[yasr_overall_rating]
It’s 25 years later, and Detective Frank Washington is forced to team up with his long estranged partner Joe Marshall to solve a series of assassinations.
According to IMDb, the producers of “Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance” changed their script to include the original Samurai Cop after they learned the actor who played him (Matt Hannon) was still alive. Read it again – the producers had to rewrite their plot because they found out that the original’s star was STILL ALIVE. Like they just assumed he must have died, and were pleasantly surprised to learn he hadn’t. This might be the best piece of film trivia I’ve ever read.
What do you critique about a film that aims to be awful? Taking on “Samurai Cop 2” earnestly would be as futile as watching a Harlem Globetrotters game, and breaking down why the Washington Generals came up short. The first “Samurai Cop” developed enough of a cult following to get “Samurai Cop 2” funded through Kickstarter – this film exists thanks to the collective desire of the original film’s fans. Speaking of desire, there are three porn stars in the cast (to be fair, only two of them have earned Wikipedia pages, so it might be more accurate to say that the cast includes two porn stars, and a porn actress who’s doing the best she can).
In execution, the plot is a fever dream of deliberately cheap special effects, intentionally clunky dialogue, and gratuitous nudity. So basically it’s what you expect from the title – and if you’re one of the people who contributed to the Kickstarter campaign, it’s exactly what you paid for. It’s a throwback to an era of cheesy, poorly-planned action flicks that went out in search of a quick buck. Joe Marshall (the eponymous Samurai Cop) helps his old partner, Frank Washington (Mark Frazer) solve a series of assassinations. It turns out the hits were committed by the dangerous Katana gang, which is embroiled in a feud with the a rival gang that’s either the lesser of two evils, or just as bad. A third gang is also involved. It all leads to a climactic battle at the Complex, the secret house of all three gangs, which looks like a level from any late 90’s computer game that took place on a spaceship.
“Samurai Cop 2” will have its fans, but it’s poison if you’re not into camp/kitsch, or just not in the right mindset. I gave the film 3 stars because I didn’t know what else to do. I’ve set up the rest of this review to help you decide if “Samurai Cop 2” is right for you:
- I donated money to the “Samurai Cop 2” Kickstarter. Should I watch “Samurai Cop 2”?
Yes. Reap what you sowed. - I have pretty simple tastes. I just want a fun movie with good action scenes. Should I watch “Samurai Cop 2”?
Nope. There are plenty of action scenes, but they’re made to be deliberately bad. You’re only supposed to enjoy them ironically. If you want good action sequences, look elsewhere. - It’s 3am, and my friends and I have ingested certain…substances that have put us in a real weird mood. Should we watch “Samurai Cop 2”?
Pretty sure you’re the target audience (well, you and people who just enjoy camp/kitsch). Watch away. But if you’re taking illicit substances, make sure you stay hydrated. I don’t know for sure that it will help, but it can’t hurt. - I like laughing at things that are bad, and think that the best kind of enjoyment is derisive enjoyment. Should I watch “Samurai Cop 2”?
You should definitely watch it. You should also consider reexamining why you live this way. Limiting yourself to media that you can condescend to isn’t healthy, and can inhibit your growth as a person. Be more open to stimulating, abstruse works that challenge you, even you’re worried you can’t keep up. Don’t strive to be the King of the Intellectual Sewer. The Intellectual Sewer is like any other sewer – not a nice place to be. - I’ve been asked to review “Samurai Cop 2.” Should I watch “Samurai Cop 2”?
No, because I just reviewed it. Stay off my turf, pal. - I laughed at the name “Samurai Cop 2.” Should I watch it?
Sure.
I hope this helped. A title like “Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance” conjures certain expectations, and the film definitely lives up (down?) to them. It’s a loving, winking tribute to one of the most aggressively stupid action movie subgenres, and if it sounds like your kind of film, it probably is.
Available now on Blu-ray, DVD and Video On Demand
