Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 30, 2016

The best cult films don’t know they’re cult films. It’s difficult to manufacture oddity; it truly has to come from the heart, with complete incompetence instinctual. 1991’s “Samurai Cop” has built a reputation as a B-movie wonder over the years, charming audiences with its earnest goofballery, born from the mind of writer/director Amir Shervan. Sadly, the helmer passed away a decade ago, but his legacy continues (via crowdfunding) with “Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance,” a follow-up that tries to hit all the same low-budget, no-talent beats as the original effort, only here the extravaganza is served up with a towering side of self-awareness. Die-hard fans may rejoice at the prospect of revisiting the “Samurai Cop” universe 25 years later, but it’s clear from the start that the production isn’t interested in building the potential of the brand name, content to replicate its severe limitations with a noticeable dip in enthusiasm.

After defeating the Japanese gang Katana in 1991, Joe (Matt Karedas) is ready to quit law enforcement and settle down with girlfriend Jennifer (Kayden Kross). When she’s assassinated, Joe retreats to the shadows, leaving partner Frank (Mark Frazer) behind. 25 years later, Katana, Inc. rises again under the leadership of wacko Linton (Tommy Wiseau), challenged to a turf war by rival Shinjuku, anchored by Dogge (Bai Ling). As violence explodes, