Jan-Gel 2: The Beast Returns

Conrad Brooks has got to be one of the great independent video movie directors of all time. This dazzling sequel to "Jan-Gel, the Beast from the East" continues the story in Florida, where Conrad is hot on the trail of the resurrected monster. Conrad displays his usual witty acting style, and is ably supported by talented players, including Robert Ellis and Richard Bereseford who are both outstanding in their parts . This movie ends with a tribute to Conrad's mentor, the late great Ed Wood, with whom Conrad worked in such classics as "Plan Nine from Outer Space" and Glen or Glenda". This title is available as part of a double feature with the original "Jan-Gel" from Movies Unlimited.

Jan-Gel 2: The Beast Returns (2001)

* (out of 4)

Sequel to the 1999 film has writer-director Conrad Brooks also playing the lead, a character named Conrad Brooks, who must go after the title character. The first film was a bad movie but it at least had some charm to it. This sequel here is (obviously) cheap, boring and just doesn't have any of the charm that the first one did. I think the biggest problem here is that we've got a different looking monster and it's not nearly as charming as the large caveman from the previous film. This time out the monster is pretty much wrapped up and it's just never very clever, fun and it's certainly not creepy. The film doesn't have too much in it as the majority of the 59-minute running time is devoted to the various characters talking about boring things. The dialogue certainly isn't very memorable and often times it just seems like a bunch of ad-libs. I'm not sure if it was intentional or a homage to Ed Wood but there are several times where the dialogue gets messed up by the actor but they just keep working through it. Fans of Brooks will certainly enjoy that he's on screen for most of the running time.