WFG RATING: A+

ITN Distribution presents a Jagged Edge Productions film. Directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield. Produced by Rhys Frake-Waterfield and Scott Chambers. Written by Rhys Frake-Waterfield and Matt Leslie; based on the original characters by A.A. Milne. Cinematography by Vince Knight. Edited by Dan Allen.

Stars Scott Chambers, Tallulah Evans, Ryan Oliva, Marcus Massey, Lewis Santer, Eddy McKenzie, Simon Callow, Peter DeSouza-Feighoney, Alec Newman, Thea Evans, Teresa Banham, Flynn Matthews, and Nicola Wright.

The Pooh Crew is in full force in this long-awaited sequel. Is it better than the original? You sure bet it is!

A year ago, Christopher Robin was victimized by former friend Pooh and the events of the incident, involving 4 women, would be known as the 100 Acre Wood Massacre. There are those who believe Christopher, but most don’t and as a result, Christopher has become a pariah. However, he does have a loyal family and friends in Lexy and Finn. However, a year after the 100 Wood Acre Massacre, there have been incidents again and Christopher is determined to get to the bottom of things.

Meanwhile, Pooh is back and joined by Owl, Piglet, and Tigger. They continue killing anyone in their way. They decide since Christopher Robin ratted them out, they are going to invade Ashdown and unleash even more havoc. Christopher soon learns of a tragedy that may be connected to the killings and when he discovers the connection, it leads him down a rabbit hole he will never forget.

Last year’s Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey was deemed something alongside the world of crazy as the filmmakers took the beloved character, which had hit public domain, and unleashed a world of terror. Of course, there are fans who enjoyed the film (like me) and those who really loathed it. It would sweep the Razzies but at the same time, was considered an indie hit. A bigger budget used here, the filmmakers promised more, and they delivered!

Scott Chambers, who also is the film’s producer (as Scott Jeffrey) replaces Nikolai Leon as Christopher Robin and he pulls off an emotional performance as we learn a bit about his backstory and how he remembered his little brother being kidnapped but not much else as the events from the first film put his childhood on the back burner. However, still reeling from the events of the 100 Acre Wood Massacre, he soon learns the carnage is happening again and victims who survive slowly begin to believe him. One in particular will bring Hannibal’s Mason Verger to mind. Not to mention the mystery with Simon Callow’s hospital janitor Cavendish, who may be the key to help Christopher in his time of need.

Now on to the Pooh Crew. Thanks to the bigger budget, we don’t need any cheap Halloween store masks like in the original film. A team of makeup FX masters give Pooh and the crew a more realistic look and they are quite menacing. Ryan Oliva is excellent as the new Pooh, as he gives a very creepy and ticked off vibe throughout with Marcus Massey’s Owl becoming a “mastermind” if you will, convincing Pooh and the rest to invade Ashdown. The highlight however, is Lewis Santer’s Tigger, who can be best described as a meshing of Freddy Krueger’s comic wit with Wolverine’s Berzerker Rage. Not to spoil much, but Eddy McKenzie’s Piglet doesn’t get enough to do. He’s in 2 scenes then is pretty much killed off all within 20 minutes.

Another promise made good in the film are the amount of kills, going from only single digits to a massive near 30 kills. There are some great deaths this time around, from a hunter getting a shotgun through his skills (and not by pulling the trigger either) to a great 20-minute scene during a rave that makes the bus scene in 2022’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre look a bit tame. It even to where Pooh pays homage to both Slumber Party Massacre and the original Terrifier within a matter of seconds. This is just an amazing scene that leads to an all-out shocker of a finale. There is also a mid-credit scene that has to be scene and will lead to the eventual Poohniverse crossover recently announced. There is also an Easter egg in the film in a blink-or-miss-it moment involving an upcoming film about a certain deer.

So yes, if you are hoping Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey II is better than the first one, you’re talking the understatement of the year. It is a phenomenal, emotional, and very feral ride that not only is highlighted by great kills, but Scott Chamber and Lewis Santer pull off some fantastic performances.

The film recently wrapped its theatrical run from Fathom Events.