Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings

Incredibly contrived and overly convenient, with a truly awful title to boot, _Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings_ is a massive step down from its predecessor. Works only as the sort of thing you have on in the background, only gracing with your attentions for the brief golden moments Pumpkinhead is doing his thing. _Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product._

***Lower budget than the original, but better story & characters*** A gang of partying teens stumble across an old witch’s cabin in rural Southern Cal and foolishly unleash a vengeful demon linked to a dead feral boy. "Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings" (1993) was released to video and therefore has noticeably inferior production values to its 1988 predecessor. It was shot in three weeks for less than $1 million and you can tell, but it has a more compelling script and arguably better characters with the exception of the absent Lance Hendriksen, who will return for the next two sequels as a ghost. Without Hendriksen and any references to the original flick, this is more of a standalone reimagining containing all the staples of the first film: a group of teens, rural Southern Cal, a mysterious cabin in the woods, an ugly witch, a revenge-based plot and, of course, Pumpkinhead itself. Speaking of whom, the creature looks formidable despite the low-budget, albeit kinda artificial. Meanwhile, striking blonde Ami Dolenz and petite cutie Soleil Moon Frye are on hand on the feminine front, but not enough is done with them. Bottom line: Despite the low budget, I prefer this one to the original and “Pumpkinhead 4: Blood Feud” (2007). I can’t remember “Ashes to Ashes” (2006) at this particular moment, which isn’t a good sign, lol (I think I saw it, but I’m not sure). The film runs 1 hour, 28 minutes and was shot in Santa Clarita, California. GRADE: C+/B- (5.5/10)