Silver Medals

Deadly Movies loves franchises.  Those of us who love monsters, creatures, and bogey men just cant help it; we’re a hungry bunch for whom lust, greed, and gluttony are not deadly sins but rather unquenchable desires for more. More kills, more ghouls, more masks, more more more. So here’s the Deadly Movies list of great number two’s, and being Deadly Movies don’t expect to see Empire, The Dark Knight, or Spidey 2.

Son of Kong (1933): Made almost before Kong’s body hit the asphalt on 5^th Avenue, this was one of the films I wanted to track down more than any other. Its saving grace is the return of the outstanding Robert Armstrong as one of film’s greatest man-explorers Carl Denham. That in itself is a good enough reason to watch this Part 2, and if anyone tells you different they can jog right back to Skull Island. That aside, we get a baby Kong, some more dinosaurs, and another sombre ending.

Jaws 2 (1978): As far as I’m concerned, 1975’s Jaws is the greatest movie ever made. The sequel most certainly isn’t…, but it is solid. French director Jeannot Szwarc brings some good scares and some interesting new approaches to the shark’s POV including riding bare back, camera in hand, behind the famous wake breaking fin. The late great Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss are noticeable by their absence; you really miss the chemistry that sizzled between the three men in the original. But if you can get past that you basically get a teenage slasher film here; replace Jason with shark.

Friday 13^th Part 2 (1981): Easy, one word…, Jason. Two words…, Jason Voorhees. Three words…, Jason F**king Voorhees! Regarded by many as the best entry into the series this not only gives us Jason as the killer (not a bad idea by someone) but also provides some great (funny?) kills, including wheelchair guy heading off down the stairs, and maintains a link to the events of Part 1, even if the timeline makes no sense at all.

The Invisible Man Returns (1940): Basically a retread of the first one, but this is no bad thing when your Invisible Man is now Vincent Price whose unique voice is at times extremely chilling. And then there’s the increasingly impressive special effects, especially when objects are being moved, used, rode, and thrown.

Like Silver Medals? Also see: Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Revenge of The Creature (1955), Aliens (1986), Psycho 2 (1983), Predator 2 (1990), Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004), The Devils Rejects (2005).

Coming soon: The worst Part 2’s and the Best Part 3’s!