After busting the budget and shooting "The Craving" in 35mm back in 2007, director Brad Armstrong returned to the genre five years later with "Craving II", shot on video. Followup is way better, proving that inspiration rather than technical matters is what counts.
Jessica Drake is back as the storyteller, a mite prettier than Shelley Duvall, but remarkably similar in context to that talented pioneer of the genre for G-rated audiences nearly 30 years earlier with her classic "Faerie Tale Theatre" videos.
Jessica stars in "Rumpelstiltskin", a well-done version of the familiar tale starring a young and lively Xander Corvus, before his tiresome screen persona became so rigid. It's a very interesting bit of storytelling, though Brad displays no writing credit on either of these films, out of shame?
Drake returns in "Goldilocks", a light-hearted spoof with 3 big bear-hunters substituted for the family of Ursus critters. Even more imaginative is "Hansel and Gretel", starring Seth Gamble and Ash Hollywood as most attractive title rolers. India Summer's wicked witch (who speaks in rhymes) is terrific joining the young couple in a threesome, and there's a cute touch of casting all-time great Veroncia Hart under pounds of makeup as the ugly version of the witch (though immediately recognizable via her acting to us long-time fans).
Tale of "Pinocchio" is completely revamped, saved by Tanya Tate in fine form as the Blue Fairy with a cockney accent. Finale segment is a dumb orgy scene which has little to do with "Humpty Dumpty". Sloppy credits both front and back list Eric Price at the orgy when in fact Wicked regular Eric Masterson is the actor.
Overall, Armstrong redeems himself for the lousiness of his earlier and far more extravagant misfire, delivering a followup so much better than the original.
