Mutilator 2 is low budget horror movie about making movies. By now, you should know how much I love this kind of horror movie. Like so many movies of this kind, it’s equal parts commentary on the process of filmmaking and horror at the same time. It’s pretty low budget and the acting, editing, and production values reflect this. But like with most indie horror movies, there is something fun here, if you don’t set your expectations too high.
- Directed by: Buddy Cooper
- Written by: Buddy Cooper John Douglass. Edmund Ferrell
- Starring: Terry Kiser. Cody Renee Cameron Eva Hamilton
The original Mutilator, released in 1984, didn’t help slashers reputation for focusing on dead horny teens. It’s about as classic as it comes: Years after a traumatic accident destroys a family, a killer returns to murder the now-grown son’s friends at a beach house. Mutilator, also known as Fall Break, was filmed in Atlantic Beach, NC.
Now Ghoul, is this another movie you are partial to ‘cause it’s local?
Yes. Yes, it is. There are some great uses of local scenery. Honestly, I’ll give any movie that supports the local economy a fair shot. The Oceanana Pier and restaurant is featured heavily in the movie. Despite the murders happening there, Mutilator 2 does make it look like a great place to hang out. Which it is.
The Plot of Mutilator 2
The plot of the remake gives the movie a lot to work with. As the filming of Mutilator 2 wraps up, the cast from the original film, with the exception of Jack Chatham who is played by Terry Kiser, and the remake reunite to party as a killer stalks the cast and crew. This set up allows for a wide variety of creative and extreme characters, from sleezy producers to has-been actors, struggling streamers and wanna-be scream queens. It’s a great set up that leans hard into comedy. After the director is killed early on, indie fan-favorite Damine Mafei joins the cast as a detective.
My favorite comedy bit of Mutilator 2 has to be the streamer trying to get hard-hitting exclusive footage. There is a great scene where he rants about the MPAA as his livestream viewers drop rapidly. A follow-up interview with director Buddy Cooper has the director bragging about how, as an Executive Producer, he didn’t have to do anything on the sequel. It’s a great moment that shows how unprepared for reality fans can be.
The Good
I really like the effects on the kills here. They’re all practical, and for the budget they look great. The cast has some likeable characters, but it takes a while to get a stand-out lead. I like the comedy. The kills are a bit on the big side, so breaking that up with some light moments makes Mutilator 2 more watchable.
The Bad
The killer is spoiled by the captions. That has nothing to do with the quality of the movie, just something to be aware of. It’s not a huge surprise based on dialogue, but it would have been nice not to get the early tell. The movie also just kind of ends. Weirdly, this is the most realistic ending to a slasher I’ve seen in a while. Thanks to the security features at the motel, the killer is caught and arrested. I mean he murders a few people, but they were slasher-bait anyway, so not a huge loss. (Editor’s note: Just a reminder that any loss of human life is bad, Ghoul.)
Mutilator 2 is fun. It’s a deeply unserious movie with some great effects and fun kills. The idea of ‘80s slasher actors becoming so lost in their roles that they are unable to move on is a great idea. While I might have liked seeing it get more room, there is a lot going on in this short script. It feels like the actors are having fun, and that does make a difference in how enjoyable the end result is.
Is it a Slasher?
People do get slashed. The kills are fantastic, and there is some mild stalking. If we dig into what is happening here, we could say that our killer has a bit of a traumatic origin.
SPOILER AHEAD
The killer is the fictional version of Jack Chatham. Having lost himself in the character of Big Ed, he’s realized he likes the feeling of killing people. He’s now taking his fictional activities to the real world. There is tragedy and trauma in that. But Mutilator 2 isn’t the kind of movie to focus on that. The comedy of the reveal is more important here.
Final Thoughts
I’m not sure who I would recommend Mutilator 2 too. Fans of indie horror and the original, definitely. It’s short and not big on plot or character development. That’s not why you watched the first one, so I’m not sure why you’d expect it here. If you want high-quality production values, slick editing and acting, maybe give this one a pass. Patient fans of creative kills might find something to enjoy.
Mutilator 2 is available on streaming
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