutton) is the family patriarch (Wayne Robson – Survival of the Dead), Pa (Ken Kirzinger), Ma (Ashlea Earl), Brother (Clint Carleton – Watchmen), and Sister (Rorelee Tio – Scary Movie 4) who torment the contestants and protect their family. Besides being completely comfortable in the woods, the mutants are almost indestructible. Stab them with a knife, they take it out and keep it. Hit them with a car, and they shake a bit to put joints in place and straighten out their spine. But what makes them dangerous is their family unit. Indestructible and protective make for some very mean mutants. Look at what Sister does when she catches Brother ogling Elena.
The thing that impressed me with this film is that for being a “Part 2”, it’s surprisingly good. A lot of sophomore attempts succumb to attempts at humor or campiness. Wrong Turn 2 picks the plot line of the first film and adds another dimension of special effects and tension. The detail and color saturation of Blu-Ray doesn’t hurt either.
Special Features include:
– "More Blood, More Guts: The Making of Wrong Turn 2"
– "Making Gore Look Good"
– On Location with P-Nut
– Audio commentaries with the cast and crew
I was surprised by Wrong Turn 2. I thought that the Henry Rollins military character would be played campy and serve as comedy chum for the cannibals. Instead this movie was a serious sequel and not just a parody of the first. The cast is young, but took their parts seriously. The effects used new technology and pushed the limit, but not to far. Wrong Turn 2: Dead End is not only a good sequel, but is a good movie.
ComicsOnline gives Wrong Turn 2: Dead End 4 human meals out of 5
