Review of Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings (1995) by Bruce B — 11 Feb 2014

The original movie was imaginative and creative, but the sequel seems to fall into B-movie land without a look back. Worse, the legend of Pumpkinhead was rewritten, though it need not have been.

This movie stays solidly in horror movie clich land from beginning to end. A group of teens torment a deformed little boy, eventually dropping the lad into a well. Years later another group of teens awaken the lad, only now he has turned into the evil Pumpkinhead. Murder and mayhem ensue.

The two big problems with this movie are that the basic plot shows little imagination and the acting is awful. Other than that, the movie is pretty good. Of course, the acting and the plot are the majority of a movie, and the special effects are nothing to write home about. However, this movie is somewhat redeemed by a "boo" factor. Pumpkinhead appears (or throws bodies about) in a periodically scary way. Nothing like a monster jumping out from behind a building to give you a jump.

"Pumpkinhead 2" is not an awful movie. The movie does provide a few minor chills. However, the choice of the movie name is unfortunate. Other than the general appearance of the creature, reinventing the mythology is confusing for those of us that liked the first movie. Perhaps they should have called it "Pumpkinhead: Resurrection," and explained that Pumpkinhead creatures came from certain circumstances that are now repeating for the second time. Oh well. The movie is in the can and you have to either take it, warts and all, or pass it by. It's worth at least one watch if you are a die-hard horror movie fan. 2 Stars 2-4-14.