Horrific Inquiry: LEPRECHAUN 2 (1994)

Welcome back to the newest, and at times goriest, column here at Film Inquiry: Horrific Inquiry. Twice a month, I will be tackling all things horror, bringing two films back into the spotlight to terrify and frighten once more. And occasionally looking at those that could have pushed the envelope further. Join us as we dive deep into the heart of horror, but warning, there will be spoilers.

It’s a bonus Horrific Inquiry!

St. Patrick’s Day has come again and it’s time to return to the spirit and joy of the widely celebrated holiday. As pints of Guinness flow and a green veil is draped, Leprechauns embody the potential horror of the festivities, the lore surrounding their trickery and gold obsessive behaviors. Last year, Horrific Inquiry celebrated with Mark Jones’ Leprechaun, a film that would kick off a franchise that has spanned three decades since its release in 1993. This year it only seemed appropriate to keep the horror flowing in a themed edition looking back at the franchise’s second induction – Rodman Flender’s Leprechaun 2.

Back in Green

Opening in Ireland to the title “Once upon a time”, Leprechaun 2’s time setting is hard to initially make out – and for the first portion, it doesn’t really matter. As viewers are brought back to the Emerald Island, there are no wizards or witches, but Leprechauns hell-bent on not only acquiring more gold but ensuring it stays intact at all times. For this induction of the franchise, we are immediately presented with a man running through the forest, his fear speaking to the foreboding danger we know is sure to be in pursuit.

Where the first film took time to fully introduced the Leprechaun, its sequel immediately embraces his return. And his return is not only on the feast of St. Patrick but is also on his 1,000th birthday. As The Leprechaun (Warwick Davis) explains to William (James O’Day), his slave who had been trying to escape, he is now of age to take a bride. The limerick rattle of The Leprechaun reveals that his bride will be revealed to him, a woman who sneezes thrice will be his. The only thing that can save her is the utterance of “God bless you my child”.

As he fills William in on his plan, The Leprechaun promises William that if he aids him in his quest, he will give him freedom. And while William is initially joyful at the thought, pledging his loyalty, the trickery of The Leprechaun is quickly revealed. Working in illusions and backhanded promises, it is revealed the woman that The Leprechaun wants to marry is William’s daughter. William, distraught at the thought (and raunchy talk) of The Leprechaun claiming his daughter for marriage, saves her at his own detriment, his betrayal bringing a curse on the generations that are to follow.

As The Leprechaun promises, he will be back in a 1,000 years to take the next of his family.

Back to Cali

The first film takes place in California, Jennifer Aniston’s Tory having gone to live at her father’s place to help repair his property. So it was a nice nod to see The Leprechaun return to a familiar place, California seemingly becoming a second home. Yet, where he was brought against his choice the first time around, he arrives voluntarily here. 1,000 years has passed and he has returned to claim what he deems his. But for his appearance in Los Angeles, viewers must wait a bit longer – the film taking a moment to introduce its central cast.

On the streets of LA, viewers meet Cody (Charlie Heath) and Bridgette (Shevonne Durkin), Cody attempting to lure tourists for a Darkside Tours gig, while Bridgette looks on. As they are anxious to leave to get to a friend’s party, their delays pile up as they find Morty (Sandy Baron), the owner and driver of the tours, at a local bar, drunk as a skunk. You can feel the con resonating from Morty as he attempts to enlist an investor for his Darkside Tours in the passed out barfly beside him.

The film focuses heavily on crafting the characters of Cody and Marty, giving them heavy focus early on in the film – especially Cody. And where Bridgette is about to become the biggest motivation of both the Leprechaun and Cody, she is given little depth, her character delivered as a shallow tease. Understanding the time period and the genre is important here – the expectations for strong and well-developed female characters are a bar set low that is sadly met.

Pun-tacular

Leprechaun 2 drastically changes the direction of the first film. Where Leprechaun truly embarked on creating a St. Patrick’s horror film, Leprechaun 2 leans into the absurdity  – puns and all. It is no longer concerned with scaring its audience, an aspect that fell flat originally. Instead, it leans into the unbelievable gore and limerick puns of The Leprechaun, letting Warwick Davis truly shine in this new refocused form.

Now, this is not a good film. Far from it to be honest. The acting is terrible, the gore is not always executed and there are enough aspects that could promote its own cancellation in today’s society. But it’s engaging, its absurdity taking away a bit of predictability. Don’t get me wrong, it’s predictable, but there is the chance of the most absurd coming to life that pushes you to want more.

As the film pushes forward, faces are mutilated with lawn blower blades, Leprechaun rigged cars incapacitate and abdominal ruptures take center stage in the unbelievable and sheer insanity of the film. Leprechaun 2 is a film that knows how ridiculous it is and challenges itself to be more. It, honestly, drives me to want to see more of the franchise’s films.

Conclusion

As the film ends with the destruction of The Leprechaun by an iron rod, there is a sense that the prospects of a franchise have ended, Bridgette and Cody running off into the sunrise – their surroundings reminiscent of Hocus Pocus’s final setting. As The Leprechaun has exploded out of existence, the standing franchise tells us The Leprechaun is sure to come back – as is its epic performer Warwick Davis.

It may not be the best horror film around, but Leprechaun 2 is sure to entertain and enrich your St. Patrick’s Day festivities!

Have you seen Leprechaun 2? what did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Watch Leprechaun 2