Black Scorpion II: Aftershock (1997)

Director:

Jonathan Winfrey

Writer:

Craig J. Nevius (written by)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Fantasy

Tagline:

Seductive and Beautiful. But Lethal.

Plot:

Darcy is back on the force, but still fights on as the Black Scorpion because "it's in her nature." This time...

Plot Keywords:

Earthquake | Super Villainess | Police | Babe Scientist | Sequel

Cast

Joan Severance	...	Darcy Walker (Black Scorpion)
Whip Hubley	...	Michael Russo
Sherrie Rose	...	Prof. Ursula Undershaft / Aftershock
Stoney Jackson	...	Gangster Prankster / Luther
Matt Roe	...	Mayor Artie Worth
Stephen Lee	...	Capt. Strickland, 21 st Precinct
Garrett Morris	...	Argyle
Terri J. Vaughn	...	Veronica / Tender Lovin'
Steven Kravitz	...	Slugger
Shane Powers	...	Specs
Carl Banks	...	Grimace
David Harris	...	Heckler
Christina Solis	...	Bonita Bradley KRCA News 8
Laura Harring	...	Babette the Mayor's Girl
Gabrielle Beimford	...	Dispatch
Sean Gavigan	...	Mayor's Yes Man #1
Kevin McLaughlin	...	Mayor's Yes Man #2
Scott Valentine	...	Dick
Linda Hoffman	...	Jane
Manny Fernandez	...	The Real Bomb Squad Leader
Vincent Chase	...	Police Medic
Rick Rossovich	...	Construction Foreman
Jeffrey Scott Jensen	...	Truck Driver #1
Slade Barnett	...	Swastika Face
Mark Folger	...	Donkey Face
Diane Koskela	...	White Face
Jeannie Millar	...	Giggles, Gangster Prankster's Girl
Kimberly Rowe	...	Divina
Jonathan Winfrey	...	Cop

Directed by
Jonathan Winfrey

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Craig J. Nevius		written by

Produced by
Roger Corman	....	producer
Craig J. Nevius	....	supervising producer
Lance H. Robbins	....	executive producer
Joan Severance	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Kevin Kiner

Cinematography by
Mark Kohl

Film Editing by
Louis F. Cioffi		(as Louis Cioffi)

Casting by
Jan Glaser

Production Design by
Trae King

Art Direction by
Joe Lemmon

Costume Design by
Esther Lee

Makeup Department
Roxy D'Alonzo	....	makeup artist
Robert Hall	....	special makeup artist
Nicola Zvorsky	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Tim Andrew	....	unit production manager (as Tim Andrews)
Marta M. Mobley	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bret Davidson	....	second unit director
Kristen Farlow	....	second second assistant director
Jeffrey F. January	....	first assistant director

Sound Department
Michael Abel	....	dialogue editor
Lorita de la Cerna	....	foley mixer
Marydixie Kirkpatrick	....	boom operator
Bill V. Robbins	....	sound mixer
Dov Schwarz	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Greg Landerer	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Perry Harovas	....	visual effects

Stunts
Chuck Borden	....	stunts
Jason Ybarra	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Karasick	....	gaffer
Sean Kinney	....	swing: second unit
Paul McCallum	....	still photographer
James M. McClure	....	electrician
Stephen Scarlata	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Hall	....	costume effects
Lynn Ollie	....	costume assistant (as F. Lynn Ollie)

Editorial Department
George Carlston	....	colorist: dailies

Music Department
Paul Di Franco	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Mark E. Mobley	....	transportation

Other crew
Rocky Brooks	....	location manager
Kellie Cyrus	....	script supervisor
Duck Grossberg	....	production assistant
Mike Tristano	....	weapons handler

Production Companies

• Concorde-New Horizons

Distributors

• Concorde Pictures

Also Known As:

"Black Scorpion: Ground Zero" - USA (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, violence and some language

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Company:

Concorde-New Horizons

Goofs:

Continuity: When Darcy Walker is in the station house she is wearing a brooch. It disappears, then reappears while she is fighting Aftershock.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Black Scorpion Returns (2001) (V)

Idiotic fare to make the not so good original look great by comparison

I watched this one straight after the first Black Scorpion and while that one was surprisingly palatable while still not very good, this film is just a bit poor really. More of the same in most respects, Darcey Walker/Black Scorpion has a new partner and there are two new supervillains terrorising the city, the earthquake inducing Aftershock and the ludicrously hammy and perhaps racist Gangster Prankster, a character who seems inspired by The Joker and a sense of racial injustice and comes across as both noxious and infantile. Stoney Jackson throws himself with gusto into the role, but its so badly written that he brings down every scene in which he appears. Sheree Rose is much better as Aftershock (who at least has an OK backstory and a degree of interest to her) in a loud and silly performance that ends up providing a number of quite fun moments but the two don't quite balance themselves out. As with the original, this one is directed by Jonathon Winfrey and written by Craig J. Nevius, but the film oversteps itself, the humour is much broader and the events attempt to be more epic but can't achieve much on the budget, but worst of all there's less Black Scorpion action. Joan Severance is good value as ever and Garret Morris again effectively handles his role of the helpful Argylle, their scenes together provide if not dramatic weight than at least some chemistry and easy fun, which is more than can be said for Whip Hubley as Darcey's new partner, I got the feeling the guy probably can act OK, but in this film the role is ill written and thankless (he also gets a pretty horrid moment of so called comedy). Also, Laura Harring (Mulholland Drive) appears as a ditsy secretary, and she sure is a great looking lady, but the role is pretty darned bad (the writing is all pretty stinky actually). For all its blatant badness, I still had a bearable time with this one, it carries out its rank idiocy with some degree of verve, it has a few laughs (crotch electro-shock!), very mild excitement and a fairly easy pace, never quite in the "so bad its good category" but it is at least crappy in a mildly amusing way if like me, you happen to have a bit of a soft spot for really bad films. I wouldn't ever recommend this, it has too many cringe making bits to be all that "fun" but its better than a poke in the eye with a wet stick as far as this kind of braindead junk goes. A generous 4/10 then, make of that what you will.