Piranha Part Two: The Spawning (1981)

Director:

James Cameron

Writer:

H.A. Milton (screenplay)

Release Date:

June 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The Terror Is Back....But This Time It Flies!

Plot:

A scuba diving instructor, her biochemist boyfriend, and her police chief ex-husband try to link a series of bizarre deaths to a mutant strain of piranha fish whose lair is a sunken freighter ship off a Caribbean island resort.

Plot Keywords:

Piranha | Fish | Death | Party | Beach

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tricia O'Neil	...	Anne Kimbrough
Steve Marachuk	...	Tyler Sherman
Lance Henriksen	...	Police Chief Steve Kimbrough (as Lance Henricksen)
Ricky Paull Goldin	...	Chris Kimbrough (as Ricky G. Paull)
Ted Richert	...	Raoul, Hotel Manager
Leslie Graves	...	Allison Dumont
Carole Davis	...	Jai
Connie Lynn Hadden	...	Loretta
Arnie Ross	...	Mal the Cook
Tracey Berg	...	Beverly (as Tracy Berg)
Albert Sanders	...	Leo Bell, D.D.S.
Anne Pollack	...	Mrs. Wilson
Hildy Magnasun	...	Myrna Benotti
Phil Colby	...	Ralph Benotti
Lee Krug	...	Ron 'Ronny', the Lifeguard

Also Known As:

Piranha II: Flying Killers (Australia)
Piranha paura (Italy)
The Spawning (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

84 min | USA:94 min (extended version)

Country:

USA | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Brazil:16 | Italy:T | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (re-rating) | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Jamaica

Company:

Brouwersgracht Investments

Trivia:

In an interview, James Cameron said this movie gets better halfway through when seen at the drive-in with a six pack of beer.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Obvious dummy when Ann goes into the wreck and the supposedly dead diver floats down on top of her.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Half Baked (1998)

Beaches, bikinis, babes and flying killer piranha - what more can you ask for?

This really isn't too bad a film, and is certainly a worthy sequel to the original. 'Piranha' worked because it was tongue-in-cheek, making fun of the films it was parodying. 'Piranha II' tries to be more serious, but is so cheesy that it manages, by default, to be just as effective.

This time round the Piranha have moved from the river and are in the sea, able to fly as a result of scientists crossing genes to make the ultimate killing machine. After the opening scene which is similar to the one in Jaws 2, (except here the two divers are lovers trying for some underwater coupling), the film introduces a variety of characters, most of which are surprisingly endearing in a 'B' movie kind of way; particularly two topless good-time girls who get provisions from a stuttering chef with the promise of a threesome.

Lance Henriksen, who continued a lucrative association with Cameron, plays the police chief, who is a hybrid of Brody from 'Jaws' and Colonel Kilgore from 'Apocalypse Now'. He valiantly plays a straight role as all around him descends into chaotic fun. The flying piranha attack like vampire bats, going for the throats of their luckless victims; whilst they also have Alien-like trends, one bursting out of a dead body to attack a nurse.

As can be gathered, I found this film great fun - most production values are of a reasonable standard, particularly the underwater photography. The piranha themselves are a disappointment, but they play second fiddle to the characters and storyline.

People who slate the film need to watch the likes of 'Barracuda' or 'Evil in the Deep', both of which are fathoms below 'Piranha II'. Any film with dialogue like "Do you dive on your first date?" gets the thumbs up from me.