Falcon Video presents Jacker 2: Descent to Hell. This is a Barry Gaines film, written by and starring the one and only Phil Herman as Mike Rivers. Also starring Ben Stanski, who plays the Crotch brothers. Total running time is 1 hour and 46 minutes. As you can tell from the storyline that Mike Rivers has survived his deadly fall from the mountain in Jacker 1. I like the fact that as the intro credits roll, we get to see a recap of Jacker 1 to refresh the viewers mind.
This film starts off with a bang! There is so much to digest right from the start. Mike looks half dead, and we delve straight into a gory scene to segway the viewer into the film. I appreciate that this sequel carries on in the same type of style as the first movie. Sometimes there is the potential that a sequel won't live up to the original-but trust me when I say-this one is just as good, if not better! There are no long-drawn-out scenes to fill in time, no, there is action after-action, high-octane entertainment that certainly lives up to Jacker 1, and then some.
I like the rundown of what happened to Mike since his dive off the side of the mountain. It's great to see some familiar faces are back, it means the cast is consistent. Detective Jackson (played by Patrick Jackson) has some explaining to do to Officer Ben (played by Ben Stanski) as to why Jackson thought that Mike the Jacker was dead, when he clearly isn't. The times when Mike torments Jackson over the phone, this is great because it gets Jackson all fired up. I really enjoyed the intense scenes of Mike either seeing ghosts, or perhaps the fall broke something in his brain...great twist! Excellent hook. Mike is a total maniac! Then we jump into the future by 6 months.
James (played by Barry Gaines) is in a hospital bed after miraculously surviving the Jacker. It is interesting that James is also having his own paranormal experiences. James and Jackson devise a plan to catch the Jacker, setting up the plot. The hunter becomes the hunted, and the game is on. We are only 18 minutes in and already we have seen 3 carjackings, with each being more brutal than the last. Extraordinary! Mike's maniacal monologues are so vicious to add the dread factor. Detective Ken/Len (lol) pays Mike's mother (played by Edie Herman) a visit, and it all turns to crap from there. Something diabolical happens inside the house. Mike reels James into his web, and what happens when they finally get together is atrocious!
A nasty power dynamic lets us see just how deviant Mike is when he tries to jack a woman's car. Great development of his character as a psychotic madman. He spots another potential victim, which leads him to a couple inside a motel room. It's great to see Joel Wynkoop in this scene. Gena the private investigator (played by Marilyn Ghigliotti) has collected evidence and has posted it to Ken. Little does she know she is being watched. The consequence is terrible. James gets caught up in Mikes sadistic game. He lets James go so he can hunt him down. This man is abysmal! Especially the scene in the car that gave me Leatherface vibes. James is trying to explain to the chief what happened in the car with who he thought was Jackson. We meet Sarge the weapons dealer (played by John Korcz) and it does not go well for this sleazeball. Ken is also hunting down the Jacker, in revenge for the murders of his brothers Ben and Len.
The police are on James's trail. He's alone and lost and that really shines through. He realises he has been set up. It's an emotive scene when he begs God for help. The tension is palpable, adding depth. Although this is a gory horror, I am really enjoying the supernatural thread as it adds an ethereal and mysterious element, in a horrifying way. A dark dreadful and suspenseful nightmare sequence takes place, giving me a jump scare. The next moment he finds himself alone, scared and naked. Mike makes an appearance, playing with James's mind. There's a compelling revelation that somewhat clears up some of the story for us. Hell is a terrifying place and is portrayed in a fascinating way. The ending is epic and a great surprise, leaving us with a massive cliffhanger. Will James survive, or is this the end?
Overall, there are some wonderful twists and turns. The cinematography stands out and sets this apart from other movies in this era. The SOV style filming makes the viewer feel like they are there in the action. Colour changes help to set the mood and tone as we go from dark to light, and some black and white scenes. Although the sound and camera are a little dated, the film is one you can watch and still get the full effect as the story and concept is not dated at all. There are fantastic sound effects that enhance the scenes, along with the 90s music vibe. The images of horror are gory and bloody excellent! There are a lot of great locations and settings. The acting is good and dramatic. Mike is back better than ever. The storyline was a little more complex than its first instalment, with more characters and different side stories to add texture and layering to the storyline and the plot. I am thankful this lived up to Jacker 1, and did not depart from the original flavour of the first film. The momentum is fast paced, keeping the viewer invested through to the end. I highly recommend you watch Jacker 1 and Jacker 2, as Jacker 3 is currently in production nearly 30 years after the first instalment of Jacker. You will not be disappointed!
Reviewed by Del Gibson.
