Basket Case 3 (1991) Poster

(1991)

User Reviews

Review this title
52 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
6/10
And I thought the second one was wacked out!
lost-in-limbo1 December 2005
After going crazy and stitching Belial back on himself at the end of the second film, Duane is now slapped into a straight jacket and kept in a room for months until he's better. After being released by Granny Ruth he founds out that Belial is going to be a father. So, Ruth organises a road trip with her family to the deep south to meet a doctor she knows that could actually help deliver the infants. Although, after the delivery a couple of officers kidnap Belial's babies, which makes Belial incredibly angry and causes the horrific fury we've come expect from him.

First off, a word of warning… it's not a film for the uninitiated of cheap and twisted cinema. Pretty much what we got here is a wayward freak show, which has a charmingly campy appeal. I had to pick up my jaw from the ground, as it's just off the rails! If you've seen the second one, you know what to expect, even if it does up the ante on the craziness this time around. The first film was a sleazy classick, the second wasn't too bad, but this outing I thought was somewhat of an improvement on the first sequel. Only fans of the Basket Case films and that of incredibly wild and cheesy B-films will get something out of it. Frank Henenlotter's "Basket Case 3: The Progeny" is just as cheap and crude, but far more adventurous, with cartoon-style violence and twists that go one step further. Everything and I mean everything is played for wicked laughs. You got the quirky sense of humour and offbeat dialogue, that provides one corny one liner after another. Shoddy looking makeup and cheap rubbery effects actually dazzle, because you seen nothing quite like it, with Belial and his buddies looking okay and at least have different types of personalities and distinguishable features. Plus there's plenty of moments that pop up out the blue, like a musical number and kinky sexual act. But it's those eye popping sequences of Belial's grisly and inventive attacks that just make it so hugely exciting, especially the film's climax, which was a real hoot.

One thing you definitely notice throughout the series, is that when it came to this film there was more of a focus on Granny Ruth and her family of "unique individuals". The brotherly love seemed more drifted, but when those two shared the screen that's when most of best moments occurred. The film definitely felt more childish, but still there was an underlying cruel and ghastly tone to proceedings and the story also has a message about accepting others as the way they are. Just to be open-minded, really. There's some nice homage's from other films too and a rather brisk pace keeps things going. Henenlotter even adds a recount of what happened at the end of the second film to just refresh your memory, but that ending I don't think is that hard to forget when your thinking of the Basket Case films. Surprisedly the enthusiastic acting gets better, but by not much. Kevin Van Hentenryck again fitted the role perfectly as the oddball Duane, even if his character's persona is all over shop. But again its Annie Ross, who steals all the scenes she's in as the determined Granny Ruth.

Stupid? You're right about that, but it's just hilariously demented fun and nothing more!
8 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Belial third attack!
PsychoAndy758 November 2006
Just from the ending of the second one starts the third chapter of the Basket Case saga. Still in the "freak house", Duane got crazy, at least for a little at the beginning of the movie... anyway did you ever think he was sane?? He is put in kind of "madhouse style" cell in the basement until the entire community is forced to move because of Eve, the Belial-like freak known in the previous movie, is pregnant and is going to need the help of a "specified" doctor! So they all move to the "doctor's house" we soon discover to be Granny Ruth husband (you will also see their son, but I think you'll be glad to discover that yourself!) and try to help eve to give life to the progeny the title talks about! A strange-but-happy family picture? Useless to say troubles are on their way and a couple of police officers "steal" the little creatures and shoot eve: it's time for Belial's revenge!! The battle scene provides a "techno-belial" too! Very funny!

This movie is full of silly-yet-entertaining character, but I consider better the previous one. Maybe the plots are too similar, nothing is added except some freak and some laughs, maybe it is just too hilarious, sure it's not as good as the others! Technically it's still above the average level of low budget movies, but it lacks of something I can't define. Anyway it's worth a look with some friends for some good laugh!
3 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Basket Case 3: The Progeny
Scarecrow-8826 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
The third—and currently final—sequel in the twisted Henenlotter Basket Case series has simple-minded Duane(the child-like Van Hentenryck whose wide-eyed innocence is played to perfection here) trying to reconnect and apologize to ferocious, unhinged monster twin brother Dwight who has fathered an offspring! Annie Ross returns from the sequel as Granny Ruth, obviously batty but incredibly loyal to her merry band of grotesque freaks, who heads for Georgia where her son "Little Hal" (Jim O'Doherty, quite enthusiastic—and loud) and "Uncle Hal"(Dan Biggers, just a friendly town doctor the sheriff has a fondness for)live. Uncle Hal, Ruth feels, is the only one who could deliver Belial's unborn brood. When the Sheriff's (Gil Roper) bumbling deputies go hunting for Belial, a warrant out for his capture worth a million bucks, the mother of the monster children growls at them and they respond with a shot gun blast that kills "her". Well, sufficed to say, there will be hell to pay and the Sheriff will be out his policemen as Belial goes on quite a brutal rampage ripping heads off when he isn't chewing into their faces.

