Return to Return to Nuke Em' High: Blu-Ray Review

This is the second part of Lloyd Kaufman’s “Return to Nuke Em High. Yes, I did a video review of this film late last year but finally after waiting what feels like ten or twenty years, I managed to finally got the chance to pick up the blu-ray “Return to Return to Nuke Em High” to give it the full blu-ray review.

The film picks up where the first film left where the two lovers Crissy and Lauren are forced to finally confront the evil CEO of Tromaganic Foodstuff Conglomerate. If that wasn’t worse Crissy gives birth to a half duck/ half human and the Cretins formally the glee club is terrorizing Tromavile High School. Yes, this is the plot for this film. Can Crissy and Lauren stop the cretins and Tromaganic Foodstuff Conglomerate in this explosive final part to “Return to Nuke Em’ High”.

After seeing this film separately as its own film compared to watching both parts back to back, I can firmly say “Return to Return Nuke Em’ High aka vol 2” is a stepdown from Vol 1. Still, it’s a good film but I was hoping more of the same as the first film but this felt different and it felt like Lloyd was getting in the way of the story of the first film.

Kaufman’s direction was as good as the first film. He does a good job making sure the film moves at a good pace even when there is an annoying gag in the film which I’ll get into in the screenplay portion that slows it down only. The action came off as chaotic which is what makes Kaufman’s films always fun to watch as I had fun with this film.

He also does a good making sure the acting is good enough to keep you having fun watching this film even though the screenplay has flaws. Both Catherine Corcoran and Asta Paredes are very good in the film and I also enjoy Lloyd performance even though there was too much of him in this film.

The screenplay written by Kaufman, Travis Campbell, Derek Dressler and Gabriel Feidman was the film’s weak point. One of the problems that I had with this film was all the Talking Tromaville cut ins. I felt it was annoying after the second time. I get the joke but I don’t like being hit in the head with the same joke too many times. It slows the film down and it’s something I don’t like in comedies because it becomes repetitive. It hurts the momentum of the film. The other thing that I didn’t like was it focuses on Lloyd’s character too much. Don’t get me wrong, I love Lloyd Kaufman but I think his character takes up much time in the story with the whole retconning of “Class of Nuke Em’ High” to him having too much screen time that it loses focus on the two main characters Chrissy and Lauren.

There was also some good things in the screenplay. The screenplay does a great job breaking the fourth wall a couple of times with an editing room scene fight plus a scene changing from dialogue to director’s commentary. Both of those scenes are the funniest scenes in this film and felt different and inventive. The film also does a very good job making sure the action had an intense and gory feel to it that you’ll have a fun time enjoying this film and forgive the film’s screenplay miscues.    

Like every Lloyd Kaufman film, the blu-ray is loaded. The extras on the first disc features a very funny introduction to the film, short films including the weirdly entertaining Mr. Topps, Merry Christmas to My Wife’s Butt and Radiation March and trailers for Return to Nuke Em High vol 1&2, Troma Now and Lloyd Kaufman’s upcoming film Shakespeare Shitstorm. 

Disc 2 is as loaded. The disc starts off with the documentary 2 Girls, 1 Duck. This is a feature length documentaon the making of the film. This is usually the best part of a Lloyd Kaufman film on blu-ray as this documentary gives you an all access look in the making “Return to Nuke Em High” Volumes 1 and 2. It’s a very good look at how an independent film is made as it’s not all glitz and glamour. You get to see how hard it is to make two films at once. It’s definitely worth checking out if you ever want to know what it takes to direct and produce an indie horror film. The only thing that was missing was the audio commentary which would also been nice to have on this disc.

After that there is two very good featurettes Make Your Own Shower Scene and Make Your Own Green Screen in a Bentley. Both of those featurettes can be very helpful if you’re a filmmaker looking to cut corners in making your indie horror film. Beside those, you also have the short documentary From Festival to Fascism and TroMoMA Vol 1. Honored at the MoMA, NY and tributes to Stan Lee, Lemmy and Joe Fleshaker.

This is a step down from Return to Nuke Em’ High but “Return to Return to Nuke Em High has enough good action and solid lead performances that makes this film fun given its flaws.

Film Review Rating: Four Stars

Blu-Ray Extras: Four stars  

Class is in Session as "Return to Return to Nuke Em' High" hits Blu-ray

Troma Entertainment recently released information for their upcoming film. "Return to Return to Nuke Em' High". The latest Lloyd Kaufman film stars Asta Paredes, Catherine Corcoran, Lloyd Kaufman, Zac Amico.

Special features on the blu-ray includes Two Girls One Duck – a full-length documentary on the making of Vol. 1 & 2, An introduction by Lloyd Kaufman. Cannes 2017 – From festival to fascist, TROMoMA featurette, Trailers, Tributes to Stan Lee, Lemmy, and Joe Fleishaker and Short Films: Mr. Topps and Merry Christmas to My Wife's Butt.

