Basket Case 2 (1990, Kevin Van Hentenryck, Annie Ross, Judy Grafe, Heather Rattray) – Classic Movie Review 10,081

Director Frank Henenlotter’s 1990 ineffective sequel Basket Case 2 to his campy 1982 horror film hit Basket Case sees Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck) rescued from the pavement where he lay at the climax of number one and taken with his deformed basket-dwelling mutant brother Belial to a home for strange and twisted creatures run by their long-lost aunt, known as Granny Ruth (Annie Ross) along with her pregnant daughter Susan (Heather Rattray).

The uglies battle against an uncaring and exploitative world and both brothers find true love (in one of cinema’s least pleasant sex scenes) but conclude that together is the way they want to face the world. Exploitative reporters are on their case.

Basket Case 2 boasts some of the worst make-up and acting seen on the screen. Offensive, cheap and unfunny, this is real bottom of the barrel comedy horror stuff.

Also in the cast are Judy Grafe, Chad Brown, Beverley Bonner, Leonard Jackson and Alexandra Audern.

There is a reasonable budget of $2,500,000 compared with the 1982 micro budget of $35,000 for Basket Case.

Basket Case 3: The Progeny followed in 1992.

Annie Ross died on 21 July 2020, aged 89.

RIP Annie Ross (Annabelle Allan Short), who died in New York City on 21 July 2020 from emphysema and heart disease four days short of her 90th birthday. What a life! She was a jazz singer and a stage and film actress, known for Short Cuts (1993), Superman III (1983), Pump Up the Volume (1990) and Throw Momma from the Train (1987).

Annie Ross played Judy Garland’s character’s sister in Presenting Lily Mars (1943). She provided the speaking voice for Britt Ekland in The Wicker Man and Ingrid Thulin’s singing voice in Salon Kitty. She worked with Robert Altman and played Granny Ruth in Basket Case 2 and Basket Case 3.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,081

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