By the end of this series, Henelotter had just turned Bartalos and his make-up crew loose, not only creating a wide variety of surreal looking freaks, but gruesome gore (although, I was rather underwhelmed at the attacks from Belial on the police as they look so cartoonish, particularly when the emphasis was on prosthetics, I think the effects lost some impact; it was something right out of a comic book). I think moving the film from its origins in New York to a Southern town in Georgia also takes away from what made the first cult classic so interesting.

As we know all too well, Henelotter can't help himself and so the sheriff's daughter, who appears to be friendly and innocent, turns out to be into kink, her own special bullwhip in a box near the jail inside the station, with a dominatrix outfit appropriately hidden underneath her dress (probably the kind of dress she wears to church). Opal (Tina Louise Hilbert) can't contain her inhibitions and urges when naughty prisoners are in Daddy's jail cell and so she, whip in hand, is about to teach Duane (he is imprisoned by deputies who learn of his brother and Hal's house full of Ruth's "family of freaks") a lesson when the sheriff arrives to stop her. Too bad because I was hoping to see her in action—I just love Van Hentenryck's reaction when she comes toward him, the sound of the whip off from the floor, like a kid with Mother Superior and her ruler approaching him. Hilbert has that "girl next door" quality that makes her unveiling as a "teacher of discipline" shocking as only Henenlotter can achieve.

The film tries especially hard to get laughs out of the whole "family of freaks" scenario and I think the film succeeds when Van Hentenryck is on screen. There's a gag where he has Little Hal build a contraption for Belial with operational weapons that is rather amusing. I think it was a good idea of Henelotter to end the series here, although I imagine BC fans want another sequel. If he were to get the funding, I imagine he'd go the CGI route which would be unfortunate. The "birthing" sequence, while strange as intended, does go on a bit too long, but a basket full of little Belials is quite an image. THE PROGENY has enough camp value (..with a nice shot at Geraldo at the end as a lookalike host gets terrorized by Belial as Granny Ruth sends a direct message to "normal" folk about her freaks no longer hiding in secret) I figure for his fans who will find something to like, since there's plenty of "monster mayhem" and absurdity. Like the series as a whole, it's a cult movie intended for a specific audience who likes their movies off-the-wall.
2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Campy entertaining third and last entry
michaeldaly9925 June 2002
The third entry in this bizzare series sees the usual cast return, namely Annie Ross as Granny Ruth and Kevin VanHentenryck as Duane Bradley. This third and last installment in the series has more gore than BC2, is campier and more entertaining than BC2, has some memorable characters and lovable cops, and you get to see 12 of Belial's kids, or his "progeny"....It's also got an ending to remember. Highly recommended, this flick rests easy in my collection. 9/10

Rated 18s for strong horror violence and gore, language, sensuality and nudity
9 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
Sure. Why not? One more wouldn't hurt. It's not like it'll be stupid, and include a road trip to Georgia... Right?
Tromafreak23 October 2010
After the shockingly surreal events that took place at the end of the last movie, Granny Ruth and pals have a now insane Duane Bradley locked in a padded cell, which is also in the "freak house". Of course it is. Gee whiz, Duane sure does act zany in this one. Zany or not, this story is going forward with us or without us, so, we might as well learn to appreciate it for what it is, whatever the hell it is. Anyway, the female freak (the one Belial had his way with in part 2) is now pregnant, and the only doctor Ruth can think of that can be trusted to deliver the litter, lives in Georgia... Oh, Great. I mean, Florida or North Carolina would have been a better choice, but a road trip is a road trip, right? So, Granny Ruth gets out the old school bus, leaves Duane in his straight-jacket, just to be safe, and takes her family o' freaks all the way down south. Hopefully, in such a small town, nobody will recognize Duane from all those tabloids. Unfortunately Duane feels he's being held against his will, and takes any opportunity he can to get away. Where, you ask? I don't know. Just away, I guess. Once Duane gets away, he gets himself into all sorts of trouble, not to mention Granny and the freaks. Greedy, small-town cops, lookin' for reward money is hot on Belial's trail, but what these yokels find... well, forget it. This movie sucks. But if you've recently had the pleasure of seeing the original Basket Case, and you got the Henenlotter fever, the next logical step would be a flick called Brain Damage.

