Dark Rising 2 is without a doubt a great B Sci-Fi Fantasy movie through and through. Cheesy effects, pop cultural references and fun over the top violence and sex appeal. The story now takes more of a comedic spin on itself not taking itself really seriously and focusing more on goofy one liners and slashing and blasting demons with huge knives and laser guns. Brigiite Kingsley, Landy Cannon, and Mike 'Nug' Nahrgang brought a lot of new found humor to the movie. 'Nug' was without a doubt the funniest character with his portrayal of 'Bulo'. Surprisingly to me, I found myself really connecting with most of the supporting characters which is always a good sign of good writing. Dark Rising 2 seems to have a more clear understanding on what it wants to be and that is a cheesy B-movie about a girl in a bikini killing demons. So, if you're into a really cheesy and violently sexy movie Dark Rising 2 is definitely for you.
11 Reviews
So bad its good....
jeffpk11 August 2016
I really couldn't give this movie more then a 5.
The writing is stilted, the characters two-dimensional (if that) and the lead actress's primary qualities are...well... her primary qualities. She looks fantastic standing still with her mouth shut. Unfortunately her acting is awful and her stage fighting looks like a 10 year old playing "batman."
The makeup is amateurish, but the animation is okay and the CG frankly is surprisingly good, mostly demonstrating just how cheap and easy basic CG has become.
Over all it plays like a film written by high-school students, acted by first year college students and a porn star, with sfx done by mildly talented upper class college students. Despite all that, or maybe because of it, it has a genuine charm and appeal on the pure camp level. Sort of like the 60s Batman TV show.
If you enjoy camp, then go for it. But otherwise give it a wide miss.
The writing is stilted, the characters two-dimensional (if that) and the lead actress's primary qualities are...well... her primary qualities. She looks fantastic standing still with her mouth shut. Unfortunately her acting is awful and her stage fighting looks like a 10 year old playing "batman."
The makeup is amateurish, but the animation is okay and the CG frankly is surprisingly good, mostly demonstrating just how cheap and easy basic CG has become.
Over all it plays like a film written by high-school students, acted by first year college students and a porn star, with sfx done by mildly talented upper class college students. Despite all that, or maybe because of it, it has a genuine charm and appeal on the pure camp level. Sort of like the 60s Batman TV show.
If you enjoy camp, then go for it. But otherwise give it a wide miss.
LOVED THE FIRST DARK RISING: This One is Slightly Less Cheeesy Fun, but That's Okay!
Dark_Lord_Mark11 November 2020
First it's a low budget sci-fi action comedy. It works well. My biggest complaint is it's just not as good as the first, I LOVED THE ORIGINAL, and apparently at the beginning Summer is getting married, but not to the person who saved her in the original. The main character and the heroine apparently broke up after the 1st movie.
That was kind of a downer and just did not make a whole lot of sense. Dark Rising is about demons, magic, sorcery, bikini babes and the movie knows it's cheeeeesy fun.
Admitting it is not as fun as the original, but still fun. It just lacks the same chemistry of the main character and his friends. Christian Cage(YES THE WRESTLER) was fantastic in the first and a shame he was not bought back. It just missed that over the top friend that typical comedies have. They did try, but I cannot believe I am saying this, Christian Cage is a good actor and great as the protagonists horny, getting laid often friend.
I will give this movie a 5 out of 10. The first one was near perfect. Keep in mind, this is a low budget, and meant to be cheeesy. You will appreciate the Dark Rising 1(Please try to watch it if you have not), and want to watch Dark Rising 2.
That was kind of a downer and just did not make a whole lot of sense. Dark Rising is about demons, magic, sorcery, bikini babes and the movie knows it's cheeeeesy fun.
Admitting it is not as fun as the original, but still fun. It just lacks the same chemistry of the main character and his friends. Christian Cage(YES THE WRESTLER) was fantastic in the first and a shame he was not bought back. It just missed that over the top friend that typical comedies have. They did try, but I cannot believe I am saying this, Christian Cage is a good actor and great as the protagonists horny, getting laid often friend.
I will give this movie a 5 out of 10. The first one was near perfect. Keep in mind, this is a low budget, and meant to be cheeesy. You will appreciate the Dark Rising 1(Please try to watch it if you have not), and want to watch Dark Rising 2.
Truly Awful
danielbloome28 January 2015
This show raises many questions and the first question would be how on Earth do these people get to keep making these movies when they are this awful?
The acting and writing are both garbage. I don't know where they are finding the actors for these movies but I can only assume they are putting an ad in the local Podunk, Ontario newspaper asking anyone with free time to just show up and bring whatever props and Halloween costumes they own.
