Waxwork 2 - Perdus dans le temps

Waxwork II puts its predecessor in it's shadow! It goes by the idea that the more movies homages, the better! (By the way, Gislef, the segment with Bruce Campbell was more based on Robert Wise's The Haunting) Classic revisited include Godzilla, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Alien, Dawn of the Dead (yes!), Frankenstein, and Nosferatu (w/ Drew Barrymore cameo!). My only wish is for a Waxwork III, but it will probably never happen!

Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992) is currently streaming for free on Tubi and serves as a fun follow-up to the '80s classic. The story picks up where the first film left off, but it turns out the wax museum isn't as "finished" as the survivors thought. The girlfriend from the couple who made it out of the first film is framed for her parent's murder-killed by a wax appendage-and the couple must return to the museum to clear her name.

Written and directed by Anthony Hickox (Waxwork, Hellraiser III), the film stars Zach Galligan (Gremlins), Monika Schnarre (Junior), Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead), and David Carradine (Death Race 2000).

The plot takes a very different turn, blending elements that feel like a strange mix of Alien and The Princess Bride, but it remains an entertaining and fun ride. Though Hickox returns as the director, there's minimal continuity with the original film, aside from the returning cast and director. There are also some enjoyable cameos, including Bruce Campbell, David Carradine, and Drew Barrymore. Overall, this is a lighthearted, feel-good film with late '80s/early '90s hijinks. It's worth your time for a fun watch, though far from a masterpiece. I'd give it a 5/10.

This movie follows a guy and gal through their adventures in a realm where good is constantly fighting evil and it seems to take the form of old horror movies for the most part. There is a lot of fun to be had as they go into this mirror world in search of the means to prove the girl's innocence from a bizarre murder. They first enter a sort of Frankenstien story and this one is pretty good, then they separate and the female goes into an Alien type movie, which I found to be sort of weak, but the guy goes into the highlight for me, an old haunted house tale with a very funny Bruce Campbell. The scene with the salt and lemon juice had me laughing good. Then it wraps up with the longest of the stories one in a medieval era with a crazed psycho trying to take power through strange means. This one runs a little long, but it has another great set of scenes as our hero battles the villain through several worlds. This movie has a great combo of horror, comedy and action and is a very good B movie.

Mark and Sarah survived the mayhem from the first movie only to have Sarah on trial for a murder committed by a dismembered hand. To find the proof that will clear her, the pair travel through time and space to dimensions full of historical, movie, and book characters.

With guest appearances by Bruce Campbell and David Carradine, how can you go wrong? Especially with such intense homages to "Dawn of the Dead", "The Haunting" and more?

If any complaint can be lodged with this film, it is that it is complete nonsense. The logic is even more goofy than the last film (which was pretty bad), the continuity is non-existent, and it does not really follow the first film except in the most vague way... but if you do not mind completely malarkey, this movie is fun.

Sequel to "Waxwork" picks up where the first film left off, and has Sarah (Monika Schnarre, taking over the role from Deborah Foreman) going home to her stepfather (George "Buck" Flower), who is killed by the severed hand we saw escaping at the end of "Waxwork". Of course nobody believes her outlandish story so she's put on trial for murder. She and Mark (Zach Galligan) realize that in order to clear her they have to travel through alternate realities to obtain some sort of evidence. Among the scenarios, and stories referenced, are the "Alien" films, "Frankenstein", and "The Haunting", until Sarah and Mark end up in medieval England doing battle with a dastardly black magic practitioner named Scarabis (Alexander Godunov). A number of familiar faces are to be seen in the cast: Martin Kemp, Bruce Campbell (who's very funny as always), Jim Metzler, John Ireland, Michael Des Barres, Marina Sirtis, Juliet Mills, Patrick Macnee, David Carradine, and Maxwell Caulfield, with Drew Barrymore seen very fleetingly as a vampire's victim. The main problem with this sequel, as far as this reviewer can see, is that the pacing is off at times, with the movie getting too dull; it just doesn't have a sense of "hurry up and go". In the end, it's just not as much fun as I would have liked, and is played a little too straight too much of the time (the sequence with Campbell as paranormal researcher John Loftmore is a refreshing exception). That said, it still displays a likable amount of imagination, enough effective atmosphere and period recreation, and does ultimately build up to an amusing finale where Galligan and Godunov battle their way through a number of scenes, including nods to "Nosferatu" and "Dawn of the Dead". The cast makes this pleasant enough to watch, with everybody giving a game effort. (Writer / director Anthony Hickox also appears on screen as the king's officer.) Schnarre is an appealing Sarah, even if she won't make anybody forget Deborah Foreman. Bob Keen's effects are nicely done; visually, the movie is strong, with nice costumes and sets. There are some amusing bits of gory business, as well. "Waxwork II: Lost in Time" is entertaining enough, but could and should have been better. At least it does have its moments along the way. Six out of 10.