Nat, Cody, and Robert are joined by Angela Fabbrini to take a look at three movies that didn’t really set up sequels, but they made them anyways, with PSYCHO II, HOWLING II: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF, and POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE. Second time’s the charm?
First up is 1983’s PSYCHO II. PSYCHO was a masterpiece in 1960 and by 1983 sequels were still frowned upon as crassly commercial. But, perhaps as a direct result of the slasher boom of the early 80s, the wellspring of all American slashers was back. But, without any contribution from Hitchcock or Robert Bloch, the worst was expected. But, what a difference that people that care can make with the likes of Richard Franklin, Tom Holland, and Dean Cundey stepping in and a more than game Anthony Perkins returning, this was not a cheap cash-in. Or, at least, not just a cheap cash-in.
What we get is a clever reversal of expectations where Norman Bates is cast as the most sympathetic member of the cast. And the heroine of the first movie, Vera Miles’ Lila Crane, is cast as the ostensible villain. And Dennis Franz tries to top himself for just how sleazy he can be. And Meg Tilly is a fresh-faced newcomer who takes on a lot of the audience’s sympathies. But, mostly, the clever screenplay decides that they’re not going to try to compete with modern slasher’s body counts and gore, but instead opts to try to recreate the audience’s thrills of the first with twists and turns galore.
Next, we experience what it’s like when a film really shuts the door for a sequel. THE HOWLING essentially kills off the entire cast and closes the door. Not to mention, director Joe Dante and screenwriter John Sayles had moved on. HOWLING II essentially reinvents the franchise.
HOWLING II is probably most famous for its closing credits. Whether it’s good or not, it certainly knows what it wants to be. Even if what it wants to be is schlocky exploitation film making. If nothing else, it’s closing credits certainly have created a legacy for the film. And, heck, any film with Sybil Danning and Christopher Lee in it with at least one looking like they’re having a good time, has something going for it.
Finally, we get to a sequel to one of the biggest horror hits of the 1980s with POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE. Tellingly, neither Tobe Hooper or Steven Spielberg are back. But, the cast returns. And it made real money in 1986. So we delve into POLTERGEIST II, talk about Craig T. Nelson getting more to do, what works, and what doesn’t in this followup to the fairly beloved original.
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Time tracks:
PSYCHO II Discussion: 0:00
HOWLING II: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF Discussion 41:48
POLTERGEIST II: THE OTHER SIDE Discussion 1:11:02
Surprise Guest and HOWLING III: THE MARSUPIALS Q&A: 1:37:40
Final Thoughts: 1:52:28
Next month we return to discuss DEAD HEAT. We hope you’ll join us.
