Overall looking at how the story unfolded it kept my attention for me not seeing the original, I think that it really stood out and the story really fell into place for me I think that Michel Nankin had that in mind that you can follow the story without having to see the first obviously that would be nice to have that background information. Discovering more of a sub-genre within my favorite genre you can see how Tibor Takacs really opened up into the Fantasy and even Comedic sub-genres. You can see elements that really could bring a room together.
For me, it wasn’t a struggle finding any or making sure I thoroughly understood it before diving into the sequel so I give it a solid 7.5/10
“There’s only one thing more terrifying than the first visit. The second” the tagline for this movie personally something that really peaked my interest, from the get-go you really need a strong tagline to get someone to watch a movie out of order in my opinion.
A brief overview of “Gate 2” 5 years later since Terrence and Glen opened the Gate in the backyard. Dealing with the turmoil of broken families, death of parents and alcoholics Terrence finds an allure in the dark side and the evil and what lies beneath it.
While breaking into Glens old home you see how he summons some demons to try and get powers to try and get his fathers life back together and try and stop drinking and using alcohol as a crutch. Seemingly you can see how this wish may have worked with his father while he has zero recollection of being a baggage handler, while he is throwing his alcohol and basically being on his way to fly to London. Fast forward you can see how some wishes came true until you see Terrence and Liz on the “flight” when his dad is flying and all of a sudden you see his dad drunkenly flying the plane. The next morning on the phone the two talk about how everything that was wished for turned to dirt or sludge and Terrence explains some of the rules about how you aren’t supposed to wish for material passions
Seeing the negative consequences of the wishes you see that Terrence is in the hospital visiting his father after the accident. Liz being intercepted by John confronted about what he saw last night she calmly explains nothing happened then proceeded to tell him about the wishes and how everything works, John takes it upon himself to hit and then later threaten Terrence and talk to him about “sharing” and how they have the same taste in women will lead to sharing other things.
Later a down Terrence reflects on the escape of the minion due to the nature of his house being destroyed. Moving forward Terrence is in the hospital reflecting on his actions and hoping for a miracle when it comes to his father’s condition, you have Liz coming to his aid and comfort regardless of how John feels about the situation. The two boys are at a very pricey restaurant with money they had wished for and knowing the rules, and with the pure disregard, they have their money start to dematerialize and sort of a similar manner as the materials as Liz once had.
Meanwhile Liz and Terrence are now looking into closing the gate from the 7 vassals reading them off one by one she seems skeptical about how these small elements can “save the world” he then rebuts with a nice comical remark “sure why not a couple prayers and a dead hamster got us into this mess, what do we have to lose?” with a mission on their minds and the pure determination Liz explains that the minion in the box and then the box in the gate and its over, hopeful Terrence thinks they can find Moe and John.
Without giving the ending away it really keeps things interesting and the twists and turns that follow Terrence and Liv on the remainder of their adventure keep you on your toes.
Where I fall into this film, I have a few opinions for its time I can see how this could be interesting but for now as a bit of a horror film buff, I would say that it didn’t live up to my expectations. Looking at it from a sequel standpoint many sadly fall flat this film had great Claymation and practical use of effects for its time from looking at the minion at the start of the film.
