In 2013, one of the most daring and innovative anthologies took the genre film world by storm. Following a truly unique formula and introducing the world to the next generation of genre filmmakers, ABCs of Death broke tradition and proved that sometimes risks are worth taking. Split into twenty-six chapters, twenty-six different directors were assigned a letter of the alphabet and told to get creative. The end result was a revolutionary film that shook the world of genre film. Now, one year later, twenty-six new directors are back to give the idea a try in the simply titled ABCs of Death 2.
Though this well deserved (though often questioned) sequel doesn't benefit from the shock factor that sent fanboys into an orgasmic coma last year, ABCs of Death 2 is still able to push all the right buttons to impress. And while the original film was heavily criticized for its abundance of mediocre to disappointing segments, especially in relation to those that delivered, I can confirm that the follow-up appears to have reigned things in a bit, allowing for a more concise film that flows more evenly and doesn't fall into the pits of fart jokes and juvenile humor that prevented the original from being truly great.
Starting off with a bang, director E.L. Katz wins the Best in Class, setting the bar high with "˜A is for Amateur.' The wickedly crazy segment follows a professional hitman as he plans out a very elaborate and detailed assassination. Unbeknownst to him, things don't always go according to plan, especially in Katz's world. The director's unique style is complimented by the high energy short, setting the course for the remaining two hours (and twenty-five letters).
"V is for Vacation" is another solid entry. Loud, nasty and brutal, the POV-style story investigates the ramification that come from a night of immense debauchery, all through the lens of a cell phone. "Y is for Youth" and "Z is for Zygote" are also worth mentioning, the latter centering around a women who refuses to give birth until her husband returns home. (I'll let you dwell on that one a bit.)
Holding his own amongst the group of genre directors is amateur submission winner Robert Boocheck. His "M is for Masticate" beat out 540 other entries, earning him a spot amongst some of the genre's most inspiring filmmakers. And though his segment wasn't one of the top chapters, it still represented a strong addition to the collection.
All that considered, the slickest entry of the bunch goes to Juan Martinez Moreno's "S is for Split." A women is on the phone with her husband when she is startled by an unexpected intruder. The events unfold through a split-screen presentation, resulting in a truly terrifying home invasion sequence that will have you pulled to the edge of your seat. The outcome is anything but expected, adding an extra layer of mystery onto the already horrifying circumstance.
While the good far outnumber the bad, there is no denying that any anthology is going to have some lackluster entries -- its the very nature of the formula. Fortunately for ABCs of Death 2, the failures are few and far between. Worth mentioning are both "E is for Equilibrium" and "T is for Torture Porn." Both could have been good, but neither was able to deliver in the heat of the moment, with the former appearing to be nothing more than an extended beer commercial with no exact brand for a sponsor.
The end result is a mixed bag of goodies. Thankfully this is a much better bag than the one that was presented to us last year. The directors appeared to throw away the humor, leaving us with somber and slightly manic characters who are able to get under your skin and leave an impression, even if only having our direct attention for a few minutes. It wasn't perfect, but it was a giant leap in the right direction, and that is something to get excited about.
