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Sequels will never be taken all that seriously due to the assumption by most that they're almost always unoriginal and only exist to milk money out of the fans of the original. Some of them aren't so bad, but alot of them seem quite unnecessary, mainly because they are. I've never been one to shun a part 2 just because it's a part 2. These movies are of course preferred by most when the original director returns, as well as atleast an original cast member or two. But even if it's not in the cards, and the film is greenlit, that doesn't automatically mean it's going to suck. It really all depends on the original story, as well as how they go about the sequel. Some sequels, as soon as you hear the title, you just know it's a cash grab and nothing else. The film which we're going to talk about sounds very much like one of the many soulless, unoriginal cash grabs which have reared their ugly heads over the years. But never judge a movie by its title. Because you might be missing out on something good.

Ten years after Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer, director, Chuck Parello took a chance and made a sequel to the legendary 80's chiller. And the result would be a bit surprising. Here's the deal. We begin at some point after the original. I'm guessing a couple years, give or take. Henry is still at it. He's nearly a foot shorter, but he's still Henry, kinda. Henry has nothing. Henry is homeless, and is staying in a shelter. He eventually gets work cleaning out porta-potties, and makes friends with a co-worker and his wife, who let him stay with them for a while, just until he gets back on his feet. Kai and Cricket are a normal married couple. A bit on the white trash side, but nice people, going by how they're treating this stranger. Henry seems grateful, and doesn't seem like he's into starting any shit at the moment, but things get complicated once Henry finds out how Kai makes a little extra cash on the side. As it would turn out, it's a little more than a a little. But Kai gets paid to burn down buildings for various reasons. Henry is offered a cut for his help, and gladly accepts. Eventually, they're accidentally caught by a couple tresspassers, and Henry knows exactly what to do. He kills one of them, and makes Kai kill the other.

Kai is now a killer, and takes a little time to get used to the idea, but starts liking it when he realizes it's a great stress reliever. The two have a great time lighting fires and killing innocent people. All is good until Cricket tires of Henry's influence over Kai, and starts nagging her husband to get rid of him. Meanwhile, Cricket's emotionally disturbed niece takes a liking to Henry, and makes things far more awkward than they need to be. Henry almost seems to have taken a bit of a liking to her, too. Or maybe it's just pity, or him being careful not to set her off, which might complicate things. This chick is hanging by a thread, and all she wants is for Henry to love her. Sorry. Not gonna happen!

"Henry 2" does not have a nice ring to it. Nor does the unfortunate fact that it's directed by someone else, and even stars a different actor portraying Henry. And a midget, no less. Sounds pretty pointless, at first. Pointless enough to just pass on it with without even reading about. I get it. We've been burned enough times by these sequels with different actors playing the same role, while taking place in space and shit. But if you go into it without comparing it to the original, it's not so bad. It's actually better if looked at as a stand along film. Henry 2 could even pass as a reboot, as the story is different enough, yet similar enough.

This film is nowhere near as entertaining or creepy as the original, and lacks the dark humor we all love. Kai is a poor substitute for Otis, and Neil Giuntoli is just not Michael Rooker, although he did a good job, and has that "cold as ice" look down pretty good. Just not perfected like Rooker. The only thing this movie has over the original is Louisa, the suicidal niece of cricket, who desperately, and stupidly clings to Henry, only to be let down. A major improvement over the annoying Becky (and her stupid hair) from the original. Just my opinion. But my overall opinion of the movie is a positive one. Not as a sequel, but rather a Horror movie which easily held my interest, and had some genuinely creepy moments. A Horror movie which is quite underseen and misunderstood. The flaws are obvious. You can overlook them or not, but one thing is for sure. You couldn't possibly expect a 90's sequel to Henry, which has a different director and a different Henry, to be better than this. 6/10