When Drafthouse Films released the twisted horror short anthology The ABC's Of Death two years ago, it was an anarchistic free-for-all where the enlisted filmmakers were all in unknown territory like the wild west. Some of them went for juvenile humor, others wanted to find out how fast they could gross out their audience to the point of puking in the aisles and a couple, like D is for Dogfight and Q is for Quack, that were creative segments that really stood out from the herd.
If this year's vastly superior sequel has proved one thing, it's that as long as this franchise continues to grow, there will be hungry filmmakers lined up that not only have a great thirst for cinematic carnage, but will feel determined to obliterate their competition and surpass the quality of their predecessors.
E.L. Katz (Cheap Thrills) drew first blood this time around with A is for Amateur and it is one tough act to follow, but most of the segments that follow keep the momentum flowing at an engaging pace. There's tonal consistency in this sequel that was sorely lacking in it's predecessor and when the diversity of subject matter and chaotic spirit is all put into perspective, it's quite impressive how every segment is treated with a serious attention to filmmaking. The morbid children’s book opening also serves as a framing device that gives this outing a sense of cohesiveness about the whole affair as opposed to the feeling of randomness that hung over the last film and made the experience seem like a short film competition.
Some of the better segments in ABC's Of Death 2 come from directors like Jen and Sylvia Soska's blindsiding T is for Torture Porn and there's a hauntingly memorable contribution from Kristina Buozyte (Vanishing Waves). I really hope that more talented female directors get on board with the next installment to show why diversity is necessary for film in any genre to evolve. Steven Kostanski of Astron 6 is another welcome addition to the lineup, with an entry as gonzo as you'd expect with that collective's history. With the original film's overall ratio of memorable to mediocre segments split essentially down the middle, this sequel tilts the scale in favor of memorable experiences and gives much hope for this franchise to hit its peak in the future with a near flawless lineup.
One thing that can be said without doubt concerning ABC's Of Death 2 and it's predecessor's accomplishments is the overall love for this creative medium that comes across with every letter for better or worse and clearly shows why Drafthouse Films would have them on their team. The more serious approach to the assignments that this select group of creators brought to this sequel has really given this anthology an identity that wasn't fully formed the first time around and after the final letter is revealed, a sense of promise and excitement radiates enthusiasm for the next chapter that will most likely be coming soon.
Movie Score: 3.5/5
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