One year after the executioner caused a "punk rock holocaust" by killing several bands and their fans on the Vans Warped Tour, he has returned to search for his head. Of course this means even more carnage will ensue. But a young reporter, Meghan, is going to expose this story and Kevin Lyman's cover-up to the world.
What you have to keep in mind while watching this, or preferably before putting it in your machine, is that this video is largely a promotional device for the Vans Warped Tour (and apparently Monster energy drink). If you have no interest in punk music, such as the Aquabats or My Chemical Romance, you are instantly going to enjoy this movie less than someone who does.
Where this film excels is in showing what it's like to see bands at the Warped Tour. Except that when you go in real life you'll find the place a lot more packed and hard to get so close to the stage. This would make a great film as a concert documentary or a music video. The horror element isn't overly strong (less killing than the first film (which reportedly has 110 deaths on-screen), and "special effects" that are incredibly amateur. The switching heads scenes worked alright, but most of the sword attacks were fairly pathetic).
The worst part of this film was the inclusion of Mistress Juliya from the show Thrash Talk. She came across as a horrible over-actor and was just generally annoying. While all the other actors -- including Kevin Lyman and Kerry Nicholson -- did a great job having fun with their parts, Juliya seemed to just try too hard and came across as the drunk girl at a party so grating that no one will even hit on her.
The best part of this film was by far the writing. There wasn't much plot to work with (nor was there supposed to be), so the endless killing could have gotten old fast. But the side story of Meghan Sanders the reporter was fun, and I enjoyed seeing multiple people asking her to "make out" (she is easily the most attractive woman in the film). The writers know how to write humor and I hope they expand on this in the third installment.
The horse had some great one-liners... including one quip that used "horseplay", "a roll in the hay" and "back in the saddle" in one sentence. The conspiracy theorist who implicates Sammy Davis Jr. in the cover-up was also wonderful. The perfect actor was chosen to play this part, and whoever put this story together is the real savior of this movie. If any one aspect screamed "latent genius", it was the Davis history and numerology segments. Clever, intelligent and witty.
And let's not forget the return of Andrew WK or Jeff from Simple Plan. Good stuff. And, of course, Lloyd Kaufman (who plays Belial), who steals the show like he always does.
Writer-director Doug Sakmann rules! If this film doesn't convince you, watch the ketchup and mustard race on the special features. It combines the sport of competitive eating and the "Jackass" skit of drinking a gallon of milk. Only, as you may have guessed, it's a gallon of ketchup and mustard. I couldn't take my eyes from the screen! Pure entertainment!
"Punk Rock Holocaust 2" is low-budget, cheesy and largely disposable. But, as I suspect this was the intention and what I entered into it expecting, that's not necessarily a bad thing. We can also say it's a fun, blood-soaked punk rock blast of raw power. People who don't like low budget or independent films or punk music, keep walking. But for those who do like these things, check out the first film and then come back for the second. Personally, I find Sakmann's pornographic work ("Re-Penetrator" and "XXX-orcist") to be his best, but "Punk Rock Holocaust" and its sequels could become hits with a cult status.
