Grizzly II: Revenge

MOVIE #1,438 • 🍿🍿 • 03.13.24 Where do I even begin with this one? I don't often regret watching movies, but I'm feeling that emotion after viewing this sequel in quick succession with the equally terrible original. Both of these films are bad in the worst way: they're incredibly boring. This at least has the bonus of its wild backstory, but it's not enough. You can just read about this movie's sordid production and release drama. You don't need to see it. The Ringer published what’s probably the best history, but basically this was filmned in 1983 in Hungary with real American actors (including George Clooney, Laura Dern, and Charlie Sheen, who were all relatively unknown at the time, and are killed off in the opening scene). The great John Rhys-Davies also shows up and he’s giving it his all, as usual. But the production was a disaster and the movie was never released.

Flash-forward more than 35 years later and the owners of this unreleased mess had a bright idea: let’s stuff in a bunch of stock footage and promote this obviously unfinished film on the backs of those three stars. This is the CliffsNotes version of the story. The results were only ever destined to be VERY bad. But is it bad in an interesting way?

Well, kind of. This movie is the equivalent of an annoying novelty song. Around every corner of its thankfully short run-time is a baffling decision. From where to insert the 21st century stock footage that doesn’t match at all…



…to including an unconnected scene with two characters halfway through that we’ve never seen before and don’t show up again…


…and all stops in between. Some of the cut-ins, like at the concert, feel so unnecessary. I get inserting bears in your killer bear movie that has no usable bear footage, but the inserts of random audience shots doesn't make sense (especially when there's already so much live music content — like ½ the film!). The kicker is this full performance from a little-known 2000s britpop group called The Days that’s simply juxtaposed in as if we wouldn't notice…


Despite the digital upscale of the original footage (which looks worse on its own!) it still 100% doesn't match. The result is comical and this is beyond a mess. The idea that they thought they could get away with this for one second is absurd. Did this 2020 release make somebody money? I don't know and I don't care. It's a proposition so blatant you kind of have to give them credit for going through with the ridiculous grift. But I cannot in good faith recommend it... unless you’re a sicko like me.

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Grizzly II: Revenge (sometimes stylized Grizzly II. Revenge, also known as Grizzly II: The Predator and Grizzly II. The Concert) is a 1983 American action thriller horror film that was not properly released until 2020. It was directed by André Szöts and is a sequel to the 1976 film Grizzly that was directed by William Girdler and David Sheldon. The film is about a giant grizzly named Tawanda, who seeks revenge after her cub was killed by poachers. It stars Steve Inwood, Louise Fletcher, John Rhys-Davies, Deborah Raffin and Deborah Foreman; actors George Clooney, Laura Dern, and Charlie Sheen, who were all relatively unknown at the time, all had small roles in the film. Originally filmed in Hungary in 1983, the release was put on hold for many decades. The film premiered at the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival and was released on January 8, 2021 through video-on-demand. It was released on February 17, 2020.