[Screamers:The Hunting]
Plot:A group of humans from earth arrive on Sirius 6-B to investigate an SOS signal sent out from the planet, which has been supposedly deserted since the destruction of the man-made weapons known as "screamers." Once the squad arrives, they find a group of human survivors seeking out an existence in an old military outpost, but more important, they discover that the threat of the screamers has become even more insidious, now that they're able to morph into human form.

Cast:Gina Holden, Greg Bryk, Tim Rozon, Stephen Amell, Christopher Redman, Holly O'Brien, Stephen Patrick Dunn, Sarah Small, Lynley Hall.

My Thoughts:Decent enough.

Review:"Screamers:The Hunting" is the straight to DVD sequel to the 1990's Peter Weller starrer "Screamers". This movie solidifies it's connections to the first film with the female lead of the movie played by Gina Holden. But it also advances the series storyline pretty well. The movie follows a military squad who are sent to the infamous screamer-plagued planet Sirius 6-B to check out a distress signal which was sent from the planet. Upon their arrival, they find that the screamers still inhabit the planet, and that rumors of their extinction have been greatly exaggerated. They also find another problem however.

A group of survivors who are hostile towards any new arrivals on the planet, and a new hybrid of screamer. A half human/half machine hybrid, which poses a deadly new threat for the rescue squad. This movie plays out in typical fashion, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun to watch on some level. There's also a few new wrinkles thrown into the overall design of the series. With these new hybrid screamers, has come in-fighting between the old model screamers, and the newer models...who feel because they're part human, they're more superior and able to blend.

While none of these battles are shown in the movie, the suggestion of these events by one of the films characters makes events alot more interesting to watch unfold. The military types, aka the heroes of the movie are a little too one-dimensional, but at the same time are tolerable. They don't throw around constant swares, crude jokes, or hard language. And while most military types in films, especially horror films...should be hardcore from a character development standpoint, it's nice to see a change of pace for once.

The underground, older model screamers are kept off camera for most of the movie after the opening scene where they attack a trio of humans who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. But the reason why this movie works is because of the screamers themselves. Their overall design and actions are still just as chilling and disturbing as they were in the original. I'm still creeped out somewhat by one of the best sci-fi/horror threats to ever be brought to the big screen. And this movie returns the screamers in their original fashion.

Killer androids who zoom through the ground like buzzsaws, letting out a blood-curdling, robotic shriek as they zoom right towards you. And once they get to you, they leap out of the ground, and slice and dice you until you're dead. And most terrifying of all, they're extremely quick, and attack in packs. While the movie may be thin on story, and mind-blowing scenes and sequences, it relies just enough on it's android antagonists to wreak havoc, and take lives, so that it can be effective.

And the hybrid screamers are just as effective in being creepy as hell. Gina Holden does a decent enough job as the movies female lead, although during some of the more emotional scenes, her expressions don't change as much as they should. She pretty much looks depressed or sad throughout the entire movie. Even when one of her squadmates hits on her. Not sure if this was supposed to be the gist of her character, or if she was just going through the motions as far as acting in the film is concerned.

The movie manages to create a really intense finale once a screamer invades the squad's ship, kills one of their crew, and drains it of power. They then find themselves stranded on Sirius unless they can find a power supply to recharge the ship. And on top of all of that pressure, a space storm is headed for the planet. And it's projected to destroy it completely. So unless the squad can avoid the screamers, and escape within the time alloted, they're pretty much screwed.

This makes the finale alot more exciting as the story closes in around the heroes, and of course paranoia sets in when fear that the hybrid screamers have infiltrated the group...begins to cause people to turn on one another, and commit accidental murders out of fear and panic. The ending of this movie is just frikkin insane though, and really is the movies money shot. I couldn't think of a more warped, and screwed up way for this movie to conclude.

But boy the ending just makes you feel a whole range of emotions from pity, to shock, to that ever-so-popular "I'm glad it's not me" feeling. "Screamers 2" isn't a terrific sequel, but it's just good enough to work to the series advantage, and not embarass the first movie too much.

Positives:The screamers are always a scary antagonist due to their look, actions, and abilities. The ending is just twisted as hell.

Negatives:Gina Holden doesn't emote too much, kind of a robotic acting job. The final 15 minutes of the movie where paranoia kicks in amongst what's left of the humans, kind of unfolded in much too predictable fashion.

Overall:Two and a half out of four stars.





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