ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2 (2011)

ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2 (2011)
Director: Robert Hall
Cast: Nick Principe, Thomas Dekker, Owain Yeoman, Brian Austin Green, Danielle Harris
The sequel to Laid to Rest, that brings back ChromeSkull, who barely escaped death in the first movie and is hell-bent on continuing where he left off... and forging a new path of terror and destruction.

Following directly on from the circumstances in the first film, a dubious police investigator finds Chromeskull barely alive needing extensive eye and facial reconstruction. At the killers side is what would have been his final victim, she somehow gets violently killed that same night even though Chromeskull is getting medical treatment. The story jumps forward three months and Chromey is back on his feet having been helped by a clandestine company, who plan on using the masked maniac as their own killing machine, even sorting him out with his own personalized cache of blades and weapons.

Sticking to the same formula that made the first film so successful, showering the viewer with an endless array of gory set pieces. Sadly they've not improved on the originals flaws, this being unsatisfactory character development and nonsensical plot. In fact Laid to Rest 2 adds an even more unbelievable feeling with the now obligatory use of quick edited cctv/phone/video camera footage. I am sure the simply amused Saw/Hostel type of horror buff will be ranking this as one of the horrors of 2011, and I will agree its nice to see really traditional FX of this caliber. I would have just liked to have some depth to the proceedings, actors who do not look uncomfortable on film and a director who can add tension and atmosphere between kills. If the producers could improve those areas, the third outing (which is hinted at after the final credits) would rank as a modern classic and not just successful fluff.

Cultdb Totals
[Rated 6½ out of 10]
[Deathcount 12]
[Gorequota 9/10]

Themes Included: Chelsea Smile ● Masked Maniac ● Kidnapping
Stabbings ● Hostage ● Homicide Police