Mr. Jingles

REVIEW
Written, produced, directed by and cast with what appear to be enthusiastic amateurs, Mr. Jingles actually achieves a sort of homespun, “let’s put on a show” charm. The film has all of the right narrative elements of the genre in place: the sole survivor of the first film (titled S.I.C.K.) getting released from an institution, returning to the town where the original mayhem occurred and the stereotypical mix of “good” young people and “naughty” young people — all of whom seem to enjoy partaking of a certain herbal recreational drug. And, of course, there is Mr. Jingles, a character curiously reminiscent of Freddy Krueger. There is a sense of authenticity in the films portrayal of suburban stoner life and, given the gloriously bargain basement special effects (guns that don’t even fire when shot???) and gratuitous attention to all things gore-related, the producers seem aim low and hit the mark, creating a decidedly “by the people, for the people” film that should appeal to exactly the type of people that it depicts.

The insipid title Mr. Jingles is a change from the more appropriate original title 2 S.I.C.K.. “2” implies that, not only is the film is a sequel, but that the creative placement before the acronym that serves as the bulk of the films name (S.I.C.K stands for “serial insane clown killer” which might lead some viewers to mistakenly assume that someone is killing mentally ill clowns) also does double duty, not only indicating that this is continuation of an earlier work but that this newest installment achieves some sort of excess, as if it is that much more; that is, “too” much more than the content of the original.