"Return to Return to Nuke Em' High" hits blu-ray November 12th.

Plot Synopsis:

Welcome BACK to Tromaville High School! The once tone-deaf Glee Club has now turned into a vicious gang of Cretins, wreaking havoc upon Tromaville and two innocent lesbian lovers, Crissy and Lauren. As Lauren suffers the side-effects of a Cretin forced duck rape, Chrissy follows a trail of tainted toxic taco crumbs, leading her to the crux of all Tromaville High School’s mutating mires, the evil Tromorganic Foodstuffs Conglomerate and its salacious CEO, Lee Harvey Herzkauf! With a duck/human hybrid baby in one hand and a laser in the other, the lesbian duo fights against Cretins, Monsters and EVIL! Will they succeed or will Herzkauf and the Cretins reign supreme over Tromaville High School and the World!?

Anthony T's Horror Views: "Return to Return to Nuke Em High aka Vol 2

In this edition of Anthony T's Horror Views, I review Lloyd Kaufman's latest film "Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Vol 2." which recently hit VOD on Troma's Troma Now service.

Anthony T's Horror Views: "Return to Return to Nuke Em High aka Vol 2"

Stars Catherine Corcoran and Asta Paredes Will Be at the L.A. premiere of "Return to Return Nuke Em' High aka Vol 2"

Troma Entertainment recently send the horror chamber information about the L.A Premiere of "Return to Return Nuke Em' High aka Vol 2". The film's stars Catherine Corcoran and Asta Paredes will be at the L.A Premiere of the film. along with director Lloyd Kaufman and many more guests.

The L.A. premiere of the film will take place at the Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts on March 8th at 7:30pm pst. There will also be a Q & A after the screening. The film then be screening daily at Laemmle's NoHo 7 from March 9th - 15th at 9:55PM each night.

To purchase tickets for the L.A. premiere, you can go to: https://www.laemmle.com/theaters/purchase/25/5309158?replace=

Press Release:

Stars of "Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol. 1 & 2", Catherine Corcoran and Asta Paredes will be attending the LA Opening of "Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Volume 2" on March 8th at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts. Corcoran, Paredes, Lloyd Kaufman and many more guests will be panelists during a special Q&A following the screening of "Volume 2" at 7:30pm - it was announced today by Levi White, Director of Public Relations for Troma Entertainment, Inc.

Ahrya Fine Arts Tickets Available HERE
NoHo 7 Tickets Available HERE

The much anticipated "Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Volume 2" will open in LA at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts on March 8th at 7:30pm. The film will then screen daily at Laemmle's NoHo 7 from March 9th - 15th at 9:55PM each night.

Troma Announces It's West Coast Premiere for "Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High"

Troma Entertainment recently send the horror chamber over information for the west coast premiere of "Return to Return to Nuke 'EM High". The film stars Asta Paredes and Catherine Corcoran.

The film will be making its west coast premiere at the Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts in Beverly Hills, CA on March 8th. The film will also have a one week run from March 9th-15th at theLaemmle Noho 7 in North Hollywood, CA.

Press Release:

Following the prestigious premiere at The Museum of the Moving Image in New York City, Troma Entertainment, the longest running truly independent film studio in America, is proud to announce the West Coast Premiere of Lloyd Kaufman's second installment of two-part event film, Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Volume 2 at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts in Beverly Hills, CA on March 8th. Following the West Coast premiere, Volume 2 will then hold a week long engagement at the prestigious Laemmle Noho 7 in North Hollywood, CA from March 9th-15th, it was announced today by Lloyd Kaufman, President of Troma Entertainment and creator of The Toxic Avenger.

https://www.laemmle.com/
https://www.laemmle.com/theaters/25
https://www.laemmle.com/theaters/23

"Toxie, The Troma Team, and I are truly honored to have the historic, world famous Laemmle Theatres present Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Volume 2! This film is by far our most ambitious, fantoxic movie yet and we are very excited to invade Hollywood with true independent art!" stated Lloyd Kaufman.

Quentin Tarantino has been a fan and friend of Troma for years, and when he suggested to Lloyd Kaufman at the Sitges Film Festival that he should create an "Event Film," Kaufman took note. "Michael Herz and I decided that to mark Troma's 40th year we, too, would produce an 'Event Film' in two volumes just like Quentin did," says Kaufman, "except slightly less lavish in the budget area." Return to Nuke 'Em High: Vol. 1 & 2, directed by Lloyd Kaufman, is a hilarious, thoughtful sci-fi "Event Film" with themes ripped straight from today's headlines: the contamination and degradation of the world's food supply, rampant bullying, and LGBTQ love triumphing over prejudice and violence.

The film, a revisiting of Troma's 1986 Class of Nuke 'Em High is in the same vein as other classics such as Class of 1984, Rock 'n' Roll High School, and Carrie, but seen through the unique vision of Lloyd Kaufman and the Troma Team. Welcome to Tromaville High School where, unfortunately, the glee club has mutated into a vicious gang of Cretins. Chrissy and Lauren, two innocent lesbian lovers, must fight not only the Cretins, mutants and monsters but also the evil Tromorganic Foodstuffs Conglomerate. Can they and Kevin the Wonder Duck save Tromaville High School and the world?

Up next in theaters from Troma is Lloyd Kaufman's second installment of his two-part event film, Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High AKA Vol.2 at Laemmle's Ahrya Fine Arts & Noho 7! 7 years in the making, Vol.2 is shaping up to be what Michael Herz has called "The best Troma Movie ever made!"

Retro Review: "Return to Nuke 'Em High Vol 1"

“Return to Nuke’em High Vol 1” is the latest from Troma president and creator of “The Toxic Avenger” Lloyd Kaufman, who has directed some crazy and entertaining films like “Tromeo and Juliet”, “Terror Firmer” and “Poultrygeist”.

The film takes place at Tromaville High School where Chrissy (Asia Paredes), a high school blogger falls in love with Lauren (Catherine Corcoran), the new rich girl at school. Meanwhile, an organic food company that was built over the ashes of the Tromaville nuclear power plant is selling containment food to the high school. The food starts turning the smart people of the high school into mutant and rebellious cretins. Now, the two must solve what cause these mutations and save the high school from these cretins.

It’s always amazing that every time I watch a Lloyd Kaufman film, I always have a fun time.  Whether it’s the zany characters that appears in his films to the over the top violence, I never get tired of it. It was the same case with “Return to Nuke’em High Vol 1”, as I had a great time with this film.

Co-writer and director Lloyd Kaufman does a very good job with the film’s direction. What makes his direction work, he handles and balances the film’s humor and horror elements. Kaufman does a very making the humor funny. Whether it’s the raunchy gags to the some of the film’s laugh out loud moments, everything comes off as funny and entertaining. The other thing that I was impressed was the way that he uses the film’s gore and slime effects to his advantage. I thought that aspect looked a lot better than in previous Kaufman films. Everything comes off looking very good on screen and it helps drive the horror aspects of the film as it comes off as horrific.  

The acting was over the top but it works very well with the film’s story. Kaufman does a very good job making sure that his cast has chemistry with each other. He takes his time and makes sure the performances gel very well. It helps with a film like this, as I was interested in the characters and all of the happenings that went on during the course of the film.  It made the film very entertaining and fun.

The screenplay written by Kaufman, Travis Campbell and Derek Dressler does a very good job making sure that the screenplay has what you would expect in a Troma film. One of the things that I liked about the screenplay was the fact that the humor was funny. The writers did a very good job making sure the humor works with the story. Whether it’s the way the characters look to some of the film’s dialogue and gags, there were a lot of laughs in them and those scenes. They also did a very good job making sure the characters have certain traits to them. The traits in the characters is what helped made the characters work. Whether it’s the main character to some of the cretins, they had personality to them. It helps makes all the zany action works during the course of the film.

“Return to Nuke’em High Vol 1” is a very fun and crazy horror film that leaves you wanting more. Can’t wait to see how part 2 shapes up.

Review Rating: Four Stars.

"Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 2" Focus Group Screening in Brooklyn, NY

Troma Entertainment recently send us information that they will will holding a focus-group screening of "Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 2". the screening will take place on February 16th at The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.

The screening is open to the public and members of the Pratt Community. The film will start at 6PM.

Press Release:

On Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 6 pm, The Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY will be hosting a focus-group screening of Troma Entertainment's most recent work-in-progress movie, Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High AKA Volume 2", it was announced today by the Film and Video Department of The Pratt Institute. The screening will be open to the public and members of the Pratt community.

Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Volume 2 is the second half of Lloyd Kaufman's opus maximus that follows lesbian lovers Lauren and Chrissy though the mutant mayhem unleashed in Tromaville High, by corporate greed and contaminated tacos in the school cafeteria. Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1, the first half of Kaufman's 3 hour project was premiered by the Museum of Modern Art in the prestigious "Contenders Series" and described by The New York Times as, "powered by ribald bursts of bad taste and bodily fluid. The overall effect is (sic) joyous".

Like Troma's grand guignol classics The Toxic Avenger, Tromeo and Juliet, and Poultrygeist, Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Volume 2 is a cuisinart of satire and genres filled with graphic adult scenes and cartoon inspired gore.

The focus-group screening is intended to procure critical feedback from a Brooklyn audience. "The audience will help make our movie better", says Kaufman. Attendees will be asked to complete a survey with specific questions pertaining to this latest iteration of the movie as it nears completion. Return to Return to Nuke 'Em High aka Volume 2 is expected to be released in theaters Summer of 2016.