WINNIE THE POOH: BLOOD AND HONEY II (2024)
British slasher sequel picks up a year after the “Hundred Acre Massacre” with Christopher Robin (now Scott Chambers) being disbelieved and suspected of having had something to do with it. Those who do believe him, now hunt for Pooh (Ryan Oliva) and Piglet (Eddy MacKenzie) forcing them into hiding along with Owl (Marcus Massey) and Tigger (Lewis Santer). When stalking hunters kill Piglet, Pooh and the others decide to go on the offensive…in gruesome fashion.
Disney must so hate public domain!
Second installment in a planned franchise is directed again by Rhys Frake-Waterfield from a script by Matt Leslie. The production values are much better with a much larger budget including much improved creature make-up and a lot of well-done gore. The flick takes the Terrifier 2 route of upping the ante on the violence and gory kills though without the sense of gruesome whimsy it needs. Frake-Waterfield shows improvement as a director, but the film still has some pacing issues, Pooh and friends disappear for a long stretch in the middle act and the film still isn’t scary at all, despite being a bit more atmospheric than the previous film. Also, giving Pooh and company a scientific explanation seems like a misstep as it robs them of their mystical quality of being talking animals come to life from children’s toys…turned psychotic killers. The last act gives us a bloody rampage and showdown, but the film could still use a bit, more energy and demented glee to really take advantage of the fact it’s a horror flick based on beloved children’s stories. Flick takes itself way too seriously. Also stars pretty Tallulah Evans as Christopher Robin’s girlfriend Lexy.
-MonsterZero NJ
MonsterZero NJ's Movie Madhouse 