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Movie Review – Sharknado 2: The Second One

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Sharknado 2: The Second One  is here my friends, and:

“I know you’re scared, They’re sharks.  They’re scary, and no one wants to get eaten…”

The trick with making sequels is that there is always a stigma attached to them; when you think of your favorite films, unless it is Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, The Godfather Part II, or Friday the 13th Part IV, the sequel was ultimately a disappointment when compared to the original.  SyFy is hoping to buck that trend by capitalizing on one of their most popular B-Movie hits of all time, Sharknado (2013) (our review available: here), a film that essentially dominated on Twitter and became something of a cult smash, with their premiere of Sharknado 2: The Second One on July 30, 2014, as the feature piece of “Sharknado Week”. The question then is: is Sharknado 2 a sequel that improved on the formula established in Sharknado, or does it take a step backward and fall in on itself?

Sharknado 2: The Second One is again a The Asylum film directed by Anthony C. Ferrante (Sharknado & Boo) and again starring Ian Ziering as Fin Shepard, our hero from Sharknado, the former surfer, bar-owner, and man now famous for being the hero of the Los Angeles Sharknado. He and his ex-wife April (Tara Reid, again reprising her role from Sharknado) are flying across the country to New York City for April’s book tour, having written the bestselling “How to Survive a Sharknado”, and for Fin to visit with his sister Ellen (Kari Wuher), her husband/Fin’s former best friend Martin (Mark McGrath), Fin’s niece Mora (Courtney Baxter) and nephew Vaughn (Dante Palminteri).  A former flame of Fin’s, Skye (Vivica A. Fox) is also in the picture because…well, they did not bring Nova back from Sharknado and someone needs to be the kick-ass female foil for Fin.

Sharknado 2 starts with a bang as the plane Fin and April are on is accosted by the first Sharknado; fans of The Twilight Zone or failing that, The Simpsons will get a quick homage, and then the sharks start killing extras cameos and April loses her shooting hand to a flying great whiteFin lands the plane himself (all surfers can land jets), leaves April at the hospital to recover, and heads into the city to try and rescue his family from the oncoming Sharknadoes and having to sit through an entire NY Mets game.  Along the way to Citi Field, Fin runs across even more cameos, including Judd Hirsch (Independence Day, Ordinary People) as a charming cab driver.  Fin gets Skye, Martin and Vaughn out of the ballpark, then takes a trip through the subway, a stop to hurl mini-bombs into the storm from the top of the Bates Tower Hotel (*wink*), and into a finale including a whole bunch of awesome at the Empire State Building.

The thing about Sharknado 2 is that to tell you too much about what actually happens would take a great deal of the fun away from watching the film, and compared to Sharknado, Sharknado 2: The Second One has fun in spades. The use of cameos, often in a tongue-in-cheek way, combined with the relentless pace of the plot helps to make Sharknado 2 a clear improvement over its’ predecessor; if you have not seen Sharknado 2 yet, I hope that you have managed to avoid some of the cameo spoilers, as while not as fun-breaking as having the Zombieland cameo spoiled for you, the Sharknado cameos are much more fun if you go in with no foreknowledge.  The plot itself benefits from a severe streamlining, and sticking to the old adage of “give the people what they want”: as opposed to Sharknado where we did not actually see a Sharknado until the end, Sharknado 2 delivers in the first 5 minutes and revels in its’ breakneck pace, throwing multiple Sharknadoes into the fray.

While the first Sharknado suffered from the impediment of Tara Reid’s April (and the thankfully left in Los Angeles, daughter of Fin, Claudia) and her characters’ purpose in the first film to impede the plot and drag the story out to a longer run time,  Sharknado 2 sheds this plot device and instead focuses itself by providing us with an A and B story to flesh the film out. While the B-Story featuring the aforementioned Ellen and Mora trying to get back from the Statue of Liberty to the Bates Tower to meet up with the rest of our heroes (while losing some of Ellen’s shark fodder friends in fun ways) never has the same bite as the A-Story following Fin, it was a great way for Sharknado 2 to double back on its’ roots and show people who have not experienced the terror of a Sharknado trying to survive, while still giving us the experienced shark-fighting and crazy shark gore that we have come to expect from Sharknado films.

Now, that is not to say that there are no problems with Sharknado 2: The Second One, as it is still a made-for-TV B-movie about tornadoes sucking up sharks and hurling them into downtown Manhattan.  The acting is, again, B-movie at its’ very core; while there are several less than stellar performances, thankfully there are none that take away from the enjoyment of watching this schlocky film.  The special effects remain what one would expect of a SyFy movie (read: not very good, but passable) and there was the odd sound problem, but nothing film-breaking.

Look, let’s get right down to the core of this: Sharknado 2: The Second One is bigger, faster and sharkier.  If you are looking for a cult film that knows it is supposed to be cheesy, hilarious and a whole lot of fun to watch with a big group of friends, you cannot do much better than this.  If you are (for some reason) picking between Sharknado and Sharknado 2, you should really watch the sequel: it is one of the few second films in a series that is a vast improvement over its’ predecessor, however, you almost do need to see the first film in order to really appreciate The Second One in all its glory.

At the end of the day, as a B-movie fan, if you watch Sharknado 2: The Second One, you will have a good time.  Promise.

Now let’s see what happens in Sharknado 3…

 

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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