Budget: Less Than Part 1
Directed By: Micheal Cooney
Ah remember that little comedy horror film with the cult following?
No, not troll or troll 2, the one with an early performance by Shannon Elizabeth and a wise cracking killer snowman.
That's right Jack Frost and I know I made this joke on the first part but not the Micheal Keaton heart warming one either.
In the first film we see Jack on his way to be executed for being a murdering psychopath, just when you think he's escaped he's dowsed in a chemical that melts him at an atomic level.
His DNA mixes with the snow allowing him to form into a snowman at will. Much murderous hilarity ensues as he goes on a killing spree with some quite unique kills racked up and some truly awful puns thrown into the mix.
Unfortunately despite it doing okay Cooney rushed out a sequel that supposedly had half the budget the original did. I can't find anything to back this up, no numbers or documentation anywhere for amounts these films cost. It does show in this sequel what an even crappier budget does and doesn't allow you to do.
In a sequel you want more of the same but ramped up to 20 right?
Unfortunately Jack Frost 2 does not offer this.
We Join the cop Sam from the first film Suffering from post traumatic disorder from his encounter with Jack (even worse than when he first caught him). He's advised to go on holiday by his wife and doctor so he decides to, especially since his two coworkers are also getting married.
Like most Government officials It seems they can't leave well enough alone, the FBI dig up some of the jack infected anti-freeze to do tests on. A janitor accidentally knocks a cup of coffee into the Jack mix and the caffiene and warmth somehow counter the chemical effects and Jack is reborn. Theres a new twist now though Jack has some of Sam's blood in him now which psychically links them both.
So he follows Sam to the Cobana in the pacific by just flinging himself into the sea and washing up on the beach. I think he's immune to heat now too or something like that, Agent Manners returns too even though he seemed quite dead in part 1, This is when Sam starts to realise there's something amiss.
Killings ensue with carrot noses being used as deadly weapons, this is where the budget shows they aren't nearly as good or as fun as the first films.
Despite the heat not effecting him as much as it should, he does seem to be able to cool the whole place down and make it snow! Despite the kills being subpar to the first films they are certainly increased 3 or 4 fold with many people dying in this one.
Sam tries to use the anti-freeze trick again and it does work, unfortunately Jack is now resilient to the chemical from being bonded with it by the coffee (I think). Jack also now has the ability to reproduce by spiting up snowballs that turn into little snowmen. These little guys devour poor Manners after he finds a nest of them.
The way they find out how to kill them and thus kill Jack in the end is incredibly odd compared to the anti-freeze ending of the last one. Despite not being as pleased with this one as I was the first film it's still got 'some' of the charm of the first. Cooney does apparently want to get a 3rd one off the ground but that was back in 2016, if he ever does I hope he has a better budget and brings back the feel of the first one more (supposedly a giant Jackzilla).
THN awards Jack Frost 2: RotMKS, a decent 2 out of 5 stars with a watch if you enjoyed the first one recommendation.
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