Mandao Returns

Loved the movie! The idea, the characters are awesome!!!! Had a great time! Perfect movie for a popcorn Saturday night!

Mixing sci-fi and horror elements with comedy is no easy task, but the team behind Mandao Returns has managed to do just that. If you're looking for something a little offbeat but a lot of fun, and that doesn't overstay its welcome, Mandao Returns is a great way to spend 75 minutes!

After contacting a recently-deceased starlet, the astral-traveler and his friends are soon confronted with the desire to save her from her untimely fate but the more they begin using their skills to help the more they realize they've now started in on a rather dangerous quest.

This was a slightly disappointing follow-up. One of the only factors here is the general lack of comedy in the setup, instead managing to try jokes and comedic situations that really aren't. The idea of the duo possessing each other to pull off a robbery or the hilarity of their plan to present a sacrifice that goes haywire are good enough but the rest of this one isn't that funny. The characters are far more aggravating and annoying than actually funny, resulting in scenes that just go on for quite a while without generating the necessary laughs since it demonstrates the one character as far too stupid to be doing anything like what he's behaving like which wasn't the cast for the original. Another somewhat odd issue is the strange ploy of introducing the main storyline halfway through the film causing it to be quite rushed and missing some minor details, which are all that hold this one back. This one does manage quite a lot to enjoy. Among the better features is the rather engaging and fun atmosphere present, as although none of the interactions are really funny that it was attempted to be so means nothing is really dark or over-the-top. The outrageous premise and goofiness they display trying to continually shift back and forth through time trying to make sure everything happens that they end up causing simply by chance. As well, when it finally goes over the top in the final half where they tend to result in various plans and failed encounters trying to ensure everything goes to plan yet very little of it does require some genuinely creative thinking and some creative concepts for ensuring everything gets fixed. These factors, combined with a decent storyline about their father-and-son relationship that pays off nicely, gives this one some great positives.

Rated Unrated/R: Graphic Language and Violence.

I had not seen the first Mandao movie (but will watch now) but really enjoyed this sequel. This is a wonderfully well written story arc into an easily watchable time frame. the characters give the sci-fi story substance. There are some fun story lines around time travel that add to the movie. Overall very well done and recommend. Anxious to see the first movie and will review that in due course.

Like many, I never saw the first film in this duology...however, I thoroughly enjoyed this low budget, Christmas themed, sci-fi horror comedy flick!

In it, we focus on a trio of housemates.

All of whom have supernatural abilities in the realm of astral traveling.

Which they can use to travel to different places, back in time, and to traverse the boundaries between the realm of the living and that of the dead.

Most of which they use to con people into thinking that they are psychic.

However, here, they use their powers to try and bring back their favourite B-movie actress from the dead.

After she accidentally overdosed on a drug known as "party favours".

Only to discover her death was the result of a bizarre attempt to join some sort of elite secret society.

And that she wasn't exactly an innocent bystander in the whole ordeal.

It's really quite cleverly written.

So, even though it's short, and simply shot...it's really quite engaging and entertaining.

With the filmmakers knowing how to capitalize on the allure of making it a "holiday horror" (with this one taking place on Christmas, while the original is Halloween themed).

It's definitely one of the better home made horrors I've seen.

So I'd definitely say it's worth a watch.

4.5 out of 10.