WFG RATING: B+

LIonsgate and Grindstone Entertainment presents a Curmudgeon Films production in association with Daro Film Distribution. Written and directed by Griff Furst and Nathan Furst; inspired by “The Breed”, written by Bob Conte. Produced by Griff Furst, Adam Champ, and Garrett Ahrens. Cinematography by Jon Keng. 

Stars Grace Caroline Currey, Virginia Gardner, Zak Steiner, Page Kennedy, Riele Downs, Troy Gentile, Joey Bragg, and Hayden Panettiere. 

The dogs are back in this meta-comedy-horror sequel to the 2006 original horror cult classic.

After a successful shoot on the film The Breed, a sequel was ready to go into production on the same island where the original film was made. However, one fateful night changes the course of everything. When the animal wranglers had found two of their German Shepherds missing, they discover a cave where the duo were attacked by bats. This leads to the dogs going rabid and killing the wranglers. The disappearance led to the shutdown of the sequel.

Nearly two decades later, the island that was home to the production has been bought by social media influencer Vince Ventura. Vince has an idea to rescue the dogs lost on the island. He invites five fellow influencers to the island with the intent of giving the influencer who “rescues” most dogs ownership of the island from him. However, the chosen five will soon learn that this is going to be a lot easier said than done!

The idea of a “meta sequel” has been quite a trend as of late in the horror genre. With the recent Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey II seen as a “meta sequel” and the (hopefully to be released soon) sequel Mutilator 2, it looks to be one the new outputs. Griff and Nathan Furst, whose late father Stephen was an icon with his starmaking turn in Animal House, wrote and directed this “meta sequel” to the 2006 film The Breed with the intent to make it a full horror-comedy that in some ways, could be seen as a standalone sequel.

The film has a terrific cast with Grace Caroline Currey leading the group as Violet, the most level headed of the group of influencers who becomes fully aware of what’s at stake. There’s also financial influencer Mason, played by Troy Gentile; animal influencer Big Farmin’ Jay, played by Page Kennedy; life hack influencer Killer Queen, played by Riele Downs; and Violet’s brother Collins, played by Zak Steiner. The film is a reunion of Fall, as Currey’s co-star from that film, Virginia Gardner, provides some hilarious antics as Vince’s manic assistant Thalia. 

For those who love Fall, there is a very funny gender reversal reference to the film involving a cell tower when the rabid dogs arrive to attack. Then there’s Hayden Panettiere, who plays an actress who was supposed to star in the original “sequel” only to find herself learning of what has transpired. She soon joins in on the action and in true form to the original, when certain characters are attacked but survive, they become somewhat enhanced and zombified at the same time.  

A Breed Apart is both expected and not exactly meant to be taken seriously like the original 2006 film. Once again, Grace Caroline Currey delivers a great performance both in the acting and physicality aspects. Virginia Gardner amps up the comic relief along with Page Kennedy. A great reference to Fall delivers as well. Overall, a fun and witty “meta sequel” that those who did like The Breed may end up enjoying.

The film will be released in select theaters, On Demand, and Digital on May 16.