After Christopher Robin (Scott Chambers) successfully escapes from Pooh and Piglet (Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey), the locals are determined to hunt Pooh and Piglet, destroying various forest areas to find them. With no other options left, Pooh (Ryan Oliva) and Piglet (Eddy MacKenzie) seek refuge and assistance from their friends Tigger (Lewis Santer) and Owl (Marcus Massey). The foursome are running low on food and energy, and their homeland is being destroyed, leading to vengeful feelings towards Christopher and anyone who tries to obstruct them. Intent on revenge, Pooh and his friends leave the woods and head into town, searching for Christopher.
On the other hand, Christopher is struggling to lead an everyday life. After the events in the woods, many people doubted his story and what he had witnessed. There’s even been a movie made about it. Now, Christopher wants to have an ordinary life and to keep working at the hospital. However, the constant exhaustion and lack of trust from others are making him feel like an outcast, funnily enough, just like Pooh. Christopher continues to receive help from his therapist, and after undergoing some hypnotherapy, he begins to remember something from his past that is starting to resurface. Consequently, he starts having nightmares about his past, slowly discovering an element of his life that will change everything.
Like the previous film, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 continues to take well-known, lovable Disney characters and turn the horror volume up so high that you can’t help but be curious as to what filmmakers will do. Credit where credit is due, this film goes to the next level in various aspects, including horror, violence, and the level of gore. Pooh has no problems ripping limbs off live bodies and even uses them as a stabbing weapon. With his Wolverine-like claws, Tigger is wilder than Wolverine on a bad day. The body count is higher, and the blood spilled is greater. New characters are also introduced to heighten the film, including Tigger and Owl. Like in the first film, nothing here is taken seriously, but it is brainless and bloody fun. Visuals have been improved from the previous film, and the costume designs, including the look of Pooh and his facials, have been significantly enhanced.
Christopher’s enigmatic backstory is another aspect that is introduced in the film. This time, the character is given more screen time and excellent character development. However, I did not enjoy him searching his memories as the movie focuses on this aspect significantly. In several parts of the film, the presence of killer animals in the story almost fades away. While this subplot plays out like a thriller with a mystery, the outcome is predictable, uninteresting, and unsurprising.
In terms of pacing, unfortunately, the movie misses the mark. Again, the additional subplot of Christopher Robin’s memories makes the film drag and sometimes feel slow. The final twenty-five minutes of the movie were where it shone the most and redeemed itself slightly. The film becomes quite violent and crazy and consists of a bloody slaughter of many. Tigger is now the most favoured among the four killers, but his screen presence requires time and patience from audiences. As for the new character of Owl, this was a mixed bag for me. Although I loved the concept, his style resembles a goblin’s face, and his voice can be challenging to understand.
Overall, after enjoying the previous film for its level of mindless entertainment, I’m happy to say that many key areas in the sequel have improved. There’s more blood and gruesome horror for sure, but viewers must be patient to see the extreme chaos, mayhem, and violence, as well as the presence of Tigger in full action. When the violence finally happens, it is entertaining, mindless and somewhat humorous. However, the additional subplot of Christopher Robin questioning his past slows down the film’s pace and has a predictable and uninteresting outcome. As a sequel, unfortunately, it’s a slight step back from the original for me. However, the final twenty-five minutes of the film make up for it. If you enjoyed the first film, don’t hesitate to watch this one. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the wacky, outrageous, honey-fuelled horror.
3.5/10
27th March 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
Walkden Entertainment Podcasts Are Now Available!
0 Comments