Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)

Film Title: Return of the Living Dead Part II
Released: January 15, 1988
Directed by: Ken Wiederhorn
Written by: Ken Wiederhorn
Starring: James Karen, Thom Matthews & Dana Ashbrook

Plot: When a military canister falls off of a transport truck, a group of kids accidentally open it and release a  mysterious gas that travels to the nearby graveyard. After that, the dead begin to rise from the grave, hungry for brains!

IMDb: 5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 0/100
My Score: 1.5/5

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

Trying to capture the comedy/horror tone of its predecessor, Return of the Living Dead Part II fails miserably, and from what I can tell, its largely the fault of writer/director Ken Wiederhorn. The set ups are nearly identical: a canister containing a zombie is accidentally opened near a graveyard and the gas inside begins to raise the dead. The similarities don't stop there; far from it. James Karen and Thom Matthews are leads once again and their characters share similar fates. Wiederhorn believes this to be so hilarious that not only do Matthews and Karen repeat dialogue from the first film (Karen: "You better watch your tongue, boy, if you like this job." Matthews: "Like this job!?") but Matthews says to Karen, "Its like we've been here before! Its like I dreamed this whole thing! You, me, them!" (motioning to the zombies). Hell, Matthews' girlfriend, played by Suzanne Snyder, won't leave his side as he turns into a zombie, just like Beverly Randolph wouldn't in the first film. Wiederhorn did add his own special, and in my opinion, terrible touches, though. Like Karen removing a reanimated dismembered head out from inside of a bag and sticking his finger in between the chomping teeth, zombies transfixed by TV aerobics and zombies who joyride in stolen vehicles just for a few examples. I will say this, though; he does change up the scenery in this one. This time we visit suburbia, a hospital and a power plant...so that's something. There are more varying zombie effects this time out, but unfortunately quantity does not equal quality as they are inferior to those of the first film. And at least the army doesn't nuke the city this time around to contain the threat. Instead, the heroes zap the zombies with electricity to kill them, because everyone knows that electricity beats zombie in rock, paper, scissors. I'm also not alone in thinking this one is a stinker. Did you notice the 0/100 Rotten Tomatoes score? Puppeteer Allan Trautman reprises his role as the "Tarman" zombie released from the cannister, Mitch Pileggi has a small role as an army sergeant and Forrest J. Ackerman and Doug Benson appear as zombies. It was nominated for a Saturn Awards for Best Music and two Young Artist Awards: Best Young Actor in a Horror or Mystery Motion Picture (Michael Kenworthy) and Teenage Choice for Best Horror Motion Picture.