The original Savage Harvest (review here) was a minor classic in indie movie making: a paradox that both embraced and defied the trappings of low-budget gore films, a strange brew that filled in the gaps between gruesome set pieces with efficient characterization and meaty mythology, tied up with a deliciously artsy direction. Although easily misconstrued as a mere riff on the Evil Dead series or other body count films of the Eighties, it was certainly far more substantial than any of those.

Well, it's now 2006, thirteen years after Savage Harvest, and Wicked Pixel has rolled out the sequel that the original flirtatiously hinted at in its final frames. However, this time writer/director Eric Stanze has handed the reins over to Jason Christ, who has done the unthinkable: he's made a sequel even more substantial than its forebear. The proportions of character development to splatter has practically flip-flopped in the favor of characterization, which leads to a very different, albeit no less satisfying watch.

Thirteen years after the demonic incidents at a lonely Minnesota farm, life continues on for a new trio of characters, although not without their problems: Ashley (Emily Haack), mourns the suicide of her sister Mikki, the only survivor of the battle with the Cherokee devil Retlawkoob. Zack (Eric Stanze) desperately seeks the truth behind the stones that led to the possession and death of his cousin Karen, Uncle Gary, and Aunt Linda. Tyge (Benjamin Gaa), a rising filmmaker, returns to his hometown in Minnesota in order to sort things out after the accidental death of a crew member on the set of his latest film. The three cross paths and discover new evidence in the seemingly closed case, which leads them to the lonely farmhouse where Mikki took her life (recording her final blood soaked moments to cassette, begging Ashley to save her from her unnameable pursuers), where they discover first hand that the legacy of the Retlawkoob is still very much alive.

However, this movie isn't a simple rehash of the first. If this were a Hollywood production, the plot would be a mere retread of the first film, a pedestrian effort pounded out in a year in order to cash in on the popularity of the original. Saw II, I'm looking right at you. Thankfully, this movie was made because there was a story to be told, and Jason Christ has done a damn fine job of it. Whereas the first movie pretty much came out swinging and never let up once in its breakneck speed, SH2 is a more deliberately paced yarn that takes its time in order to ensure that th viewer does something pretty impressive for a movie of this type. It shows characters that are more than cattle for the eventual slaughter...these people are fairly complex, and Christ and his very talented cast slowly let us inside their heads in order to show just how haunted they are by the past. Zack's obsession with the demon-stones consumes him, costing him both friends and jobs. Ashley, despite extreme guilt over Mikki's death, seems more scared of the truth than her outward manner would suggest. Even Tyge seems torn between long-buried feelings for Ashley and his own morbid curiosity. The plot goes on for about an hour like this, revealing layers of depth to the characters that I certainly didn't expect.

Thankfully, this slow-burning fuse leads into a monstrous firecracker that blows up in our face with no inhibitions. Once the demon-stones are activated again (although the reasoning for that event was a little hokey), the shit hits the fan...hard. The gore comes on fast and heavy at this point, and the Patrick Voss-engineered effects work beautifully. Chainsaws rend flesh, severed heads become demon snacks, eyes are gouged, blood is drained, and still-beating hearts are torn out before being crushed in a malicious fist. A near-perfect balance between plausibility and gorehound sensibilities is struck, and the results couldn't have been better within the confines of the budget.

Savage Harvest 2 is a rare beast nowadays: a sequel done right, expanding on the themes from the first movie without simply recycling. It's a more mature and adult film than its predecessor, and gives out big dollops of well-written characterization atop its meaty stew of violence. Simply put, it's another top-notch effort in the Wicked Pixel catalog. When it finally comes out for mass consumption (this review is based on a DVD-R screener), it comes with my complete recommendation.

For more information, visit Wicked Pixel Cinema online.