There's nothing like an approaching Halloween holiday to put me in the mood for a few scary movies and you might feel the same way.  I recently took a look at some prominent horror movies that hit video stores this week.  Scroll down the page to read about "Wrong Turn 2: Dead End," "Black Sheep," and "Severance" if you dare.

2003’s "Wrong Turn" turned out to be a surprisingly entertaining slice of horror which made a modest profit. Hollywood’s latest trend is to take mildly successful films and make straight-to-dvd sequels. So now, just in time for Halloween, we get "Wrong Turn 2: Dead End."

The sequel’s set-up is just like its predecessor; a group of young twentysomethings get stuck out in the West Virginia woods, only to be stalked by a group of cannibalistic inbred hillbillies. Stalk and slash is the name of the game here and that’s all you should expect. Wait, you should expect a couple of very cool characters (one played by punk rock/entertainment legend Henry Rollins) and some bad ones too.

For a straight-to-video film, "Wrong Turn 2" is pretty well produced. There are a few instances where you can tell the budget was lacking, but otherwise the second chapter is nearly as slick as the original. The action is fast and the gore is wet and chunky, which should please many. I think I liked the cannibal hillbillies better in the first movie, but this is purely a personal choice.

3.5 out of 5

Filmmakers now produce a whole host of extras specifically to entice business from consumers and even though this is a low-budget release, you won’t be short-changed for bonus features. The dvd includes a commentary track with rookie director Joe Lynch, a making-of featurette, a look at the film’s gore effects and a special look behind the scenes. For what could be a throw-away release, it’s a nice package.

3.5 out of 5

"Wrong Turn 2: Dead End" is a surprise. We tend not to think too highly of straight-to-video movies and while this one won’t set your world on fire, you’ll be entertained (and maybe just a little grossed out) for 90 minutes and that’s all you’re looking for.

Monster movies have always been hokey fun and they’re usually best when you don’t take them seriously. After enjoying a nice run during the festival and independent theater circuit this year, the comedy-horror "Black Sheep" is now available to the masses.

They say New Zealand is the land where the 40 million sheep totally outnumber the humans and that’s bad news in this movie. A man traumatized by a childhood prank returns to his family’s sheep farm only to find that his brother’s genetic experiments have created killer, flesh-eating sheep.

That’s a great premise for a horror-comedy and it shouldn’t be too difficult to make it good. There are a lot of sheep and the movie is pretty gory. In fact the gore effects were made by Weta workshop, the New Zealand effects shop responsible for "The Lord of the Rings." Many people might not know this, but L.O.T.R. director Peter Jackson got his start by making low-budget gore films in New Zealand. His early films were comedy-horror classics and it;s obvious director Jonathan King is trying to emulate Jackson’s formula.

The trouble is that it just doesn’t work. There are a few funny parts scattered throughout and while the killer sheep are entertaining, the mix isn’t good. It’s not scary enough, campy enough or funny enough to pull the film in any one direction. The horror-comedy thing is tough to pull off and that’s why the guys who can are considered the masters.

2.5 out of 5

The "Black Sheep" dvd comes with audio commentary, an extensive making-of featurette, a blooper reel and deleted scenes.

4 out of 5

My buddy told me that this film works best in a crowded theater and that’s probably true. Sitting at home, you’ll probably be mildly entertained, but will forget it as soon as you turn it off. If you just have to watch a New Zealand-produced horror-comedy, seek out Peter Jackson’s early masterpieces "Bad Taste," or the magnificent "Dead/Alive."

 The Movie:

Following the trend of the recent "Hostel" films, "Severance" moves the action to Eastern Europe.  Somehow the crumbling and decaying remnants of the former Soviet empire have become a ripe setting for today's horror filmmakers.  This particular movies takes it a step further by throwing in a group of dysfunctional, "Office"-type corporate stooges as it's protagonists. 

A trip to Eastern Europe meant to promote team-building quickly goes awry when the bus driver refuses to drive through a spooky stretch of forest and the team is abandoned on the side of the road.  Before long, a group of lunatic former Soviet commando war criminals are picking off the inefficient office workers one by one.

"Severance" is best seen as a black comedy utilizing droll humor in lieu of laugh-out-loud hysterics.  The setting is creepy and the villains, while anonymous, are chillingly realistic.  Director Christopher Smith has done a nice job blending the humor and horror and the viewer should be able to take this seriously.  It's an enjoyable if predictable ride but certainly one worth taking.  You'll think twice the next time the boss tells you the team is taking a weekend field trip.

4 out of 5

The Extras:

"Severance" also has a nice stack of bonus features including cast and crew commentary, a making of featurette, deleted scenes, a look at the special effects, behind the scenes and an alternate ending.  It's a good-looking and well put together package and should keep fans of the films very happy.

4 out of 5

"Severance" is easily the best of the bunch and one of the more enjoyable horror films I've seen in the last year.  It has the requisite gore as well as some genuine scares and humorous moments.  If you can only rent of these three films, make sure you put "Severance" at the top of your list.