Jean-Paul Ouellette's sequel picks up where The Unnamable left off, folding in elements of Lovecraft's "The Statement of Randolph Carter." On paper, the addition of David Warner and John Rhys-Davies should give it weight, but even their presence can't lift the thin script. Maria Ford adds the expected 90s exploitation edge, but not even her nude scenes save the film from feeling soapy, soppy, and sloppy.
The sinister grace of Katrin Alexandre's she-demon from the first outing is sorely missed. Julie Strain's version is bigger and more athletic, but less Lovecraftian-more like a stock fairy-tale monster than an otherworldly horror. The special effects are competently made but poorly lit, stripping away atmosphere, and at times the film has a TV feel that undercuts any gothic dread.
While the first film managed flickers of atmosphere, this follow-up squanders its potential. The result is a flat, uneven sequel that drifts further from Lovecraft and closer to forgettable late-night filler.
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