Same thing for the writing. Is there a script at all? Is there a script that was written as a joke on toilet paper while the writer was taking a huge dump.
Was this movie produced as a joke or because someone lost a bet and had to? Is the fat comic relief guy supposed to be so annoying I want to punch my screen?
How in the world did they get actual famous people to make appearances in this?
The first movie was bad and this one is at least a million times worse. Please stop making these! How can they possibly be making any money?
The acting and writing are both garbage. I don't know where they are finding the actors for these movies but I can only assume they are putting an ad in the local Podunk, Ontario newspaper asking anyone with free time to just show up and bring whatever props and Halloween costumes they own.
Same thing for the writing. Is there a script at all? Is there a script that was written as a joke on toilet paper while the writer was taking a huge dump.
Was this movie produced as a joke or because someone lost a bet and had to? Is the fat comic relief guy supposed to be so annoying I want to punch my screen?
How in the world did they get actual famous people to make appearances in this?
The first movie was bad and this one is at least a million times worse. Please stop making these! How can they possibly be making any money?
Why Was This Made?
tiagoabreu200713 May 2018
Maybe if I saw the first movie or TV show first I would have liked this movie more but I really don't think so. It didn't seem like there was much going on that would have been helped by other details or back story. The writing and acting are particularly awful in this. The lead guy stinks, the lead girl is not a great actor but at least is very easy to look at (and not an awful actor just not great with stage combat which I'm guessing is much the fault of the producers and director), and the fat demon guy who is there obviously for comic relief is so over the top desperate to try to get a laugh he made me cringe every time he was on the screen. I hated this movie over all. But the other cast and lead female were OK and the effects actually were decent in my opinion for a lower budget movie. Take a pass though unless you have a couple hours you really want to waste on something annoying.
Trash
atsmiller11 November 2020
Yes, it's a comedy. Yes, it does not strive for credibility. But it's not funny, it's rather annoying. Plus, it's an impossibly insincere film - the heroine's almost only value is visual and you won't be shown more than some bare cleavage and thighs ... What is it then - an erotic heroic comedy for under-10s? Bad acting, bad special effects, non-existent script - and so probably under-10s have done it. And probably everyone who has given it a score higher than 3 is also (at least in terms of spiritual development) under 10s.
Descending
kosmasp17 May 2020
This makes the first one look like Citizen Kane - if there was one of low budget Science Fiction movies. The jokes are almost all missing their mark and even tipping the hat to the first one (recapping it at some point and bringing people back - quite literally) ... it is adorable to a degree but does not help elevate the movie (make it "rise).
Beautiful actors if that helps in any way shape or form - no pun intended. But nothing much in the story department. Unless you are into low budget movies - te special effects got a bit better, but that is about it. I have not seen the other offsprings this created and I doubt I will. There's too much other stuff out there to watch
Beautiful actors if that helps in any way shape or form - no pun intended. But nothing much in the story department. Unless you are into low budget movies - te special effects got a bit better, but that is about it. I have not seen the other offsprings this created and I doubt I will. There's too much other stuff out there to watch
It was just downright cheesy...
paul_haakonsen11 November 2020
Right, well I don't recall having seen the first movie, so I wasn't really sure what I was in for when I sat down to watch the 2011 movie "Agency of Vengeacy: Dark Rising" (aka "Dark Rising 2: Summer Strikes Back!").
But it being a movie that I hadn't seen before, and me having the opportunity to watch it, of course I managed to find the time to do so, despite the movie having such a campy and cheesy movie cover. I mean, it just felt like this was going to be a movie made by teenagers for teenagers.
Well, I wasn't in for something outstanding, that's for sure. Yet, I managed to actually sit through the entire course of this cheesy movie. And yeah, it was indeed a cheesy movie.
I will say, though, that it looked like people were at least having fun making the movie. And the low budget feel that permeated the movie was actually working well in favor of "Agency of Vengeacy: Dark Rising".
The acting in "Agency of Vengeacy: Dark Rising" was dubious, so you shouldn't set yourself up for some over the top Shakespearian performances in this movie, as you will be sorely disappointed.
As for special effects, this was a sci-fi action movie after all, well, they had special effects, and thanks for that. But they were not particularly outstanding or grand visual effects, that's for sure.
I am sure that there is indeed an audience out there for a campy movie such as "Agency of Vengeacy: Dark Rising" turned out to be. I, however, just wasn't really in that target audience. I didn't particularly enjoy the movie.
My rating of "Agency of Vengeacy: Dark Rising" lands on a three out of ten stars.
