Basket Case 3

The third entry in this bizzare series sees the usual cast return, namely Annie Ross as Granny Ruth and Kevin VanHentenryck as Duane Bradley. This third and last installment in the series has more gore than BC2, is campier and more entertaining than BC2, has some memorable characters and lovable cops, and you get to see 12 of Belial's kids, or his "progeny"....It's also got an ending to remember. Highly recommended, this flick rests easy in my collection. 9/10

Rated 18s for strong horror violence and gore, language, sensuality and nudity

after seeing the first 2 basket case movies i had no idea what they would do for a sequal for part 3.... MORE BELIALS!!! in this film belial and eve from part 2 are expecting children...and oviously the police aren't real happy about it once they decide to spy around and discover them. so..once again we have a murderus revenge spree....sound fermiliar? i liked this movie but my favorite part was probably the ending..it really shows what these movies are really about....freaks rights!!!

Frank Henenlotter's feature film debut in Basket Case (1982) is certainly what he's best known for. While it was by no means a good looking film, it served its purpose in creating an underground horror icon. As bad as the film was. When Basket Case 2 (1990) was created, not only did it have better production quality, but it also had a concept worth getting behind. Sadly, the sequel fell short of this leaving ideas half-baked that could've progressed the story much further than the original could have realized. And just like that entry, the second sequel very much follows the same footsteps. As a rushed sequel, Henenlotter wasn't even happy with it...but it still has some credit to its name. This final film though proves it just wasn't a really good franchise.

Written and directed by Henenlotter for the third time, along with co-writing partner Robert Martin (Frankenhooker (1990)), this sequel picks up just like the last entry with recalling the events of Basket Case 2 (1990). After Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck) kills Granny Ruth's (Annie Ross) daughter, Bradley has been in solitary confinement for several months. Only to be brought out to see that his brother Belial is going to be a father after mating with Eve (Denise Coop) the other lump of flesh living at Granny Ruth's. But in order to have a safe delivery, Granny Ruth wants everyone at Uncle Hal's (Dan Biggers) where he and Granny Ruth's son Little Hal (Jim O'Doherty) live. After Duane is freed from his cell, he escapes causing more damage.

It's interesting because as this series has progressed, Henenlotter has exposed just how much of a screw up Duane really is. Belial is no golden boy either, but at least he tries to settle down and live a normal life. This just shows how much little development Duane really gets in this franchise. Duane is the one who escalates other character viewpoints on certain situations retracting their development as well. When Duane escapes, he comes across the local sheriff (Gil Roper) and his daughter Opal (Tina Louise Hilbert), who he only entangles them into his issues too. But even then, things get strange between Duane and Opal where it goes from Opal seeming sane enough, only to have strange sexual desires. What is going on?

The more engaging characters viewers might want to see more of is Little Hal as he has the ability to make mechanical contraptions. Yet, he has very little screen time. Even Uncle Hal falls off the story not long after he's introduced. Much of the characters in general are just unlikable or are too strange to care for. Even Beverly Bonner returns (not as Casey from the last two films) as a cashier. The cast in general do their job, it's just the choices in direction of the story that don't really make sense. Visually, the film went all out on that. The gore may not be as abundant as the other two films, but when it's on screen it's still gruesome. This coincides with the practical effects used, which for 1991 looks good for its budget.

Cinematography was competently handled too, this time by Robert Paone. Starting his career as a second camera assistant in Saturday Night Fever (1977), Paone keeps the camera steady for what is shown, as well as hiding various elements that get revealed later. The film score was composed once again by Joe Renzetti and sadly it still doesn't get featured as much as it should. The music certainly fits the tone, having ethereal and strange sounding tracks, but it doesn't have recognizable traits making it hard to recall on its own. There are hints of melodic themes, but Renzetti doesn't utilize it enough. Thankfully there is a score to hear in case it was difficult to make out in the film itself.

As the final film in this franchise, Frank Henenlotter's trilogy about a deformed Siamese twin is average at best. The final entry is still better than the original, narrative wise, but not by a lot since much of script shoots itself in the foot before it even gets started. The visuals are fine and the actors do their okay, but there's still very little character development, they're not likable and the music is sorely unhighlighted.

Wow. Just when you thought they couldn't possibly twist BASKET CASE's bizarre concept into more of a surreally grotesque hodgepodge of blood, guts, playfulness, insanity, and 'unique individuals' than the first sequel already has-- they do. And boy do they do it with flair! In THE PROGENY, the premise of the first two movies have been taken to every single wacky extreme imaginable. If you thought BASKET CASE 2 was weird, then the final entry in Frank Henenlotter's cult trilogy will no doubt make you faint with confusion and utter disbelief.

Trying to explain the plot would be like trying to rationalize a horrific, fast-paced, 90-minute acid trip so I'm not even going to bother. In BASKET CASE 3, you'll witness the silver screen's most unusual musical number, the birth of a dozen monsters, a beautiful dominatrix with multiple personalities, a killer robot-machine, and an overweight genius with several arms. Yet, somehow within the film's warped universe, it all makes perfect sense. I highly recommend the entire series.

Basket Case volume 3 is a very redundant and pointless sequel that you should definitely avoid unless you're an avid fan of Frank Hennenlotter's deranged filming style. The original Basket Case (dating from 1982) was a genuine classic and a triumph for low-budget cinema that should be viewed by everyone who's mildly intrigued by the genre. The 1990 sequel already was a lot more light-headed and comical but yet it is interesting viewing because it reveals some unanswered questions gives some more background. There really was no reason to shoot another sequel, especially not because the premise has become pure slapstick. So I think this film was only made because Hennenlotter had fun with it and maybe for spoiling the true Belial fans with another treat! Well, I'm a true Belial fan and I had a lot of fun watching this piece of pure camp. This is a jolly bunch of nonsense, complete with over the top gore, absurd twists and insane characters. Belial's girlfriend (who he met in part 2) is about to give birth to his offspring and so the whole freakshow travels to Granny Ruth's befriended doctor who's specialized in these kinds of deliveries. Duane is slowly recovering from insanity, escapes and unwillingly makes the presence of the freak-collection public. When greedy police officers attempt to turn in Belial for the reward, our aggressive semi-person can start another repulsive series of murders. Basket Case 3 is a very tasteless film with absolutely no depth or value whatsoever. The make up effects are very grotesque (you should see some of these mutants) and you won't find this funny unless you have a wicked sense of humor yourself. Cool end sequence, though! So, as stated before, don't watch part 3 unless you really want to finish the trilogy. In case you're a vivid Hennenlotter admirer like myself… enjoy the (freak)show.