Horror Movie Review: Mutilator 2 (2023)

A cult classic 80’s slasher horror, The Mutilator is one of those semi-forgotten films that has stood the test of time by sticking rigidly to the formula that made the slasher genre so exciting, once upon a time. It is a fun, bloody, mysterious, and frightening experience (read our full review here).

These days, reimagined/remade films and sequels to classic horror are all the rage, but even then, it’s something of a surprise to see a sequel to The Mutilator pop up. Especially one that turns out to be so meta.

Original director Buddy Cooper returns to the directing chair (the only other film he did prior was The Mutilator) and features a cast that includes returning originals like Ruth Martinez and Bill Hitchcock, as well as bunch of newcomers eager to have themselves doused in blood and guts. Which is the summation of the film as a whole. A gory, violent, and unashamed showcase of gore. A love letter to the slasher genre and Mutilator fans, nothing more and nothing less.

The story is simple, but meta, and surrounds a wrap party for a remake of The Mutilator. Yes, they remade the 1984 classic (in the story) and it’s party time at the exact North Carolina beach condo where the original took place. Old and new cast members coming together to celebrate The Mutilator, what could possibly go wrong?

As it turns out, plenty, especially as there’s a new killer on the loose, one determined to make the bloodshed of the original film look tame by comparison. Who is it though?

Yes, it’s slasher 101 and the film is all the better for it, provided you can overlook some serious plot padding and some of the more egregious fourth-wall breaking aspects. The former really starts to become prevalent around the middle of the film, sitting uncomfortably alongside nostalgic throwbacks that threaten to become all anyone remembers come the end. Whereas the latter is used to lighten the mood, inject some ‘so-so’ humour and make the film feel that little bit more modern. Everyone’s milage for this sort of stuff will vary, but The Mutilator 2 isn’t the worst example of it.

No one is here for story though, it’s all about the blood and gore, and in that regard, The Mutilator 2 is a resounding success. A big (and game) cast means plenty of blood is spilled and we get quite a few imaginative deaths, something that really does make the film feel like an 80’s throwback. Have you ever seen death by barnacles or seen a stuffed swordfish as a weapon? You will if you check out The Mutilator 2, which, in the end, turns out to be a worthwhile watch.

It has a charm, the kind that makes it easier to overlook its issues, even if it is a film for the fans only.