James Marsters

Strange Frequency 2 (2001)

"You won’t get my soul!" - Mitch (James Marsters)

Review By: Chuck Aliaga Published: March 14, 2005

Stars: Peter Strauss, Wendie Malick, Jason Gedrick, Lindsay Sloane, Roger Daltrey

Other Stars: John Hawkes, Patsy Kensit, James Marsters

Director: various

MPAA Rating: R for (drug content)

Run Time: 01h:24m:33s

Release Date: March 15, 2005

UPC: 097368749443

Genre: horror

DVD Review

Horror anthologies used to be all the rage back in the 1980s and ’90s, when movies like Creepshow and Tales From the Darkside: The Movie, and TV shows like Tales from the Crypt were extremely popular. Once Tales From the Crypt went off the air, the whole anthology craze seemed to die down. Then, in 2001, the VH1 network of all places tried to spark a revival in the subgenre with their airing of the TV movie, Strange Frequency, and while it didn’t garner huge ratings, it were good enough for the network to turn Strange Frequency into a TV series, with eight more "episodes" airing soon.

A DVD, simply titled Strange Frequency, was released in 2003 and represented the "episodes" from the original TV movie. Now, thanks to Paramount Home Video, the first four separate shows in the series are on DVD, in a package titled Strange Frequency 2. The show itself is a rare blend of horror tales with a rock-and-roll twist. Each story is hosted by The Who’s Roger Daltrey (Tommy), who even pops up as a character in a few of the tales. The four stories on this disc are as follows:

Soul Man: Mitch is a guitar tech for a band led by a successful, arrogant lead singer. When Mitch comes across a lost Jimi Hendrix song that is said to be impossible to play correctly, he makes a deal with a mysterious talent scout that promises him fame and fortune.

Cold Turkey: Rock-and-roll star Jerry is a recovering alcohol and drug addict who would do anything to completely shake his habits. Unfortunately, he can’t write new material while he’s sober, but a beautiful fan assures Jerry that she can be his key to continued success.

Instant Karma: Lara has been obsessed with rock star Vince Brava forever, and she finally has the chance to meet him backstage one night. When he forces himself upon her, she exacts her revenge with a mind-altering kiss that just might change his womanizing ways.

Don’t Stop Believin’: Ben Stanton is a senate candidate on the verge of defeat as the result of bad press for a car accident in which his young mistress was killed. Every time Stanton plays his campaign song, he is transported in time to a few minutes before the accident, giving him multiple chances to prevent the tragedy.

The segments in Strange Frequency 2 are surprisingly entertaining, and sure to please horror anthology fans especially. The actors seem to be having fun as well, with Jason Gedrick having the most fun in a role where he has to have the brain of a man half the time, and a woman for the rest of the show.

While all of the segments are good, the best is Soul Man, as not only do we get to see James Marsters (Spike from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel) in a new light, but the story is a fresh look at the classic "making a deal with the devil" tale. Cold Turkey is the weakest, but the blame for that should fall on the shoulders of the writers and not John Hawkes and Patsy Kensit, who deliver great performances.

Rating for Style: B-
Rating for Substance: B+