As someone who hates the fact that there is even one Basket Case sequel, even I gotta admit that the idea of a part 2 is, or I guess was intriguing. But 3? Come on, Frank. You're better than that. I would imagine someone, at some point, up and told the man how awful this movie really is, discouraging the poor fella, and sending him into a deep depression, which would explain why Henenlotter wouldn't make another movie (Bad Biology) for 17 years... Embaressment. 4/10
5 out of 8 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Freakshow extravaganza!
Coventry8 April 2005
Basket Case volume 3 is a very redundant and pointless sequel that you should definitely avoid unless you're an avid fan of Frank Hennenlotter's deranged filming style. The original Basket Case (dating from 1982) was a genuine classic and a triumph for low-budget cinema that should be viewed by everyone who's mildly intrigued by the genre. The 1990 sequel already was a lot more light-headed and comical but yet it is interesting viewing because it reveals some unanswered questions gives some more background. There really was no reason to shoot another sequel, especially not because the premise has become pure slapstick. So I think this film was only made because Hennenlotter had fun with it and maybe for spoiling the true Belial fans with another treat! Well, I'm a true Belial fan and I had a lot of fun watching this piece of pure camp. This is a jolly bunch of nonsense, complete with over the top gore, absurd twists and insane characters. Belial's girlfriend (who he met in part 2) is about to give birth to his offspring and so the whole freakshow travels to Granny Ruth's befriended doctor who's specialized in these kinds of deliveries. Duane is slowly recovering from insanity, escapes and unwillingly makes the presence of the freak-collection public. When greedy police officers attempt to turn in Belial for the reward, our aggressive semi-person can start another repulsive series of murders. Basket Case 3 is a very tasteless film with absolutely no depth or value whatsoever. The make up effects are very grotesque (you should see some of these mutants) and you won't find this funny unless you have a wicked sense of humor yourself. Cool end sequence, though! So, as stated before, don't watch part 3 unless you really want to finish the trilogy. In case you're a vivid Hennenlotter admirer like myself… enjoy the (freak)show.
4 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Campy on purpose but failing miserably
metamatica6 May 2020
Concept sounds insane and fun, but the execution is terrible. You really have to be around 15-18 years perhaps younger to find this even remotely funny. The dialogue is hopeless, the effects are cheap, crude and unconvincing on any level. And on top all the 'freaks' are so utterly ridiculous in their appearance and their hysterical continous running mindless about the place is just so dumb and serves no purpose. I've seen all 3 in the series and they're all on the same childish level. Even as comedy horror its awful, check out Re-Animator indstead.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Weird sequel tops the second installment.
Captain_Couth27 November 2003
Basket Case 3 (1992) is actually enjoyable and more successful than part 2. Henenlotter seems to have fun with the project this time around. What I enjoyed about this film was it dark overtones and satirical wit. More fun with Duane and Belial. The family leave their abode and head down the Mason/Dixon line for some fun. Crazy sequel that's highly enjoyable. Those that were disappointed with part two will enjoy this one. Recommended.

B+
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
Basket Case 3
ryan-100753 April 2019
Here in this lame sequel, Duane (after attempting to sew his brother back onto his body) has been quarantined from the other "freaks" at Granny Ruth's (Annie Ross). He gets released from the rubber room and soon finds out he's going to be an uncle thanks to his now distant brother Belial. They are going to visit Uncle Hal (Dan Biggers) who may be able to assist in delivering the new-born baby. Murder and mayhem soon follows.

If you liked part 2 maybe there is something here that I didn't quite get in Frank Henenlotter's third installment in the BASKET CASE trilogy. To me though the series really had hit a wall, which was sad because I really enjoyed the original, but after two dissatisfactory sequels was glad to see the series end.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Funny and Gory
atinder16 September 2009
Duane Bradley is re-separated from Belial as he tired to put Belial back on to his side, so he was put in a straitjacket and a cell in Granny Ruth's house Few months later Duane is let out by Ruth,

Meahwhile Belial Girlfriend who Pregnant, so Granny takes everyone to her ex-husband Doctor Hal Rockwell,

As they get ready as Belial's girlfriend water-breaks and she end up giving birth to 7 others Belial's to Belial shock

Duane was told to stay away from Belial and then he goes out window, only to get locked in Jail, then Police soon find out who he is, so they go to house and see the others and the babies and the Kidnap them, They bring them back Policestaions.

