Thomas Dekker:  Tommy
Mimi Michaels:  Jess
Owain Yeoman:  Detective King
Brian Austin Green:  Preston
Danielle Harris:  Spann
Nick Principe:  Chromeskull

Release Date: September 20, 2011
Studio: Image Entertainment
Genre: Horror / Slasher
Unrated  1 hr 33 mins

CAST:

Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2

October 23, 2011

Reviewer: Rottenbucher

DIRECTOR:

Robert Hall

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Special effects artist turned director Robert Hall cranked out an impressive killer-in-a-mask slasher called Laid to Rest.  The 2009 film really harkened back to the days of the original Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees while adding in some of the torture mayhem that had completely taken over the genre.  Except the killer named Chromeskull was way more hip, using cameras, cell phones, GPS and cars along with a trademark knife and mask. But without any clear motive, the film never got bogged down like the multiple killers in Saw did or the remakes of the classic slashers that tried to add more exposition to franchises the needed none.  Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2 picks up exactly where the original ended and tries to add more meat to the hack, slash ‘n torture formula. 

With the girl (now portrayed by Allison Kyler) and Tommy (Thomas Dekker, A Nightmare on Elm Street) speeding off into the horizon, the defeated Chromeskull (Nick Principe) has been saved by his employees.  It seems Chromeskull is part of some fancy, high-class serial killer outfit.  Now horribly disfigured and barely clinging to life, Chromeskull’s right-hand man has to clean up the mess.  Preston (Brian Austin Green, “Desperate Housewives”) decides to tie up a few loose ends and continue Chromeskull’s work while he heals after his massive reconstructive surgery.  Except Spann (Danielle Harris, Halloween) has decided not to help Preston, but get her boss’ boss back to serial killer groove by finding another girl for Chromeskull to torture. Jess (Mimi Michaels, Gamer) is slowing going blind but enough of a beauty to pique Chromeskull’s bloodlust and get him back behind the mask.

Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2 gets a bit bogged down.  Added into the usual heaps of gore and creative kill sequences is a manhunt story.  Aside from Preston and Spann playing Chromeskull against each other and Chromeskull stalking Jess, is a whole different aspect involving Tommy and the police.  It seems the police are onto this wealthy serial killer ring and Tommy is going to give them their big break. Plus there is the addition of a rather confusing Chromeskull back story that really does nothing more than informs the audience that this character is wealthy and connected. It’s a strange nod to the Hostel series, but it gets even stranger when it,  along with the investigative sequences, takes over a good portion of the film, actually causing the pacing to really get choppy. But fans of the original need not to fear, Act III is where you will get your money’s worth and Chromeskull is back in full force and thankfully dispatching of all the cops that clogged up this sequel.

If hackings, stabbings, sternum sawings, melted faces, breast and face skinnings, mouth slashings and metal masks are your thing, then Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2 has plenty to offer.  Just be prepared to get a bit bored with all the cop-related nonsense.  Recommended to those looking for something a bit more original in the slasher genre that isn’t a remake.