RIPPER 2: LETTER FROM WITHIN (2004)

If there was an award given out to the film with the worst title, Ripper 2: Letter From Within would certainly deserve some consideration. The title really says it all folks. If you're looking for a slasher pic with a weak plot and some very sub par kill scenes then look no further.

As with most direct-to-video films the story is utter nonsense. Molley, played here by Erin Karpluk who takes the lead female role from A.J.Cook following the original Ripper: Letter from Hell, is a descendant of Jack The Ripper and in the first movie went on a homicidal killing sprees. After many unsuccessful attempt to treat her mental condition, Molly agree's to undergo some new experimental process at a clandestine location in Europe which offers the patient a type of 'virtual' treatment where you can't tell what's fake from what's real. As Molly begins her new treatment, she experiences a sort of group therapy shared with the other residence of the facility, but when the hooded Ripper enters this world death is only a blink away. Think of a poor mans version of Nightmare on Elm Street and you won't be far off the general premise of Ripper 2. Can you die in a dream state? Of course you bloody can, if its not Freddy its some freakin nut with a baggy sack over his head. There really is nothing all that original on offer hear and once this is established (about 20 minutes in) most horror fans will stick around for the chance to see a few gruesome deaths and a little flesh. Trouble is the violence is just way too bland and weak considering that this is a US R-rated release. The Ripper is about as scary as Frosty The Snowman. When you make a slasher film and you can't get the murder scenes right you have a problem. There are quite a few pretty naked women liberally scattered through out the running time (especially during the nightclub basement sequence) which is nice, so at least the skin merchants should get a thrill even if the film aficionado's have little too rejoice about.
The direction is surprisingly decent for this type of movie, but the dialogue is pathetic. The actors do a good job for the most part given the dull script, but the characters are so cliched that you neither care nor even remember them once the final credits roll. In some of the more emotionally demanding scenes the actors do falter a little but on the whole they do an admirable job. Richard Bremmer plays the maniacal Dr Samuel Wiesser, founder and creator of the secret medical institute undertaking experimental 'virtual' treatment on the group of annoying youngsters. Bremmer's eyes bulge with insanity as he mysteriously shepherds his flock of misfits from one nightmare to another and comes across as a lesser version of Vincent Price as his British accent gets the better of him. Unfortunately, not much else can be said for the other cast members as Iv'e already forgotten who they played!

For some reason, direct-to-video filmmakers like to put in computer effects which are destined to look crap given the budgetary constraints. This is of course not always true, but I'll never understand why they stretch beyond their means and essentially spoil the look of a scene. There is simply no reason for it. It's horrible and it takes the viewer out of the movie. This happens a few times in Ripper 2 and distracts from the already feeble story.
Velocity's DVD presentation is reasonably solid with a good clean widescreen transfer which is pretty clear of image gremlins. The Dolby 2.0 stereo sound was also crisp, if a little under powered by today's multi-mixed standards, but still delivered the vibes after cranking the volume up a few notches. There were no extras on the disc at all, unless you consider scene selection an extra.

So what we have here is a slasher movie, without any really juicy slashings, which makes this another pretty disappointing entry into the much cluttered low budget horror arena. The film does have some merits, it's shot nicely and edited smoothly, but the story is way too insignificant even for a slasher flick and has characters who are instantly forgettable. if the plot had been constructed with a more gritty atmosphere and a little more money added to the budget, then I see no reason why this couldn't have been a minor genre hit, proving that at least the film makers are heading in the right direction. It's just too bad they couldn't have produced the goods with Ripper 2.