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Gate II: The Trespassers / Gate II: Return to the Nightmare
Shout Factory | 1992 | 93 min | Rated R | Feb 27, 2018
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Video
Codec: MPEG-4 AVC (35.00 Mbps) Resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1 Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audio
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
( less) Note: BDInfo
Subtitles
English SDH
Discs
Blu-ray Disc Single disc (1 BD-50)
Packaging
Reversible cover
Playback
2K Blu-ray: Region A (locked)
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Price
List price: $33.21
New from: $49.99
Buy new on Amazon
Price Buy on:  We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made using our links. Thanks for your support! Movie rating
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5.5
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34 ratings.
Blu-ray review
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3.0 |
| Video |
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4.5 |
| Audio |
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4.5 |
| Extras |
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4.0 |
| Overall |
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4.0
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0% popularity
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Gate II Blu-ray Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf, March 17, 2018
An inventive and semi-wild overview of backyard hellraising, heavy metal, and suburban survival, 1987's "The Gate" scored big with a limited budget.
It featured engaged performances from its young cast and memorable special effects, with director Tibor Takacs handling a PG-13 horror movie with
confidence, making sure to maintain creepiness while selling the fun factor of true minion mayhem. 1992's "Gate II" (which was completed in 1989,
but suffered a distribution delay) does what it can to replicate the inherent appeal of kids fighting miniature demons, but Takacs and returning
screenwriter Michael Nankin attempt to age-up the viewing experience, heading in an R-rated direction with even less money to help bring an
apocalyptic vision to life. "Gate II" isn't nearly as wily as the original picture, but the production manages to score with what little they have to work
with, offering neat special effects and a renewed focus on wish fulfillment to help reheat the formula.
It's been years since Terry (Louis Tripp) opened a gate to Hell in best friend Glen's backyard, and he's been obsessed with perfecting the ritual
ever since. Setting up a new ceremony with hopes to manipulate dark magic, Terry's ritual is disturbed by bullies Moe (Simon Reynolds) and John
(James Villemaire), along with Moe's girlfriend, Liz (Pamela Adlon), with the strangers managing to shoot a minion that's been pulled from another
dimension. Keeping the visitor as a prize, Terry is shocked to witness the minion's incredible healing power, returning to life and promptly placed
into a cage. Gradually understanding the powers offered by the creature, Terry and Liz grow close as they experiment with wish-fulfillment, while
Moe and John use their new magical possibilities to celebrate their stupidity, testing the might of overlords "The Unholy Trilogy" as they mess with
evil, bringing Hell's fury back to Terry's neighborhood.
"Gate II" doesn't explode with activity, instead focusing on Terry's domestic issues. Having lost his mother, Terry is concerned about his father, an
unemployed, alcoholic airline pilot who doesn't have the drive to find work. Having survived an initial run-in with the titular hole to Hell, Terry
elects to try his luck again, refining his demonology, which entrances gate-crashers John, Moe, and Liz. Nankin's screenplay only makes room for a
single minion for the second chapter, instead focusing on the black magic that comes after messing around with evil, finding the captured demon
something of a genie, offering the characters a chance to make their fantasies come to life. For Liz, it's hope for true love. For Moe, a chance to
interact with aliens. For John, it's a plan to be the king of the world. Terry just wants his dad back, and perhaps an opportunity to feel up Liz.
Reducing the panic of unleashed minions certainly doesn't help "Gate II," but Takacs doesn't have a lot of wiggle room here, stuck with a single
demon and a screenplay that never settles on a defined arc for any character. However, select scenes are nicely executed, especially involving the
lone minion, who's brought to life using a combination of woman-in-suit, forced perspective, and stop-motion animation. It's not always the
slickest looking movie, but the illusion works wonderfully at times, keeping "Gate II" invitingly weird and minion-happy. There are equally bizarre
asides with the wishes, with the most memorable being their temporary allure, with all objects conjured during the creation phase eventually
turned into fecal matter. It's that type of kooky writing that helps the picture achieve some sense of oddity to combat eventual staleness.
Gate II Blu-ray, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is billed as a "New 2K scan of the interpositive," working to give the nearly forgotten "Gate
II" a new day on Blu-ray. The results are impressive, displaying a fresh viewing experience, with enjoyable sharpness that does a fine job capturing the
original cinematography. Minion and demon activity is easily inspected, along with visual effects, reinforcing technique showcased throughout the
endeavor. Facial particulars are strong, with gross-out textures on make-up, while the human characters showcase youthful looks. Colors are tastefully
refreshed, with rich primaries giving life to demonology events and costuming, providing deeper blues and reds. Grain is fine and filmic. Delineation is
strong. Source shows no significant stretches of damage, with only mild judder encountered during the main titles.
Gate II Blu-ray, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a confident stereo listening event for "Gate II," offering the full force of a low-budget genre offering. Dialogue
exchanges carry as intended, finding performances intact, with an inoffensive balance of hysterics and hushed emotional encounters. Scoring maintains
support with a synth-based drive, taking control of suspense needs when required to do so. The effort's scattered soundtrack selections offer greater
authority and sharp instrumentation. Sound effects are distinct, supplying a full sense of minion and hellgate chaos without softening into muddiness.
Gate II Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation
There's not a satisfying ending to be found for "Gate II," which hopes to summon a major clash between the teens and the forces of darkness, but all
that's survives is iffy make-up work and a general dip in intensity, with the movie as a whole losing steam at the very point it should be exploding.
There's a lot missing from "Gate II" and it's not as engaging as earlier picture, but appreciated in bite-sized pieces of fantasy horror filmmaking and
minion mischief, and the feature retains a faint sense of what made "The Gate" such a joyride.
Blu-ray Bundles/Box Sets with Gate II (1 bundle)
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Gate II Blu-ray, News and Updates
• Gate II: Return to the Nightmare Blu-ray Detailed - January 17, 2018
Scream Factory has detailed its upcoming Blu-ray release of director Tibor Takács' film Gate II: Return to the Nightmare (1990), starring Louis Tripp, Simon Reynolds, James Villemaire, Pamela Adlon, and James Kidnie. The release will be available for purchase on ...
• Upcoming Scream Factory Blu-ray Releases - October 30, 2017
U.S. label Scream Factory announced today that it plans to add five new titles to its Blu-ray catalog: Drag Me to Hell (2009), Games (1967), Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), The Night Walker (1964), and The Gate II: The Trespassers (1990).
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