Film review - Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance (2015)


To read my review of the original 'Samurai Cop' (1991), go here:  https://the-dw-review.blogspot.com/2020/11/film-review-samurai-cop-1991.html

Supposedly picking up where the original left off, Samurai Cop 2 sees Joe Marshall clock off shift with his girlfriend Jennifer, only for her to be cruelly murdered in front of him.  Exiling himself for over 20 years, his old partner Frank makes contact to get him back in the game as the Japanese gang from the first film are causing trouble again.

A cute attempt at both a sequel and homage to the '91 original, which over time gained a cult following, SC2 reunited a few of the original cast members including now-retired female cop Peggy who runs a bar and the Mexican waiter, concurrently working as an air-steward.  The film also brings back the same Yakuza crime lord, the middle-aged camera editor and the guy who previously lost his arm via Marshall's sword!

Some new characters are introduced and instantly fit in to the SC universe:  a brunette who bears a striking resemblance to Jennifer; a female samurai who could've easily been given her own spin-off; and everyone's favourite bad film hero himself, TOMMY WISEAU!  So we get the added layer of two cult hits, Samurai Cop vs The Room representatives in a showdown worth the admission alone.

As with most movies that are just abysmal, the real story is what happened off camera.  Matt Hannon was re-discovered upon the world thinking he was dead and he responded via YouTube.  The film was essentially crowdfunded with each donor getting a credit at the end!  There are also nice dedications following the conclusion to the original's late director Amir S and its deceased antagonist Robert Z'dor, the latter whom apparently signed on prior to production.

These touches don't however cover for the fact it was still bad and despite budget improvements, the output was no better.  Whereas SC1 had overexposure of daylight, SC2 had an overabundance of darkness with a lack of balance going the other way.  One could be forgiven for thinking at times it was a sci-fi flick with odd light technology present in the crime dens.  It's as if they deliberately st out to make a bad film here.  Whereas Samurai Cop 1's ineptness was unintentional, thus later becoming part of its charm,  this film was in on the joke all along making it nowhere near as funny.

The acting of the two main cops had improved considerably from the original.  Even Wiseau is better here by Wiseau standards, even if he is really playing himself and reprises his tantrum scene from The Room (2003) minus killing himself off.  Whilst the soundtrack isn't that bad, there are often tunes that feel out of place in various scenes - again leading to the credence that they're setting out to filming one big joke.

You can't watch it without having scene the first one (if you dare) but it is worth it just to see where everybody ends up for narrative purposes.  Technically it's a marginal upgrade.  Whilst the original invites you to watch with a party of friends, stick to this with just the one mate or significant other.  You'll be glad you did.

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