One of the police officer pick basket that left outside that when Killing start.

This movie was not funny as the other two but still had some very funny moment in this movie, they did try to be a little to funny at the some points some of the jokes didn't work

I really liked the deaths scenes in this movie they are really gory and funny at the same time.

I didn't like acting as it was bad in movie and I did not like the ending of this movie. I think this the weakest of the 3 in acting and plot but the deaths scenes in this movie were much better then the ones in Basket Case 2

I give this movie a 6/10
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Mongoloid he was a mongoloid (contains farts)
raphael003320 August 2011
Warning: Spoilers
(Spoiler= this movie is a FART).

Very big spoiler = there's action between 1'08 and 1'12. And some comedy too (between 1'13 and 1'14). But don't worry, there is nothing going on besides those six minutes of action, because this movie is total crap. I would like to thank Duane, the brother of the 10 minutes freaks, especially for his role which reminds me of E.T.

In this "movie" you can see a lot of freaks. They dance, they drink Vodka, they eat pancakes and they like baby-sitting... That's all.

Was that a direct-to-video? Unfortunately, no. But it could have been a direct-to-your-toilets.
2 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
It's Campy and it's Good!
Huntress-230 April 1999
I love this movie. I nearly wet myself laughing it was so hysterical. I wish they had made more than 3 of these films, because each one just keeps getting campier and funnier.
10 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
More insanity from Frank Henenlotter and his family of freaks.
BA_Harrison12 March 2010
Basket Case 3: The Progeny continues in much the same vein as Pt 2, with loads of twisted humour, some very silly freaks, and plenty of truly demented scenes, including a terrific musical number from Granny Ruth (Annie Ross) and her 'unique individuals', the birth of twelve mutant babies, Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) being dominated by Opal (Tina Louise Hilbert), the hot slutty daughter of a local sheriff, and Belial being transformed into a half-machine/half monster cyborg by Little Hal (Jim O'Doherty), a monstrous multi-limbed genius.

In short, this movie is yet another bonkers effort from Frank Henenlotter that, although never reaching the level of brilliance displayed in his debut Basket Case or the marvellous Brain Damage, should appeal to those who enjoyed the director's previous outing for his deranged, separated Siamese twins. The comedy sometimes gets a tad puerile, and the childish behaviour of the freaks becomes irritating at times, but the level of insanity is way high, with a fair amount of inventive gore, and even some nudity courtesy of Playboy twins Carla and Carmen Morrell (who have the dubious pleasure of fondling Belial).

It might not be Henenlotter at his best, but I'd much rather watch an enjoyably daft, low budget piece of campy trash such as this than much of today's bland and predictable mainstream horror.
3 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Disappointing
arfdawg-112 March 2024
I absolutely LOVED the original Basket Case. It had all the hallmarks of a grind-house movie but made by someone who really loved grind house movies.

It was gritty, low budget, but filled with both humor and horror.

Number Three shows severe wear and tear on the franchise.

It looks as if they put more money into it as the production values are far better than the first. However, it's a really dumb story that is more cartoonish than anything else.

The story-line is rather dumb and now there are tons of lovable "monsters" running around.

If not for a few of the original characters appearing in the movie, you'd never know this was a jumping point from the original.

I was severely disappointed.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Oh my God...
Cowman3 October 2002
Wow. Just when you thought they couldn't possibly twist BASKET CASE's bizarre concept into more of a surreally grotesque hodgepodge of blood, guts, playfulness, insanity, and 'unique individuals' than the first sequel already has-- they do. And boy do they do it with flair! In THE PROGENY, the premise of the first two movies have been taken to every single wacky extreme imaginable. If you thought BASKET CASE 2 was weird, then the final entry in Frank Henenlotter's cult trilogy will no doubt make you faint with confusion and utter disbelief.

Trying to explain the plot would be like trying to rationalize a horrific, fast-paced, 90-minute acid trip so I'm not even going to bother. In BASKET CASE 3, you'll witness the silver screen's most unusual musical number, the birth of a dozen monsters, a beautiful dominatrix with multiple personalities, a killer robot-machine, and an overweight genius with several arms. Yet, somehow within the film's warped universe, it all makes perfect sense. I highly recommend the entire series.
21 out of 24 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Better than the second
Leofwine_draca15 October 2013
The third and thankfully last of Frank Henenlotter's BASKET CASE trilogy. I've watched all three recently; the first was a semi-decent and gory B-movie with grindhouse overtones, but the second descended into high camp and had no discernible storyline. The third starts out like the second, kicking off with the various freaks from the second film going on a cross-country bus trip due to the impending birth of Belial's child.