But it being a movie that I hadn't seen before, and me having the opportunity to watch it, of course I managed to find the time to do so, despite the movie having such a campy and cheesy movie cover. I mean, it just felt like this was going to be a movie made by teenagers for teenagers.
Well, I wasn't in for something outstanding, that's for sure. Yet, I managed to actually sit through the entire course of this cheesy movie. And yeah, it was indeed a cheesy movie.
I will say, though, that it looked like people were at least having fun making the movie. And the low budget feel that permeated the movie was actually working well in favor of "Agency of Vengeacy: Dark Rising".
The acting in "Agency of Vengeacy: Dark Rising" was dubious, so you shouldn't set yourself up for some over the top Shakespearian performances in this movie, as you will be sorely disappointed.
As for special effects, this was a sci-fi action movie after all, well, they had special effects, and thanks for that. But they were not particularly outstanding or grand visual effects, that's for sure.
I am sure that there is indeed an audience out there for a campy movie such as "Agency of Vengeacy: Dark Rising" turned out to be. I, however, just wasn't really in that target audience. I didn't particularly enjoy the movie.
My rating of "Agency of Vengeacy: Dark Rising" lands on a three out of ten stars.
Dark Rising 2 Summer Strikes Back!: Superior and unexpected sequel
Platypuschow1 October 2017
Dark Rising (2007) was a dumb but fun fantasy comedy with ridiculous monsters and lots of PG T&A. With an unknown cast and WWE wrestler Christian it exceeded my expectations even though it still wasn't all that great.
I never expected a movie like that to get a sequel but here we are and it isn't half bad. Following on from the events of the previous film including most of the surviving cast we have more silly dumb fun but with a slightly higher calibre of comedy.
The sfx are still poor and it's hardly a well made effort but it makes up for it where it matters.
Shockingly Dark Rising didn't just spawn 2 movies but also 2 television series which I'm looking forward to diving into.
If you enjoyed the first movie I recommend this, otherwise it may be a bit niche.
The Good:
Great comedy character
The Bad:
No Christian, I mean yes he did die in the first movie but still
Aftereffects level sfx
Brigitte Kingsley is an unconvincing action heroine
I never expected a movie like that to get a sequel but here we are and it isn't half bad. Following on from the events of the previous film including most of the surviving cast we have more silly dumb fun but with a slightly higher calibre of comedy.
The sfx are still poor and it's hardly a well made effort but it makes up for it where it matters.
Shockingly Dark Rising didn't just spawn 2 movies but also 2 television series which I'm looking forward to diving into.
If you enjoyed the first movie I recommend this, otherwise it may be a bit niche.
The Good:
Great comedy character
The Bad:
No Christian, I mean yes he did die in the first movie but still
Aftereffects level sfx
Brigitte Kingsley is an unconvincing action heroine
READY TO ROCK THE WORLD
nogodnomasters9 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is the sequel of "Dark Rising" which would have been more apparent had they left in the deleted scenes in the first film which tied them together. Government agency goes after Mardock (sic) when his return would bring about Armageddon. Film includes the same humor and cleavage as the first one. I liked the addition of Bulo (Mike 'Nug' Nahrgang) which added to the humor. Brigitte Kingsley and Cory Lee spend much of the film in bra and panties. There is an out of focused frame of Bridgette's breast in the distant.
Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Misrepresentation of Babylonian God Mardoc. Good film for cleavage and cheese.
Guide: No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Misrepresentation of Babylonian God Mardoc. Good film for cleavage and cheese.
It is what it is
r3volution1111 September 2015
The previous reviews for this movie seem out of place. This isn't a blockbuster action movie trying to maintain any sense of realism. In fact it's making fun of them a bit.
It's an obvious over-the-top play on science fiction action movies. From the lead character being some type of advanced humanoid species (See Alice from Resident Evil) with rather large assets to the criminals who couldn't hurt a thing if their life depended on it.
The actors know how far-fetched and insane the film is and seem to have had a lot of fun making it. No, they aren't great actors – their "ok" acting ability is what adds to this "b" movies character.
It's not meant to be taken seriously. It's absolutely ridiculous and that's what makes it fun. Remember that and you'll enjoy it for what it is.
It's an obvious over-the-top play on science fiction action movies. From the lead character being some type of advanced humanoid species (See Alice from Resident Evil) with rather large assets to the criminals who couldn't hurt a thing if their life depended on it.
The actors know how far-fetched and insane the film is and seem to have had a lot of fun making it. No, they aren't great actors – their "ok" acting ability is what adds to this "b" movies character.
It's not meant to be taken seriously. It's absolutely ridiculous and that's what makes it fun. Remember that and you'll enjoy it for what it is.
See also
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