***Lower budget than the original, but better story & characters***

A gang of partying teens stumble across an old witch’s cabin in rural Southern Cal and foolishly unleash a vengeful demon linked to a dead feral boy.

"Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings" (1993) was released to video and therefore has noticeably inferior production values to its 1988 predecessor. It was shot in three weeks for less than $1 million and you can tell, but it has a more compelling script and arguably better characters with the exception of the absent Lance Hendriksen, who will return for the next two sequels as a ghost.

Without Hendriksen and any references to the original flick, this is more of a standalone reimagining containing all the staples of the first film: a group of teens, rural Southern Cal, a mysterious cabin in the woods, an ugly witch, a revenge-based plot and, of course, Pumpkinhead itself. Speaking of whom, the creature looks formidable despite the low-budget, albeit kinda artificial.

Meanwhile, striking blonde Ami Dolenz and petite cutie Soleil Moon Frye are on hand on the feminine front, but not enough is done with them.

Bottom line: Despite the low budget, I prefer this one to the original and “Pumpkinhead 4: Blood Feud” (2007). I can’t remember “Ashes to Ashes” (2006) at this particular moment, which isn’t a good sign, lol (I think I saw it, but I’m not sure).

The film runs 1 hour, 28 minutes and was shot in Santa Clarita, California.

GRADE: C+/B- (5.5/10)