CarousHELL 2 DVD Review (Silver Spotlight Films)

CarousHELL 2 (aKa CarousHELL the 2nd) is a 2021 independent horror film co-written, produced, and directed by Steve Rudzinski (CarousHELL Trilogy, Amityville Christmas Vacation, Curtains for Christmas, Shingles: The Movie, Meowy franchise, Red Christmas, and Basic Slaughter). It was co-written and produced by Aleen Isley (CarousHELL Trilogy and Curtains for Christmas). It’s a direct sequel to 2016’s CarousHELL and it’s followed up by 2023’s CarousHELL 3 to complete the low budget trilogy. Duke (voiced by: Steve Rimpici from CarousHELL Trilogy, The Puppet Monster Massacre, Shingles: The Movie, Meowy franchise, Red Dead Redemption, and Bullseye) feels lost in his life after getting his blood thirsty revenge from the people that made his life a living hell. He wants more besides just killing. He feels like he was meant for something special. He gets the shocking news that he has a son named Robbie (voiced by: Brittany Barnabei from CarousHELL 3, Shingles: The Movie, Meowy franchise, and The Survivors) so he decides to step up and help raise his kid. The evil Nazis which includes Ilsa (played by: Aleen Isley from Head Case, Shingles: The Movie, Amityville Christmas Vacation, and Everyone Must Die!), Otto (played by: Terence Lee Cover from Fangboner, Feaster Sunday, Mimesis, and Spookie Dookie), Klaus (played by: Mark McConnell Jr. from Dramateurs), and Katrina (played by: Rebecca Rinehart from The Embalmers, Frightvision, Sharks of the Corn, Backwoods Bubba, Shingles: The Movie, and Sister Krampus) that created Duke want their property back and they have finally tracked him down. Duke is trying to live a normal life but violence won’t go away when it comes to his cursed existence!!!! Director Steve Rudzinski definitely tried something different here with his independent horror franchise. The original CarousHELL had a slasher vibe to it but this follow up is more of a revenge feature at least for the finale. Cody Ruch (CarousHELL Trilogy, Placid Park, Phantom Fun-World, The Mill, 13 Slays Till X-Mas, 10/31 Part 2, and Shingles: The Movie) handles the special fx here again. CarousHELL 2 takes a more serious approach compared to the previous one for the first 50 minutes. Rudzinski and Isley want to keep this wild universe fresh so they change it up with a variety of new additions. It’s a family drama and comedy for the most part besides a few brutal moments early on. The production value went up so much here. The cinematography, production design, and special fx all have stepped up their game in this. CarousHELL 2 really reminds me of a Troma film for the most part. Depending on what writer says that, it can either be positive or negative. Personally, I’ve always been a huge Troma fan so it’s a good comparison. Leads Steve Rimpici and Brittany Barnabei do a solid job when it comes to providing their voices for the unique unicorn characters. Co-writer Aleen Isley and Scream Queen Rebecca Rinehart stand out for the main over the top Nazi villains in CarousHELL 2. Not going to lie, they kinda flipped it when came to the female nudity in this. I honestly never expected Isley show off her body rather than the known Rinehart when it came to the Nazi baddies. Judy Casella (CarousHELL Trilogy) returns from the first film as Ms. Laurence. She is the mother of Laurie and Lunchbox. The rest of the supporting cast includes Terence Lee Cover, Mark McConnell Jr., Joshua Antoon (Amityville Christmas Vacation), Nate Ragon (Out of the Furnace), Matt Mahon (Demon Tongue), Scott Lewis (Captain Z and the Terror of Leviathan), Marci Leigh (CarousHELL 3), and Reagan Heller (Friday the 13th: Vengeance). CarousHELL 2 gives you Duke’s origin and background story with a variety of flashbacks. I do respect Steve Rudzinski for doing something completely different from his popular original film because it was risky. This feels like it’s own movie rather than a sequel. This is the 3rd film that I’ve covered for the independent film maker, I feel like he got more comfortable with himself here as a director and he did whatever he wanted with CarousHELL 2. He loves comedy for cinema and it’s flows free for this. It’s still loaded with easter eggs and references from the first CarousHELL. I love that Rudzinski has post credit scenes that kinda build up the next one. Almost no one does that for low budget films and it always reminds me of those fun superhero ones. The CarousHELL trilogy remains to be one of the most unique entries for the independent scene!!!! Let’s discuss the special features on the DVD from Silver Spotlight Films. It has an “Audio Commentary” with Steve Rudzinski, Aleen Isley, and Scott Lewis. They chat about doing a sequel to CarousHELL. They talk about having more to work with for the follow up which definitely shows on screen. They go over getting props and the many references to the other Rudzinski projects. They bring up the cast, characters, special fx, and the overall production. They joke about why Robbie was a puppet rather than like his father. They explain how hard it was to shoot and frame a puppet for low budget film making. They provide lots of information and some hilarious stories from the set. They take you behind the scenes and explore all the scenes from it. It’s a fun track, they have a blast revisiting this sequel. It has the little over 22 minute “Cast and Crew Interviews”. It has all kinds of interviews with the cast and crew. They chat about this sequel and the appreciation for the original. They talk about what made them want to do this follow up. They discuss their thoughts on the script and their experiences on the production. They chat about not wanting to do the same film over and over. It has the little over a minute “BTS VFX Tests”. It shows a few different fx being tested for CarousHELL 2. “Filmmaking in a Pandemic” is a little over 5 minutes. Steve Rudzinski says this sequel has a way smaller cast and crew because of the problem at the time. He shares the struggles and safety for this independent movie. It has the little over 10 minute “CarousHELL Game Unboxing” with co-writer and actress Aleen Isley. She shows off the game for the horror franchise. Yes, these films actually have their own card game which is awesome. It has the official “Trailer”. It has an ad for “SteveBuster”. It’s a professionally made M.O.D DVD-R. It comes with it’s own AD for other Silver Spotlight projects and releases. It’s available directly from Silver Spotlight Films or you can view it on the SteveBuster app, CHECK IT OUT!!!!