*Spoilers below. Read at your own risk.*
Wow. What did I just watch? This was my reaction after watching “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey II” in the empty movie theatre last week.
First, let’s go back to talking about the first film. Do you need to see it before watching the second one? Not necessarily. But they are VASTLY different films with different tones.
The first movie was full on slapstick hilarious making Pooh Bear and Piglet into a joke. The budget was low and it was obvious. From the costume design to the acting to even the story – it felt like the creators just wanted to get the copyright rights quickly and to be the first ones ever to say they made a Winnie the Pooh slasher film.
I will say, I think I was in the minority, concerning my opinion about the first movie. I think it was good fun, but it wasn’t what I was really craving from a slasher movie experience.
The second film is not like that AT ALL. If you want another slapstick humorous B-rated horror film – then this movie isn’t for it. But if you want a scarier and darker version of Pooh and his friends, the second movie is a must see.
From start to finish, this movie was cinematically dark and encompassed a dark tone that was completely unexpected. Owl and Tigger were added as characters and frankly, were given more personality than Pooh and Piglet. And lets be real – Piglet’s character lasted barely a minute.
Owl plays the ring leader pulling the strings and I like how that’s the case considering he’s a bird and can oversee the town fairly easily. Tigger is a straight up killer and he plays the animal that’s caged up, but when unleashed, kills everyone in his path with no humanity.
I liked this addition. But I didn’t like how they overshadowed the main character himself – Pooh. Isn’t that why we go to see the movie? To see the star of the show be just that – a star?
That was one of my disappointments of the film. The other one was the plot. I can see what they were trying to do to give Winnie the Pooh more of a story, but the fact that they made Pooh a child who was experimented on? That was too much. I wanted to believe Pooh and his friends were natural monsters created. The way they humanized him wasn’t my taste.
But overall, those were the only two things I really disliked.
This movie kept me zoned in and entertained from start to finish. The acting was phenomenal. The kills were a bloody good time and I love how it was dark and creepy and eerie. That was what I wanted from the first installment of Pooh and I finally got it!
Wait, remember how I said in the beginning of this review how it was an empty movie theatre? It was, and I am not exaggerating. There was a dramatic difference in audience compared to the first movie. When I went to the first movie, the theatre was filled – and here – it was empty.
I don’t know if people just didn’t want to see the same slapstick comedic horror film. If the first one was enough “Slasher Pooh” for them, or if they just simply didn’t care. But I have a feeling this series isn’t going to be continuing to gain a large fanbase.
Even though that’s the case, Bambi, Pinocchio and Peter Pan are just a few characters on the horizon to have their own slasher films. Copyright timeframes are running out. And now its time for these beloved characters to take on new stories and go to the dark side.
Before you know it – the Poohniverse will be out. And yes, you read that correctly. Apparently it’ll be the Avengers and I hope it’ll be the film of the year when it’s released.
Have you seen “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey II?” What did you think of the film? Did you like it more than the first one? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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