Killer Crocodile 2

A horrendously funny sequel bearing no actual horror (and it is categorized as a horror film), actually having more than good nature photography and swamp, river sceneries and cheesy, goofy, nice acting than terrible visual effects.

It is fun for a pass time, especially if you watch it dubbed in Italian, which suits the beautiful power two Debra Karr very much.

Who and how (were) funded these movies is beyond me.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 3.5
• Development: 6.5
• Realism: 3.5
• Entertainment: 6.5
• Acting: 4
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 6
• VFX: 2.5
• Music/score/sound: 5
• Depth: 3
• Logic: 1.5
• Flow: 5.5
• Horror: 2.5
• Ending: 4.

I'm a fan of movie composer Riz Ortolani, but his music for the Killer Crocodile movies is uninspired and unoriginal, Ortolani shamelessly ripping off John Williams' score for Jaws. Still, I guess it's fitting in a way, because both Killer Croc films are far from groundbreaking, borrowing heavily from earlier examples of the 'killer animal' genre, including - of course - Spielberg's '75 classic.

Italian special effects man Giannetto De Rossi dusts off his humongous reptile model from the original film (although I'm not sure if the word 'original' is really applicable) and also takes over the directorial reins (from Fabrizio De Angelis), but he is unable to bring anything new to the table, his sequel treading the same murky water as the first film, taking place in the same location - a Caribbean swamp - and featuring two of the same characters, croc expert Joe (Ennio Girolami) and (ex) environmentalist Kevin (Richard Anthony Crenna).

Kevin is sent to the swamp to help feisty New York reporter Liza (Debra Karr) on her assignment to investigate unscrupulous property developer Mr. Baxter, who plans to open a swanky holiday resort despite having dumped barrels of radioactive material in the area. As it happens, nuclear waste is the least of their problems: there's another massive killer crocodile in the water, chomping on anyone who ventures into his stomping ground (including a couple of nuns and a load of school children!).

Although it's far from a great film, if you enjoyed the first one, then there's a good chance you'll have fun with this sequel as well, De Rossi delivering lots of trashy croc action and a smidgen of gore, with more than a little silliness and even some gratuitous nudity (which was sorely lacking from De Angelis' film). The giant crocodile itself is a passable creation, but still shonky enough to provide a few giggles; however, the funniest moment comes at the end of the film, when the special effects 'genius' swaps his oversized toothy horror for a miniature, complete with 'action man figure' clinging to its back. It's so bad it's impossible not to love.

4.5/10, rounded up to 5 for IMDb.

The 1990 follow up to the 1989 "Killer Crocodile" movie wasn't really a step in the right direction. Not unless you count a cheesier and campier storyline as better, or having an even more inanimate crocodile as being better.

The storyline in "Killer Crocodile 2" was a direct continuation of the events and story in the 1989 movie, for better or worse. But then it gets weird, because apparently one crocodile survived from part I and it emerged from the egg as a hatchling. But wait, within mere minutes apparently, it had grown bigger than the crocodile in the first movie. There was no time lapse to the storyline, which was a total slap in the face of the audience that have sat through the 1989 "Killer Crocodile" movie.

The events were less interesting in this sequel, and there were far less deaths throughout the movie in comparison to the first movie. And that was something that made the movie suffer.

As for the acting in "Killer Crocodile 2", well it was equal to the level of acting in the 1989 "Killer Crocodile" movie, so you know what you are or aren't getting here, depending on how you look at it.

I found this 1990 sequel to be less adequate in terms of entertainment and enjoyment in comparison to the predecessor. I managed to get through the movie, but it was an uphill battle because the storyline was essentially pointless and non-existing.

A corrupt land developer is pursued by a tenacious and ambitious investigative journalist (Karr) after another journalist uncovers evidence of radioactive waste being dumped in the local swamps. But when our rogue reporter goes missing in the swamps, her employer calls in the expert – Anthony Crenna, appearing half way through the film as the visiting specialist on all-things swamp, like gi-normous crocodiles. Through a series of painful recollections, Crenna labours in the tortured soul characterisation, and re-acquaints with local game hunter Girolami to go in search of another giant crocodile, and hopefully, find Karr alive and well.

Former special effects man De Rossi follows up the mediocre 1989 offering with this flimsy concept of a sequel. There's even less to this outing than the original – ridiculous dialogue (although it's impossible to tell just how bad it is, considering the English dub), laughable set-ups and a puerile make-up effects leave little room for suspense, thrills or basic plot cohesion. Awkward attempts at humour fail miserably, but then the acting is so stilted and amateurish, it would be unfair to expect a cast of this quality to master the timing required to deliver comedy, when they struggle attempting to convey fear and surprise. The crocodile itself moves through the water like it's being towed by an outboard.

Leading man Crenna (Richard's son) arrives in the second half with immediate impact, while the bubbly and effervescent Karr is enthusiastic, if somewhat at the mercy of the poor script. "Killer Crocodile 2" is a virtual carbon copy of its predecessor and looks like director De Rossi (who provided the special effects for the first film) combined mostly out-takes and left-over footage to cobble together a quick cash-in. If there's any redeemable features at all, the music isn't bad, and, Enio Girolami (aka Thomas Moore) is laughably intense, but there's little more to recommend. I paid $2 for this movie as an ex-rental, and that's about the worth.

As with many monster movies, you may ask yourself: how hungry is a crocodile? Also is it a crocodile or an alligator? I read the distinction and explanation what is what, but I forgot it since I did. But that shouldn't matter - as it doesn't matter if you've seen the first one or not. Although it is the better "movie" of the two. So if you only watch one of these, watch the previous one. On the other hand this has the beautfiul Debra Karr undressing herself - so maybe it's a tie for some.

That aside the monster is the highlight again. The hungry hippo ... I mean crocodile. Really great monster, because it was made and interacted with the actors instead of being rendered in later. Well done and a lot of gore and mayhem. But no story apart from being the ... spawn of the first one and having some ... leftovers from the previous movie to ... chew on. Enough jokes? Well don't expect the dialog in this to be better, the opposite is the case