Rent Screamers: The Hunting (2009)

Poor SciFi Sequel - Screamers: The Hunting review by GI

A belated sequel to the 1995 science fiction action film that was adapted from a Philip K. Dick story and was a decent if flawed action sci-fi with a solid story and a good lead star in Peter Weller. This follow up is strictly a B movie fare that surprisingly has some reasonable effects but is let down by a daft story and script and some shoddy acting mostly from an unknown cast. Lance Hendricksen has a cameo in a poorly thought out role. Years after the events of the first film the planet is believed deserted and the 'screamers' now inoperable. But a distress signal brings a rescue ship with some soldier types to look for survivors. Of course the screamers are far from dead and in fact have evolved into bloody cyborgs. The film steals from far better sci-fi offerings and goes for gore over getting a good plot and story together. They even throw in a ridiculous sex scene in the middle of all the mayhem just to get the all too predictable conclusion into the plot. A forgettable sequel that disappoints as the first film was rather good.

Borrowed parts - Screamers: The Hunting review by AER

The only good thing about Screamers 2 is the creature FX. The only person capable of acting in this film shows up for under 10 minutes at the ending (Lance Henriksen - Falling, Aliens, Dead Man). Everything else just serves to make the so-so original (starring Peter Weller) feel like a masterpiece. Stealing from films such as Aliens, and Starship Troopers this has no ideas of its own. All interest has been cribbed from the first film, and the twists are well-telegraphed. It's badly acted, poorly plotted and populated by characters who make verrrrry stupid and erratic decisions. Why Lance Henriksen signed on to appear in this bog-blocker is anyone's guess (even his lines are dyslexic) - 'If he killed himself, it wasn't suicide...' huh? I doubt anyone will ever read this review, because there are about 4 people on earth that know this film exists (even the cast don't know it exists) - so I leave this review as a lone probe into internet space hoping someone picks up my signal... It reads - 'don't watch this!' It's all second hand parts.

1 out of 10 - rusty