Saw House II: The Second Story (1987) last night. I'm a fan of the original film, but the sequel...my God, what an unexpected treasure this was. Rated PG-13 as opposed to the original's R and played mostly for laughs, I'm unbelievably amazed that a movie starring everything from mummies to zombie cowboys to caterpillar/dog mutants and beyond managed to be so rife with subtlety. It's not laugh-out-loud funny or anything -- it's way deeper. I think the writers and producers knew what they were going for -- something truly oddball -- but instead of banging it over your head in that "LOOK HOW WEIRD WE'RE BEING" way (see: Basket Case 2), they act as if this element of the film doesn't exist. I know I'm not explaining it correctly, but put it this way -- there's a scene where the lead hero wrestles a baby pterodactyl for a crystal skull, and they didn't use zany music. No zany music! I appreciate films like that, and I think you'll love House II. Currently being sold on the cheap on DVD in a two-pack with the original, I'm writing "recommended" on my cat's ass and making it moon you. I've read a bunch of reviews this afternoon, and most buffs seem to consider it one of the worst horror sequels ever. If you can't appreciate Royal Dano playing a resurrected cowboy from the old west trying to drive a corvette, you just suck, man.

Speaking of which, there's a scene where Dano Cowboy Ghost Mummy is flipping through channels on the television, because whenever someone from the past is brought to the present in any movie ever made, they MUST BE AMAZED BY TV. As he's scouring, keep an eye out for an old Toys 'R Us commercial, and better yet, the commercial for Big Stuf Oreo cookies. Hells yeah.

EDIT: Oops, it's Saturday. Time for another Bored Saturday Night Convo Thread. Chat away.