KILLER CROCODILE 2

Liza, a young American journalist, is sent to an island in the Caribbean where a tourist village is about to open, but years earlier, it was the scene of horrific massacres caused by a huge crocodile resulting from genetic mutations due to barrels of radioactive waste abandoned in the river's waters. Liza, certain that the river's waters have not been properly decontaminated, hopes for an exciting scoop that could revolutionize her boring career. Her scoop will be more exciting than expected when she discovers that the river's waters are not only still polluted but also host a new huge and voracious crocodile that will start slaughtering tourists and bathers. It will be up to the young environmentalist Kevin, who had already eliminated the huge monster years before, to save the situation and young Liza from the jaws of the large reptile. At the end of the 1980s, 'Killer Crocodile' was released by Larry Ludman (a pseudonym used by Fabrizio De Angelis), an honest beast movie centered (as suggested by the title) on the figure and deeds of a huge and voracious crocodile, which, thanks to more than sufficient and fascinating homemade special effects created by the always capable Giannetto De Rossi, turns out to be one of the major exponents of the Italian-made beast movie (a subgenre, that of beast movies, little explored in the Italian landscape). A sequel did not take long to arrive, and so, in 1990, an attempt was made to replicate the success of the Italian beast movie with 'Killer Crocodile 2'. If the first film could not boast of having a stellar budget, it must be said that this time the situation worsens further, and the film will be released in extreme economy, thus producing a product very limited in content and techniques. The plot at hand turns out to be rather meager and lacking a true and substantial narrative outline capable of connecting, in the best way possible, the events that follow: in fact, the story of the journalist Liza and her report is only a pretext to stage a succession of episodes involving unfortunate bathers who will end up, in short time, in the jaws of the large reptile. But beyond the story, absolutely stretched to the limit, we can find other flaws in 'Killer Crocodile 2' due, all, to the poor consistency of the budget, such as the use of rather simple and poorly cared-for sets or the use of poor photography (at times it seems to see a much older film than it is) and a bit too television-like. But unfortunately, these are all 'problems' that one easily and normally encounters when one only has a few pennies at one's disposal; on the contrary, it must be admitted that, given the scarce means at disposal, the film, in the end, has managed to get by far too admirably because it has been able to play, in the best way possible, its only winning card available: the crocodile! The realization of the large reptile (executed, once again, by the brilliant Giannetto De Rossi) is the most fascinating thing that can be seen in a tasty low-budget B-movie. Obviously, the realization can never approach being considered 'real' because it is as fake and unlikely as can be seen (even the dimensions, this time, are really disproportionate because the beast can be equated to a dinosaur for how huge it is); but it is precisely that 'fake' quality that is its strong point because it is impossible (especially if you are a lover of homemade special effects) not to be astonished and fascinated by the rendering of the large crocodile, a rendering that, in addition to surprising the spectator, will also confer a tasty comic tone to the film. This time, Giannetto De Rossi decides to take almost all the credit for the success of the film because, in addition to taking care of the special effects, he also takes his place behind the camera, signing his directorial debut and delivering a simple but perfectly in tune directorial performance with the rest of the work. Not bad either are the acting performances of Anthony Crenna, in the role of Kevin and already appeared in the previous 'Killer Crocodile', of Debra Karr, excellently cast in the role of the daring journalist Liza, and of Ennio Girolami (as Thomas Moore) again in the role of the crocodile hunter Joe. One could have taken more risks in terms of gore/splatter, which perhaps turns out to be the most serious shortcoming of the film, while, absolutely to be mentioned, the highly effective final confrontation with the 'monster' because characterized by a high charge of drama. 'Killer Crocodile 2' is a product that, due to budget problems, shows particular and evident flaws but, thanks to the use of excellent (I would venture the adjective 'stunning') very homemade special effects and a great desire to make cinema, turns out to be a carefree and very enjoyable product.