The ABCs of Death 2 (2014)

The ABCs of Death 2: Directed by Rodney Ascher, Julian Barratt, Robert Boocheck, Alejandro Brugués, Kristina Buozyte, Alexandre Bustillo, Larry Fessenden, Julian Gilbey, Jim Hosking, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, E.L. Katz, Aharon Keshales, Steven Kostanski, Marvin Kren, Juan Martínez Moreno, Erik Matti, Wolfgang Matzl, Julien Maury, Robert Morgan, Chris Nash, Vincenzo Natali, Hajime Ohata, Navot Papushado, Bill Plympton, Dennison Ramalho, Todd Rohal, Jerome Sable, Bruno Samper, Jen Soska, Sylvia Soska, Sôichi Umezawa. With Eric Jacobus, Andy Nyman, Simon Barrett, Teela LaRoux. Another 26-chapter anthology that showcases death in all its vicious wonder and brutal beauty.

“Another collection of twenty-six horror shorts from twenty-six very different directors, The ABCs of Death 2 is, once again, an extremely mixed bag, in subject matter and in style. With such a varied range of work, itu0026#39;s likely thereu0026#39;ll be something to intrigue most adventurous horror fans, but be prepared to wade through an awful lot of nonsense to get to the good stuff.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eA is for Amateur, directed by E.L. Katz, kicks off proceedings in fine form. This segment follows an accident prone hired killer who successfully carries out his latest hit, even if it doesnu0026#39;t happen quite how he had imagined. Expertly told, with an unexpected twist and a deliciously dark sense of humour, this was easily my favourite part of the whole film—a shame because that meant that everything that followed was a disappointment by comparison.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe best of the rest:u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eC is for Capital Punishment (directed by Julian Gilbey), which effectively highlights the potential failings of the death penalty and boasts a really brutal decapitation.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eG is for Grandad (Jim Hosking): seriously warped fun that sees a young man taunted by his grandfather, who just happens to have no penis!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eM is for Masticate, a stylish zombie short filmed almost entirely in slow-motion.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eV is for Vacation: a man regrets calling his girlfriend when his friend grabs the phone and shows her what they have really been up to while on vacation.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eW is for Wish: two boys wish themselves into the World of Zorb, the fantasy setting for a popular range of toys. It isnu0026#39;t as much fun as they expected.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eZ is for Zygote, which sees a woman delaying giving birth for 13 years, the child growing inside her until there is no more room. In order to create more space, the kid removes her mothers internal organs and bones. Nice u0026#39;nu0026#39; grisly with a really twisted finish.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe absolute dregs:u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eH is for Headgame: director Bill Plympton delivers an animated short that looks like an excerpt from his 1988 film u0026#39;How To Kissu0026#39;. Yawn!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eL is for Legacy, directed by Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen: Nigerian movie-making at itu0026#39;s most amateurish.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eP is for P-P-P-P SCARY!: No… P is for P-P-P-P S**T!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat was the point?:u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eN is for Nexus: seriously, what was the point?u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat the hell was that all about?:u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eY is for Youth: seriously, what the hell was that all about?”