BADass SINema Unearthed - Blu-ray 4K UHD Review

Movie Review

With this film, the mythos of The Gate closed for good. I love forced perspective but, man, this one is bit of a letdown

Directed by Tibor Takács, Gate II is a film that lives in the shadows of its gloriously entertaining predecessor. It has big shoes to fill and, unfortunately, it can’t help but slip and trip over itself. That doesn’t necessarily mean the sequel isn’t entertaining. It is and, with funny bits scattered (including a sacrificial hamster) throughout, manages to shine a refreshing light on demonology – even if it isn’t nearly as fun as the original.  

You see, since the conclusion of the first film, Terry (Louis Tripp) has lost Glen as his neighbor. You’ll recall that they are the ones who stumbled upon the gates of Hell. Glen’s family moved away, leaving Terry to fend for himself as his father becomes increasingly dependent upon alcohol to get through each and every day. And Terry can’t help but be drawn to the power he knows exists. Maybe they can help him get his father straightened out.  

It works but, of course, there is always a heavy price to pay when you recruit the ghoul of Hell to help you out and – because teens John Starky (James Villemaire), his chum Moe (Simon Reynolds) and girlfriend Liz (Pamela Adlon) were present when the summoning took place – they bare some of the responsibility. And Hell’s minions just don’t care about the who, the how, or the why.

Okay, so there’s no heavy metal music in this one. Bummer. We get images that could easily be made into Metal-minded artwork but the cool tunes on nonexistent. The silence in the background makes this one BORING for far too much of its running time. There’s also an annoying atmosphere blanketing much of the movie. It feels cheap and way too teenage for its own good. And the effects, once the legions begin to rise, is in no way shape or form up to the original.

So what the hell happened in the three years between the first and second movie?! Easy, the 1990s happened and no one knew what he or she wanted in horror films. No one. With no clue for a tone and a piecemeal script that only positions this movie as a Canadian production like twice – hockey and baseball – The Gate II is an overwhelming disappointment when held up next to its better half.

The story, written by Michael Nankin (The Gate, American Gothic), just doesn’t aim to do much its 92-minutes, which reveals it to be a bit doomed from the very beginning. It is neither funny nor as scary as it ought to be and fills its empty spaces with too much hollowness to be appreciated.

Even for a sequel to a B-movie, this one feels ridiculously cheapened by its whole wish fulfillment swagger. Fancy cars turn to shit. Desired items, too. Even jobs fall apart. Dealing with the devil never turns out the way you expect. Dull city here we come.

Gate II is now available on blu-ray thanks to a new 2K scan from the original interpositive. Enter if you dare. Just make damn sure it closes behind you.

Film Details

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 90 mins
Director: Tibor Takács
Writer: Michael Nankin
Cast: Louis Tripp, Simon Reynolds, James Villemaire
Genre: Horror | Fantasy
Tagline: There's only one thing more terrifying than the first visit. The second.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Who needs chicks when we got demons?"
Theatrical Distributor: Triumph Releasing Corporation
Official Site: Release Date: February 28, 1992
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: February 20, 2018
Synopsis: Gate II picks up again with Terry, the teenage sorcerer who summons beings from the other side whose powers can be used to grant any wish. Unfortunately, before the Gate closes again, a "minion" – a tiny disciple of Satan himself – manages to slip through to our dimension. When the creature is kidnapped – all hell breaks loose.

Blu-ray Review

Home Video Distributor: Shout Factory
Available on Blu-ray - February 20, 2016
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc; reversible cover
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Offered courtesy of Scream Factory in 1.85:1, the AVC-encoded 1080p transfer of Gate II is a relative goldmine of previously unseen details and colors. The details in the rooms and the clothing and some of the bedroom furniture items are a reason to appreciate the visual “pop” throughout the high definition transfer. The crisp image quality is the best you’re going to get with a film like this and, admittedly, even a bit better than expected. Some stuff from the same era hasn’t made the HD transition quite as well, but this one looks pretty solid. Colors are perfect. Blacks are solid. Skin tones are detailed and appropriate. The sound – offered here in a strong DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo track – presents the terror in an engaging manner.

Commentary:

None

Special Features:

The NEW interview with writer Michael Nankin, director Tibor Takacs and VFX creator Randall William Cook give us a 27-minute explanation for why the film feels different. Makeup artist Craig Reardon gets his time to shine, too. Other bonus supplemental material like Video promos, contests, and a still gallery round out the collection.