2016's 'CarousHell' was a zestfully zany, deliberately overcooked, low-budget horror-comedy romp - rooted in slasher convention, but consciously throwing all good sense out the window. I had such a great time watching it, and with 'CarousHell 2' having come into the world in 2021, one can only ask: How could the sequel possibly build on its predecessor? The answer, it turns out, was to write substantial plot. This isn't just any plot, though; it's one that fully embraces the outlandish tomfoolery of the 2016 movie, only in a slightly different way. The narrative is founded on classic tropes, the scene writing is full of cliches, characters are given outrageous backstories, and the dialogue is dependably blunt, the linguo-cinematic equivalent of gamy meat that's been charred nearly beyond the capacity to carry flavor. There's earnest continuity with the previous film, but of course those connective threads are likewise only the most bizarre ones. Where 'CarousHell' dabbled with classic horror notions, 'CarousHell 2' lightly broaches sci-fi horror bluster by way of flashes of Nazi exploitation (by golly, the main antagonist's name is Ilsa), while even further sidelining any violence. Accordingly, this sequel is surely even more of an acquired taste - the audience who will best appreciate this is no doubt smaller still - but for those who can get on board with the inane ridiculousness, this is a really great time!
For all the ways 'CarousHell 2' may differ from its antecedent, though, the similarities are still more significant. It is, in every way, unapologetically blunt, forthright, insincere, purposefully unreal, and all-around baloney. While some of the special effects are arguably a step up, the intentionally cockamamie insipidness is applied liberally across the writing, acting, lighting, cinematography, pacing, direction, editing, music, and every last possible detail. Comedy is borne from tongue-in-cheek mockery, and referential humor; plainly absurdist situational humor, and exaggerated characters and scene writing; wild puns, quips, one-liners, and otherwise dialogue; sight gags, sex jokes, and more. Even for all that, there ARE genuine aspects of horror and sci-fi fantasy alongside the Nazisploitation madness. And amazingly, strangest of all, none of this is sloppy or accidental. Every last scrap of excess, self-indulgence, and extreme inauthenticity carries unfailing, underhanded wit and intelligence behind it, making the bombast the most far-fetched silliness it could be. Such emphatic shoestring schlock is exactly what filmmaker Steve Rudzinski does, and he demonstrates a practiced, determined hand in all regards, just as his cast fully embraces the highfalutin fun. 'CarousHell 2' is a title that goes all-in on the most ludicrous of ideas, and dares us to hate it. Even if we do, one can't help but admire the gumption.
Like it predecessor, however, I'd be plainly lying if I said I didn't love this. The sequel veers even further from reason and good taste in some of its humor and story beats - yet after a fashion, manages to learn from the 2016 flick by tightening the writing, insofar as there are no jokes here that are indelicate bordering on offensive. Brazenly unbound from norms and rationality as it may be, the hard work and passion poured into it is undeniable, and after all, no one is going to mistake this for anything else. It's exactly what it wants to be, and either you're on board with the bewilderment or you're not. For those who like their horror-comedy extra goofy: 'CarousHell 2,' like its forebear, is a wonderfully entertaining madcap adventure through the twisted mind of a daring independent filmmaker, and if nothing I've described has turned you off from the idea - welcome.
