In case you are not aware, this is a sequel to Scare Package, a film released in 2019. Horror and cinephile fanatic ‘Rad’ Chad Buckley is dead. The film opens with Chad’s funeral and shares brief moments from the previous movie. Various friends and family pay their respects at the funeral, honouring Chad’s life. However, thanks to a pre-recorded message on a VHS cassette, we soon discover Chad has other plans for all his guests, and everyone is knocked unconscious.
The guests wake up in a room together and now must survive an ultimate game that could cost them their lives. This game consists of various challenges with strict rules they must follow to survive the terror and massive blood bath. Because ‘Rad’ Chad Buckley has planned all the games, there are plenty of references to various horror films, complete randomness, and an outline packed with utter spoofy nonsense.
As already mentioned, this film is a sequel. Both Scare Package films are best described as horror with comedic spoof vibes. Sadly, going into this second instalment, I hadn’t seen the first Scare Package. The inclusion of flashbacks to the previous film had no relevance to me, and I was entirely unaware if it mattered. It is a shame for newcomers like me that I could not connect with this aspect of the film. However, it took me only a short time to see what kind of movie this was. As a fan of many popular horror films, I was glad and excited to see many great horror movies mocked and spoofed, especially titles such as Saw, Friday the 13th and the list goes on. While there’s the main story here, viewers aren’t following this the whole time. At multiple points, we follow backstories or divert into short stories which make fun of other popular titles.
The style of comedy was generally hit-and-miss. Some gags are repetitive and lose the fun quickly. One example of this is a vomiting scene done for laughs, but the reaction will vary among viewers. Other gags are, in fact, exceptionally creative, fun and witty, especially when mocking well-known franchises. Right from the start of this film anything can happen; nothing is predictable. Elements of gore and violence are surprising and will shock fans. Pop culture references and even the laws of horror films are mocked, which is highly welcoming. Retro vibes are present throughout, which is fun. Visually, there’s plenty here that I admired, including set designs and costumes to make specific time periods more convincing, but again, it’s a spoof; any minor imperfections in this department are forgiving.
Overall, this will be right up your alley if you’re a lover of all things horror and spoofy comedy. This instalment is more rewarding to those who have seen the first movie. As for newcomers (like me), this film doesn’t provide enough detail or give a proper recap to help fully understand what’s going on, which was instantly a missed opportunity. However, if you’re seeking something highly brainless, which requires zero concentration and countless gags that are extremely hit-and-miss, this will win you even if you haven’t seen the previous movie. There’s plenty of creativity here, primarily when the film spoofs popular horror films such as Saw and Friday the 13th. Costumes, gore, and even sets are recreated all for laughs. As a comedy, this isn’t going to please everyone’s style and taste, but if you loved the previous movie, there’s a strong chance you’ll adore this instalment more than others. Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge (2022) is Available Exclusively on Shudder from December 22nd!
5.4/10
19th December 2022
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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