Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992)

Wow! Such a good movie.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

This highly disappointing follow-up to 1989's WAXWORK is more of a slapdash rehash than a sequel. The dumb and inexcusable plot sees Galligan and Schnarre going back through time for more of the same, this time to find a piece of evidence to convince a local court that Schnarre wasn't responsible for the murder of her father. Contrived isn't the right work; downright silly would be a better bet. From the first moment that this film opens, you realise the strictly low budget of the production through the poor picture quality and cheap-looking sets. It's certainly not a patch on the lively and entertaining original movie.The first episode is a re-run of the Frankenstein story, with the creature here an unscary straggly-haired beast covered in a prosthetic face. How very '90s. Playing the mad "Baron Von Frankenstein" is none other than Martin Kemp, member of Spandau Ballet and more familiar today as a regular on the TV soap EASTENDERS. Kemp is definitely slumming it in this film, as he did for most of the early '90s, and it's highly amusing to watch him embarrass himself here. He just isn't cut out for the part, and fails to be the least bit frenzied or frightening. The only highlight of this otherwise nondescript episode comes at the schlocky end, when Kemp's eyeballs pop out followed by his brain. The ultra-cheap special effects are reviewed through the "bird's-eye view" of the brain flying through the air, as the stand on which it sits is plainly visible.The second episode is probably the most fun, if only for the presence of comic genius and all-round good guy Bruce Campbell playing Richard Johnson's role in THE HAUNTING. The black and white photography is pleasingly different, if only copied from the first film, and there are some lame-brained yet fun slapstick moments involving Campbell being tortured in a basement. Sadly this is over far too quickly, although eagle-eyed fans may spot Marina Sirtis as the woman playing "Gloria" in the segment.The third story is a dreadful rip-off of ALIEN, with some really bad special effects in the shape of the lame, rubbery aliens. Whoever designed these should be shot outright. Disorientating camera-work means that it's damn near impossible to see here what's going on, so the sooner its over the better. The fourth instalment is by far the longest, and thus the most boring. This time Galligan and his girlfriend are sent back to Britain in the medieval period, where they become trapped in the castle of the cruel lord Scarabis. While the plot here is passable stuff, and there are fine supporting turns from Alexander Godunov (excellently nasty as the villain, as he was in DIE HARD) and John Ireland (as King Arthur, no less) nothing much really happens aside from a few more disappointing prosthetic attempts at monsters.It's at the end of this tale that the film suddenly picks up, and copies SHOCKER again by having two characters fighting as they jump from location to location. Thus, we get to see some fun parodies of GODZILLA, DAWN OF THE DEAD (again) and also, by far the best, one of the original NOSFERATU, which is very funny. Drew Barrymore plays a victim in the bed if you can spot her. Events conclude in a boringly unbelievable anti-climax in which it looks simply like they ran out of money.Linking scenes of Galligan and Schnarre flying through a "time tunnel" look like they've been ripped from EVIL DEAD II, and are quite stupid. The acting from the leads is also below par, with Schnarre just another forgettable 20-something actress who doesn't register at all, and Galligan simply going through the motions of his previous successes. The appearance of many stars in cameo roles (as well as the above people, David Carradine, Patrick Macnee, Joe Don Baker, and George "Buck" Flower also pop up briefly) does give this movie a watchability, as well as some of the brief moments in which the comedy actually works. Otherwise this is a cheap and unnecessary sequel in which even the special effects are pretty bad (ie. splattery and unrealistic-looking). My recommendation is to watch the first and give this one a miss!

I've often thought many years after my first initial viewing of this sequel, just what was Anthony Hickox thinking when he wrote and directed this serious misfire to what was a very enjoyable and fun filled original.Admittedly when it came to the first Waxwork, what drew my attention to the movie was the groovy looking cover, such a weakness for cool looking artwork covers still haunts me to this very day, even though I am no longer than impressionable teenager, but a man celebrating his fortieth year on this planet(how about that for ageing this review and indeed myself) Luckily the first movie was able to deliver upon the promise of the synopsis and the artwork on show. What the second installment was sadly lacking was direction, a cohesive storyline and more importantly that fun factor.I remember when this was first announced, I was so excited, because after Waxwork, Hickox made what was arguably(for me anyway) his best movie, Sundown The Vampire In Retreat, so having watched both these movies, I felt a need to watch any movie that Hickox applied his name to.With the first Waxwork, the story had an aim and fully formed structure, plus a great cast to see it through, alas all the name's attached to Lost In Time, we mere time fillers and what did he have them do, re-enact/rehash classic scenes from 'The Haunting' and 'Alien' et al.I can still hear Lesley Gore singing 'It's my party' at the end credits of the original, too bad this monster mash up, that Hickox threw together couldn't find that necessary gel to make it all stick.A bitter disappointment. 2/10

Sequel to "Waxwork" picks up where the first film left off, and has Sarah (Monika Schnarre, taking over the role from Deborah Foreman) going home to her stepfather (George "Buck" Flower), who is killed by the severed hand we saw escaping at the end of "Waxwork". Of course nobody believes her outlandish story so she's put on trial for murder. She and Mark (Zach Galligan) realize that in order to clear her they have to travel through alternate realities to obtain some sort of evidence. Among the scenarios, and stories referenced, are the "Alien" films, "Frankenstein", and "The Haunting", until Sarah and Mark end up in medieval England doing battle with a dastardly black magic practitioner named Scarabis (Alexander Godunov). A number of familiar faces are to be seen in the cast: Martin Kemp, Bruce Campbell (who's very funny as always), Jim Metzler, John Ireland, Michael Des Barres, Marina Sirtis, Juliet Mills, Patrick Macnee, David Carradine, and Maxwell Caulfield, with Drew Barrymore seen very fleetingly as a vampire's victim. The main problem with this sequel, as far as this reviewer can see, is that the pacing is off at times, with the movie getting too dull; it just doesn't have a sense of "hurry up and go". In the end, it's just not as much fun as I would have liked, and is played a little too straight too much of the time (the sequence with Campbell as paranormal researcher John Loftmore is a refreshing exception). That said, it still displays a likable amount of imagination, enough effective atmosphere and period recreation, and does ultimately build up to an amusing finale where Galligan and Godunov battle their way through a number of scenes, including nods to "Nosferatu" and "Dawn of the Dead". The cast makes this pleasant enough to watch, with everybody giving a game effort. (Writer / director Anthony Hickox also appears on screen as the king's officer.) Schnarre is an appealing Sarah, even if she won't make anybody forget Deborah Foreman. Bob Keen's effects are nicely done; visually, the movie is strong, with nice costumes and sets. There are some amusing bits of gory business, as well. "Waxwork II: Lost in Time" is entertaining enough, but could and should have been better. At least it does have its moments along the way. Six out of 10.

this sequel is certainly an improvement rover the original.this one,like the original,is obviously played for laughs.but that's pretty much the only similarity.in this one,the laughs acre actually funny,more often than not.the whole thing is really a spoof of other movies,and works quite well.Bruce Campbell(the Evil Dead Trilogy)has a pretty funny extended cameo which parodies his Evil dead movies and also the 1960's classic The Haunting.The Alien series also gets the treatment here.there are many others as well.the acting is still hammy,and the dialogue is still bad,but this movie has a better story and is more clever.it's not a masterpiece,but there are some good moments.for me,Waxwork II:Lost in Time is a 5.5/10