Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		2.0

The Dentist 2: Brace Yourself Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 19, 2023

Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of The Dentist Collection from Lionsgate Film's Vestron Video imprint.

There are a number of rather interesting online polls whose "scientific accuracy" may be questionable (at the very least), but which nonetheless provide rather telling data that when respondents are asked who is more frightening, doctors or dentists, dentists win by a landslide. As "wide" as the area covered and possible horrifying symptoms potentially "available" to any number of doctors, for some reason having someone tool around in the relatively claustrophobic confines of a mouth seems to put a lot of people decidedly more on edge, and both of The Dentist films play to that fear. Both films are unabashedly hyperbolic and feature a gonzo performance by Corbin Bernsen, who in one of the supplements included in this set talks about wanting to erase the "straight and narrow" strictures of his character on L.A. Law, which he definitely accomplishes, for better or worse. Crazy dentists (or at least quasi-dentists) have been part and parcel of any number of films ranging from Little Shop of Horrors to Marathon Man, but both of The Dentist films take things to even more extreme levels in terms of "malpractice", as the dentist in these outings is a certified psychopath whose mental and emotional breakdown lead to an accruing body count.

One of the recurrently humorous things about horror franchises is how after the first film, which often ends with the villain either dead or captured, the subsequent sequels then try to cobble together something workable to keep that villain "out and about" and wreaking havoc. The first Dentist was so patently unbelievable that that "problem" might have been moot to begin with, but The Dentist 2 may simply not be able to support the increasing suspension of disbelief that is necessary for this story to deliver consistent chills. There are still some absolutely grotesque special effects in this film that may keep those already frightened of dentists from ever "opening wide" again, but the actual narrative here is just flat out ridiculous.

Suffice it to say that demented Dr. Alan Feinstone (Corbin Bernsen) does manage to escape the cozy and padded confines of the local mental institution and ends up in the oh, so ironically named town of Paradise. If the first Dentist went overboard trying to deliver a supply of victims to Feinstone, this sequel may be figuratively screaming "hold my beer (and/or novocaine)", since it ups the ante in any number of preposterous situations involving a number of characters. While Brooke (Linda Hoffman) from the first film is putatively back for this installment, the real damsel in distress this time is probably town resident Jamie Devers (Jillian McWhirter), who gets swept up into Feinstone's subterfuge once he assumes a nom de denture, or whatever the appropriate description might be.

Anyone who has a penchant for ghastly inner mouth mayhem will once again have at least something to chew on (sorry), but it's probably not hard after watching this film to understand why The Dentist 3: The Overbite never got made.

The Dentist 2: Brace Yourself Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Dentist 2: Brace Yourself is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Vestron Video's Collector's Series, an imprint of Lionsgate Films, with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.90:1. As is typical with these Vestron Video releases, there's no technical information imparted on the cover other than a generic "digitally restored". This presentation has some of the same variabilities I mentioned in our The Dentist Blu-ray review, though this transfer didn't have the same slightly brightened look as the first film. That said, there are still some variabilities in color temperature, with yellow undertones tending to ebb and flow, and grain also looks somewhat odd, especially against brighter backgrounds. Close-ups in particular can still deliver rather good fine detail levels. As with the first film, there's recurrent if minor signs of age related wear and tear.

The Dentist 2: Brace Yourself Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Dentist 2: Brace Yourself features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 that matches the first film's audio presentation in terms of capable support for an often by the numbers sound design. This film does have some fun sound effects, including some relatively subtle ones like the snap of the dentist's gloves when he dons them, but there are of course "gooier" ones down the line. Alan Howarth contributes another good score which is well represented here. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available.

The Dentist 2: Brace Yourself Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary with Director Brian Yuzna and Special Make Up Effects Supervisor Anthony C. Ferrante


• Isolated Score Selections Featuring an Audio Interview with Composer Alan Howarth and Editor Christopher Roth is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0.


• Jamie's New Neighbor (HD; 14:20) is an interview with Jillian McWhirter.


• A Tale of Two Dentists (HD; 10:15) is an interview with producer Pierre David.


• Trailer (HD; 2:09)


• Still Gallery (HD; 4:17)

The Dentist 2: Brace Yourself Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's almost commendable how Yuzna and his team took an already completely unbelievable premise and then managed to make it even more unbelievable. Bernsen in once again off the charts gonzo in this piece, and it, like the first film, offers some spectacularly gory special effects for those who like them. While technical merits are arguably improvable, the supplements are really enjoyable, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.