Waxwork II: Lost in Time

Mark (Zach Galligan) and Sarah (Monika Schnarre) survive to the fire in the wax museum, but Sarah is followed by a severed hand that kills her alcoholic stepfather. Sarah becomes the prime suspect and goes to trial. Mark and Sarah search evidence to prove her innocence and they go to Sir Wilfred's house. They find a footage prepared by Sir Wilfred with a puzzle based of the Alice and the Looking Glass. They solve the puzzle and find a compass that opens portals through time. They travel to the most different places in time seeking something to help Sarah in her trial in a dangerous journey.

"Waxwork II: Lost in Time" is the sequel of "Waxwork" without Deborah Foreman that turned the offer down and was replaced by Monika Schnarre in the role of Sarah. Zach Galligan is also different from the original clumsy and rich Mark. The movie pays a tribute to several horror movies and entertains but it is silly and does not work well in many parts. The conclusion is a rip-off "Back to the Future" and does not make much sense that Sarah comes back to the present days to clear her name and return to the past to stay with Mark. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Waxwork II - Perdidos no Tempo" ("Waxwork II: Lost in Time")

Note: On 17 February 2021, I saw this film again.

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.

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!

If you don't have a sense of humor or an appreciation for classic horror you won't like this film. It's a montage of homage that is devoted to capturing the pace, direction style, acting style, dialogue etc. of such films as Alien, The Haunting, Dawn of The Dead, Nosferatu on a relatively low budget. The pared down scenes accentuate the spoof sentiment and remind us why horror is fun. Take the Alien scene, hard talking', pulse rifle carrying space marines complete with transmission samples as background juxtaposed to the reefer madness-esque black and white, highly stylized scene of The Haunting. Battling evil can be funny and Bruce Campbell's cameo, as well as others, lends support. If nothing else, it's a treasure hunt for horror genre fans.

This movie did not follow in the trends of the typical sequel by sucking hard. Let's say it's more Empire Strikes Back than Jaws 2. Okay, that's a bit of a stretched comparison, but whatever - it was a rollicking good time.

First of all, this is not a movie to take seriously in any way. It's an homage to various horror movies and it has more cheese than Wisconsin. Some of the content you'll encounter: animated murderous hands, Frankenstein, zombies, aliens, black magic druids,...and more! I would love to see this movie re-imagined as a musical (a la Evil Dead).

WWII (uh, WaxWorks 2) gets extra points for guest appearances from Bruce "The Man Bull" Campbell (just made up that nickname for him) and Keith "Masturbation Strangulation" Carradine (nickname not made up). Set aside your critical mind for the dramas, for this campy feature all you need to do is cook yourself up some Jiffy Pop, kick back, and prepare to be moderately entertained. Oh, and the 90's sucktacular rap video during the end credits is a hoot. You'll be dumbstruck by smoove lyrics such as "Lost in time, Like a bug in a jar. No matter where you go- YO- there you are"