Basket Case 3

Frank Hennenlotter made the classic "Basket Case", a highly enjoyable film with two great heroes: Duane and Belial, Siamese twins (one normal, one deformed) getting revenge on the doctors who separated them. I really liked it, and really wanted to like it's two sequels. Unfortunately the sequels are totally unlike the first one, in tone and in content, although not without their own charm.

In "Basket Case 2" Duane and Belial joined up with a group of God-forsaken abnormalities that were more humorous than horrific. It might have been passable entertainment if the mutations were cool looking, but too many of them were cheap-looking and silly. Well, they all return for this one, and it's a mild improvement. Belial has fathered a dozen baby Belials who are promptly kidnapped by the local police, setting Belial off on another killing spree.

The best parts of this flick involve Duane. He spends the first half of the movie in a straight jacket, and I for some reason I found him hilarious and very likable. There's a great scene where Duane eats corn flakes while Belial kills a guy wearing leopard-print briefs. Other highlights include Belial in a robotic body and the patriarchal Granny Ruth singing "Personality" backed by the freaks.

The worst part has to be the scene where Belial's girlfriend Eve is giving birth and a new character called Little Hal is videotaping it. Someone must have thought this actor was hilarious and let him improvise the scene or something, because he gives an almost unwatchable "comic" performance. In fact, the weakest part of any Hennenlotter movie is when it tries too hard to be funny. The original "Basket Case" is funny in a dark way, and never resorts to silliness.

I also don't get why in one scene the freaks decide to become a part of society and then in the next scene invade a fast food restaurant and eat the customers' food off their trays. That's not the best way to win people's affection; I know, I've tried.

The "Basket Case" sequels have more in common with Hennenlotter's "Frankenhooker" than with his "Brain Damage", so if you liked the former then this flick is probably right up your alley (if you don't mind gore that's over-the-top and cartoony instead of realistic- I like either).

After going crazy and stitching Belial back on himself at the end of the second film, Duane is now slapped into a straight jacket and kept in a room for months until he's better. After being released by Granny Ruth he founds out that Belial is going to be a father. So, Ruth organises a road trip with her family to the deep south to meet a doctor she knows that could actually help deliver the infants. Although, after the delivery a couple of officers kidnap Belial's babies, which makes Belial incredibly angry and causes the horrific fury we've come expect from him.

First off, a word of warning… it's not a film for the uninitiated of cheap and twisted cinema. Pretty much what we got here is a wayward freak show, which has a charmingly campy appeal. I had to pick up my jaw from the ground, as it's just off the rails! If you've seen the second one, you know what to expect, even if it does up the ante on the craziness this time around. The first film was a sleazy classick, the second wasn't too bad, but this outing I thought was somewhat of an improvement on the first sequel. Only fans of the Basket Case films and that of incredibly wild and cheesy B-films will get something out of it. Frank Henenlotter's "Basket Case 3: The Progeny" is just as cheap and crude, but far more adventurous, with cartoon-style violence and twists that go one step further. Everything and I mean everything is played for wicked laughs. You got the quirky sense of humour and offbeat dialogue, that provides one corny one liner after another. Shoddy looking makeup and cheap rubbery effects actually dazzle, because you seen nothing quite like it, with Belial and his buddies looking okay and at least have different types of personalities and distinguishable features. Plus there's plenty of moments that pop up out the blue, like a musical number and kinky sexual act. But it's those eye popping sequences of Belial's grisly and inventive attacks that just make it so hugely exciting, especially the film's climax, which was a real hoot.

One thing you definitely notice throughout the series, is that when it came to this film there was more of a focus on Granny Ruth and her family of "unique individuals". The brotherly love seemed more drifted, but when those two shared the screen that's when most of best moments occurred. The film definitely felt more childish, but still there was an underlying cruel and ghastly tone to proceedings and the story also has a message about accepting others as the way they are. Just to be open-minded, really. There's some nice homage's from other films too and a rather brisk pace keeps things going. Henenlotter even adds a recount of what happened at the end of the second film to just refresh your memory, but that ending I don't think is that hard to forget when your thinking of the Basket Case films. Surprisedly the enthusiastic acting gets better, but by not much. Kevin Van Hentenryck again fitted the role perfectly as the oddball Duane, even if his character's persona is all over shop. But again its Annie Ross, who steals all the scenes she's in as the determined Granny Ruth.

Stupid? You're right about that, but it's just hilariously demented fun and nothing more!

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

I love this movie. I nearly wet myself laughing it was so hysterical. I wish they had made more than 3 of these films, because each one just keeps getting campier and funnier.

Just from the ending of the second one starts the third chapter of the Basket Case saga. Still in the "freak house", Duane got crazy, at least for a little at the beginning of the movie... anyway did you ever think he was sane?? He is put in kind of "madhouse style" cell in the basement until the entire community is forced to move because of Eve, the Belial-like freak known in the previous movie, is pregnant and is going to need the help of a "specified" doctor! So they all move to the "doctor's house" we soon discover to be Granny Ruth husband (you will also see their son, but I think you'll be glad to discover that yourself!) and try to help eve to give life to the progeny the title talks about! A strange-but-happy family picture? Useless to say troubles are on their way and a couple of police officers "steal" the little creatures and shoot eve: it's time for Belial's revenge!! The battle scene provides a "techno-belial" too! Very funny!

This movie is full of silly-yet-entertaining character, but I consider better the previous one. Maybe the plots are too similar, nothing is added except some freak and some laughs, maybe it is just too hilarious, sure it's not as good as the others! Technically it's still above the average level of low budget movies, but it lacks of something I can't define. Anyway it's worth a look with some friends for some good laugh!