Waxwork II: Lost In Time

• Written and Directed by Anthony Hickox
• March 26, 1992 (Philippines), June 16, 1992 (US)

After the events of the last film, Mark and Sarah must use a magical portal to defeat evil through time.

Waxwork II: Lost in Time is the 1992 sequel to the 1988 horror gem Waxwork. It is not a bad film but as a sequel to Waxwork it makes illogical changes to the mythos that were not even hinted at or seemed possible based on what came before. This film also has a bit of trouble following its own internal logic.

In the last film from what I took away the waxwork figures were evil things that with the death of each victim would be brought to life and made real beyond the pocket realities they inhabited. Here the displays are actually portals into another realm/through time (Hickox seems unable to decide) where the true battle of good and evil is actually fought.

But if them being portals to another realm is the case then how is Mark (Zach Galligan) able to get a message through time to his girlfriend if they are not really in the past? That is what I mean! It is cool idea for getting a message to the future if you are in the past that always works but it was clearly said early in the film that they were actually in another reality.

From extraneous material I learned that things from this other realm do not become real until the conflict is fought in them. That is not clear in the story. The explanation may have been presented once and if so, was not touched on again.

In the first film the realities also could not hurt the individual so long as they realized what they were experiencing was not real but here someone can be hurt regardless. This seems to intersect with the portal idea, but it is strongly implied those wax displays were individual realities and not pocket realities.

However Waxwork II: Lost in Time is a film where you are asked to leave your brain at the door and just enjoy yourself and it succeeds at that. It’s just a fun and silly movie. Don’t think too deeply about what you are viewing. Watch the kills and see if you can identify the parodies. In that aspect it’s a little dated but they do stick to mostly well-known enough material.

Zach Galligan and Patrick Macnee reprise their roles of Mark and Sir Wilfred respectively. No one else returns other than in reused footage or a picture on a table. Macnee shows up on a film reel and as a talking crow to provide exposition. Deborah Foreman is replaced as Sarah by Monika Schnarre (as well as being the final of three characters making a comeback here).

The recasting of Sara would not have been too bad, but the story here begins at the very end of the last film and what really bothers me is that Sarah’s hair got very long between the closing moments of Waxwork and the opening moments here as well as Schnarre looking older than Galligan or even Foreman. I am not against re-casting but if you are going to begin a film right at the end of another then at least try to keep some continuity. I am pretty sure the clothing even changed-but do not quote me on that.

We also have a few individuals of various levels of fame making brief appearances. Drew Barrymore in a low point in her career has a blink and you will miss it non-speaking appearance in the Nosferatu parody in this film. Marina “Counselor Troi” Sirtis and Bruce “Evil Dead” Campbell both show up in a haunted house segment. David Carradine spends all of five minutes on screen in the main fantasy realm setting as The Beggar. Character actor George “Buck” Flower-notable for many appearances in John Carpenter films-plays Sarah’s stepfather.

The story is set off when Sarah is accused of killing her stepfather. In reality the murderer was a severed zombie hand that escaped the destruction of the waxwork from the last film and followed Sarah home. While Sarah is on trial Mark is off through the magical doorways to find undeniable proof of her fantastical story.

Alexander Godunov, known for roles in Witness and Die Hard, plays the main villain Scarabis who lives in a fantasy realm. He is an evil sorcerer that plans on replacing the king and ruling the kingdom.

Don’t go in with the intention of taking this film seriously. Much like the original it does not take itself seriously. While the last one was a lighter horror comedy this is more of a fantasy adventure. I really wish they had made something more in the mold of the first film.

Waxwork II: Lost in Time is more for horror aficionados than the general film audience. It’s an enjoyable film but not for everybody.