It's as bad as it sounds, and completely ridiculous. Henenlotter wallows in the cheesy costumes and absurdity of the situation, but it's not enough to make this a decent film. However, around the second half of the film, things begin to pick up. It all starts with a strong, TERMINATOR-inspired rampage at a police station which recalls the grisly horror of the original movie, and from that point in it bears much in comparison with the first film in the series which is a definite good thing.

This is certainly no classic, but seeing Belial in full-on monster mode is a lot of fun and it's almost as if Henenlotter decided to go back to his roots. It's not perfect, but then when is B-movie film-making ever fun? One of the biggest problems in the second and third films is Kevin Van Hentenryck's nominal lead, Duane. Once his secret is out in the open after the first movie, he becomes the dullest character imaginable and nothing can change that. Never mind - at least Belial is a bad guy again!
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Three ain't the magic number here
adamscastlevania230 August 2014
(18%) The wheels started wobbling with the first sequel, and by the second the chassis is well and truly scraping along the road surface. The movie opens with the grand (and repeated) sight of two latex monsters humping which sets the tone for the rest of the run time as horror takes a back seat for "comedy" to run riot. Many of the crazy creations from the 2nd film return and yet again don't really do anything but clown around, dance and mumble incoherently. There are some half decent ideas floating around, but everything is just so over-the-top and it all feels like a joke taken too far for its own good. The bus sing along scene is toe curlingly hard to watch, but Kevin Van Hetenryck's expression just about saves it. One for die-hard fans only.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
It burns my eyes (ummm... spoiler, but don't ever see the movie)
urbanmessiah6 May 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Quite seriously, I wanted to commit suicide after I saw this miserable peice of crud. I genuinly felt that an hour of my existence had been stripped from my soul. Avoid this one at all costs, and for heavens sake, do not rent it because the guy on the back of the cover looks so funny. Thats what my friends and I did, and we almost vomited at how horrible this movie was. The "extreme sci-fi showdown" in the finale really shows how a bunch of drunken inbreds can create truly worthwhile props and costumes. I think they got all of their materials from a shriners garage sale, and superglued them togther. This truly is a festering wound in the anus of cinema.
3 out of 12 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
Too silly for its own good.
Boba_Fett113814 January 2008
What can I say, they really overdid it this time. The previous Basket Case movie was still a fun self aware silly movie but this movie really crosses the line. It's just plain bad and embarrassingly forced silly, without the fun and entertainment level of the first sequel.

And then there is the story. Well, there really is hardly any story this time. It's just a lame excuse for Frank Henenlotter to show more of the evil Bradley twins and more of their freaky looking friends. It's definitely a simple story. It's like they didn't even really tried, though I do admit some of the dialog was highly amusing.

The first movie "Basket Case" was still a horror movie, while "Basket Case 2" was more like a horror comedy. "Basket Case 3: The Progeny" on the other hand is a full-blood comedy and simply for most part has abandoned the tension and gore the previous two movies still had. There are still some gory moments but they mostly are part of the humor and camp of the movie.

But still because of the reason that this movie is a completely silly one, the movie remains still far more entertaining and watchable than just the average B-horror movie. Therefor you just can't really regard this as one of the worst movies ever made. Still I'm glad that this is the last (as of yet) Basket Case movie.

4/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/
1 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Annie Ross is a scene stealer
Sylviastel22 October 2022
It is a shame that Annie Ross' acting career didn't take off as it should. She was marvelous in all performances. As granny Ruth, she is a force to be reckon with onscreen. In this film, she gets to sing where she is better known as the legendary jazz singer. Annie Ross looks likes she is having blast. The film series is a bit campy at times. You get used to the weird creatures or characters deemed freaks by today's society, granny Ruth is their fearless, passionate leader and mother figure. The actor who played Duane Bradley manages to hold it together. I'm surprised there wasn't a fourth in the series.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
3/10
Oh Frank-Please Tell Me You Needed The Paycheck...
EVOL66611 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
The original BASKET CASE is one of my all-time favorite B-movies, and has been ever since I first saw it as a kid on cable over 20 years ago. It's grimy, low-budget style, the completely off-the-wall storyline, the cheezy but effective splatter FX- everything about the original screams underground classic. And luckily director Frank Henenlotter proved to not just be a one-trick-pony, by proving he had the skills to be a truly noteworthy cult-horror director-with other classics like BRAIN DAMAGE and FRANKENHOOKER. But unfortunately, the beloved Mr. H had to go and f!ck up his streak with retarded nonsense like the BASKET CASE sequels. I hadn't seen either of the sequels in many years- and I recall not liking either of them-but I had this one laying around and figured I'd give it another chance to see if my opinion had changed over the years. No such luck.

