SCARE PACKAGE II: RAD CHAD'S REVENGE -- Fun and Campy Anthology Horror With a Strong Framing Device

Review by Sean Boelman

Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge is the long-awaited sequel to the cult-favorite anthology horror film, and creator Aaron B. Koontz has promised that it will be bigger, better, and funnier. Tailor-made for the Shudder subscriber base, an audience that thrives on meta-commentary and movie references, this is a movie made by horror fans for horror fans.

Set after the events of the first movie, this anthology film follows the attendees of the funeral of video store owner Rad Chad as it devolves into something much more sinister. Made up of four segments, each directed by an up-and-coming indie horror filmmaker, this serves as a showcase for some of the most exciting voices in the future of horror.

The first segment of the anthology, “Welcome to the ‘90s,” is undoubtedly the most interesting. It’s a bit unfortunate that it had to come out in the same year as another ‘90s-themed anthology horror flick (V/H/S/99), but this parody of slasher tropes offers plenty of satisfying carnage and some witty and insightful laughs.

Unfortunately, the second segment, “The Night He Came Back Again! Part VI: The Night She Came Back,” uses the same inspiration — slasher flicks — and is significantly less effective. “Special Edition,” is the odd one out of the bunch — the only one that tries to be genuinely scary, but too messy to work.

The finale (if one can even call it that — because the film continues on for another fifteen minutes after the final segment), “We’re So Dead,” pulls its inspiration from several movies. Although it’s pretty entertaining, it feels like more of a setup for a game of Where’s Waldo? of horror references than an actual horror story.

However, what stands out about this film is that the star of the show is not the anthology segments, but the framing device. The connective tissue takes up at least half of the runtime — if not more. And that portion of the movie, a comedic riff on the Saw series, is more fun than anything else the film has to offer.

As is the case with the first movie, there is a heavy emphasis on practical effects and gore, and they’re quite impressive. The film’s aesthetic is also very retro and almost grimy, paying homage to the VHS era to which the movie obviously owes so much of its existence. It’s enjoyably campy, which is exactly what an anthology horror film needs to be memorable.

Although the segments themselves aren’t anything special, the framing device makes Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge one of the most successful anthology films in the history of the format. It’s a fun little movie with plenty of laughs and awesome practical effects to satisfy horror fans.

Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge is now streaming on Shudder.

Rating: 4/5