Check after the jump for my review....
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The original was an interesting idea, make a horror film about a flesh eating virus, and make it funny at the same time. Director Eli Roth, drew upon his own experiences with a flesh eating virus and made an enjoyable, gory comedy horror that became quite successful. Because of this, the sequel was inevitable, and CABIN FEVER 2 was born.
From the get-go the film was plagued with problems, Director Ti West petitioned to have his name removed and replaced by the pseudonym Allan Smithee but his request was denied. The problems were extensive edits and re-shoots by the producers and it's very obvious which was original and which was re-shot. But even though the film had it's problems, it's still a highly enjoyable horror comedy.
The Plot:
The film begins where the first finished with Rider Strong's Paul staggering out of the lake and making his way to the highway where he's hit by a high school bus and explodes into a mess of blood and bone. The Film then shoots to a High School where the seniors are awaiting their prom. The lake that paul was in has become infected with the virus and the water is bottled and sent to there school. As preparations for the Prom get underway we follow nerds John and Alex, as they try and muster up the courage to ask girls to the prom. As the pupils drink the water, the virus starts to spread and come prom night, the entire school is infected and John, Alex and Cassie (john's long time crush) attempt to survive as the school is quarantined.
The Cast:
Only two characters from the original return in this sequel, Rider Strong who has only a small Cameo but is listed as the lead star, and Giuseppe Andrews as Deputy Winston, Andrews is great as the kind of backwoods coked up cop who's all about the pussy and the freaky shit.
John is played by Noah Sagen (Brick) and he's actually pretty good, one scene where he's arguing with cassie is actually really well acted.
Alex is played by Rusty Kelley. alex is the kind of character we've seen a billion times, the best friend always wanting to get laid. He's pretty good and gets some good lines.
Cassie is played by Alexi Wasser (Growth). She's tall, quite good looking, but here character can't see that John is in love with her. She not bad as Cassie.
The principle is played by Michael Bowen who previously acted in the remake of Last house On The Left, he's pretty funny as the head of the school. He is the uncle of Martha Plimpton (The Goonies) and Ever Carradine (Dead and Breakfast).
The F/X:
The special F/X in the film are outstanding, all practical, no CGI, and there is one hell of a lot of blood. There is one scene with an infected penis that is done so well it looks almost real.
The Direction:
As i stated above, the film had a lot of problems when re-shoot were called for and it's easy to see what was directed by Ti West and what was re-shot by producers. The stuff from Ti West is great but the re-edits make the tone of the film change from Serious to comical a little to messy. The stuff directed by West is proper horror, the 'military' and the talky stuff gives a the film a good feel such as the scene i mentioned with John arguing with Cassie as the school is quarantined, the film could have been a bit like Romero's The Crazies but instead the tone is shifted and the ending ruins the entire film. There is no resolution to the story arc of the characters instead we're taken to a final reel where a very minor character is doing a striptease in a club and the parents of some of the pupils are watching her, this doesn't fit the story and it's given a shit ending. It's sad because what West had done was great and then producers come along and fuck the whole thing up.
My Final Verdict:
CABIN FEVER 2: SPRING FEVER is not a bad film, far from it, it's just a little bit of a mess. It's entertaining, very gory and has a great character in John, but the re-shoots and the ending spoil the film. Ti West went on to make HOUSE OF THE DEVIL and succeeded in making a very 80s witch-craft film. I don't understand what Producers are thinking when they interfere in the filming of a move. This has happened to many a film most notably the sci-fi flick BABYLON A.D where the director himself told people to avoid the film.
But this film is enjoyable, at times it's better than the first and at times it's a little crappy but for 82 minutes i enjoyed most of it.
FILM: 6/10
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