In this third and (thank Christ) final installment in the trilogy-the action picks up directly after the events of the equally stupid second film-with Duane spending some time in a rubber-room after trying to sew him and his deformed Siamese twin brother Belial back together. The brothers are re- disconnected during Duane's incarceration-and he is eventually released. Granny Ruth (from part 2) takes Duane to a friend's house with the rest of the freak-show brood to await the birth of the spawn resulting from the union of Belial and his girlfriend Eve. When a duo of bumbling cops kill Belial's girlfriend and kidnap his 'kids'-he doesn't take it too kindly, and exacts some splattery revenge...

Granted-there are a (very) few scenes in this entry that are mildly amusing-but not enough to call BASKET CASE 3 enjoyable on any level. Honestly-I found both sequels to be retarded, un-funny, and frankly, unnecessary. When the series moved into straight slap-stick territory-I completely lost interest. I still respect Henenlotter a great deal for his early contributions to the B-movie horror world-but both of these sequels just straight-up suck in my book...3/10
1 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Personality Song?
andreas_bockholt28 October 2005
I'm desperately looking for the song ,,personality'' from the movie which is sung by Annie Ross (Granny Ruth) and the freaks. But I can't find it anywhere :( Does anybody know where get it? Because there doesn't appear to be a soundtrack available.

Concerning the movie, I think that this is one of the most hilarious movies ever made. Especially the freaks are just great and fun to look at. There are some great jokes and the actors do a good job, not taking themselves too seriously. I can recommend this great movie to anyone to wants some funny gore flick because this is what the movie is about. My favorite scene is when they all start singing on the bus, it's so much fun and the song is really not that bad (that's why I'm trying to get it somewhere). This is not supposed to be a real horror movie (or at least I don't think so), it's absolutely not scary, it's more like really great comedy with some gory effects. So just watch and enjoy :)
7 out of 9 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
A whole new film
bowmanblue27 February 2018
I've watched the whole 'Basket Case' trilogy now and, like many who have a soft spot for cheesy eighties horror, enjoyed the first one's entertainment value. It deserves its place as a 'cult classic' from its title alone. However, it's sequels were less well known. This was possibly because the second one seemed to veer so far away from the overall dark and horrific feel of the original that it seemed like a completely different movie. And that was just 'part II!' Now we have the third instalment and it's practically unrecognisable as part of the franchise. One of my main complaints about the second instalment was that it didn't really feature the titular 'basket case' monster, dwelling more on a whole new cast of characters and freaks. At least now our murderous anti-hero gets the screen time that he was possibly robbed of in the middle film, but, even so, this feels like a totally different film when compared to the original.

Like the first followed closely from the second, the third picks up right where the predecessor left off. There's a whole house-load of monsters who live quite happily with their human 'aunt,' but the basket case and his, only slightly less creepy, human brother can't seem to fit in - expect many murders to follow.

The first two thirds don't really seem to go anywhere and feel just like extended padding for the final act. If you're really going to find enjoyment out of this cheeky little movie then the pay-off is what you'll be waiting for. In the last third you get the majority of the gore, the majority of the silliness and even a couple of plot points that I didn't see coming regarding characters.

Realistically, it's not a bad little horror film. It's not big budget and doesn't have a single recognisable face (with the possible exception of a talk-show host!), so if you don't mind that then you'll be party on your way to get something out of this. You will certainly need an appreciation of eighties horror (yes, I know this was technically filmed in the nineties, but it's eighties at heart!) and the silliness that came with it. The best gore and prosthetics all come in the final third and, when they do, they are kind of fun. However, if you were a die-hard fan of the original, you probably won't believe how far the series strayed from the original.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
This one was funny? maybe if you were an idiot...
flickking13 June 1999
Basket case 3, I'm sorry if you found the title rude or anything it was not funny at all. The characters portrayed in the movie made me feel very less intelligent indeed. I don't know about you, but try seeing this film over and over again and you'll see what I mean
1 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
An error has occured. Please try again.

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed