Dr. Feinstone (Corbin Bernsen), after the extermination caused in his dental practice, is committed to a mental hospital. It does not take him long, thanks to his acumen and cunning, to escape. Once free, he blends in (under another identity) in the small town of Paradise, Missouri. Of course, he embarks on a new career as a dentist after falling in love with the beautiful Jamie (Jeff Doucette). With his new companion, Feinstone rebuilds a new life, forgetting the past; at least apparently. In fact, during his “new” treatments, on the prostheses of trusting patients, Feinstone suffers from tremendous hallucinatory seizures that make him dangerously unstable. And if at first it all boils down to a few botched treatments, later his real obsession turns into a gruesome repetition of previous crimes, with the aggravating factor of having to get rid of the horribly mutilated bodies to hide his dreadful illness from Jamie....
Along the same narrative and stylistic lines as the previous chapter, Yuzna pushes the pedal here on the splatter and revolting effects, presenting some dental “tortures” even more impressive than the previous ones. Perfectly at ease in the role of Dr. Feinstone is the very talented performer Corbin Bernsen, who demonstrates an almost perfect vein of immediacy as the mad (but lucid) maniac obsessed with hygiene and... blood.
Standing out from the first episode are some (not even too veiled) citations to other cornerstones of thrillers. Particularly in the agitated final sequences there is a reference to Tenebre (by Dario Argento)-already repeated by Brian De Palma in Raising Cain-in the famous sequence featuring Anthony Franciosa hiding behind Giuliano Gemma's back; and a series of moments that call to mind the exploits of Michael Myers from Halloween.
An entertaining example of thriller cinema, enhanced by excellent performers and good special effects, seasoned with a fair share of references (however, always original and never emulative) that confirm, for the umpteenth time, the visionary and creative flair of an excellent horror filmmaker.
As with the previous one, the pronunciation of the MPAA (acronym for Motion Picture Associaton of America, the U.S. censorship board) in relation to the ’type“ of the film: rated Rated R (but circulated in Italy, this time, with the v.m. 14 years, n.d.a.) for graphic violence including scenes of dental torture, sex and obscene language.
Launch phrase for the U.S. market: Brace yourself.
Recommended for those who have already enjoyed the inimitable first installment of the cycle.
Review by undying1
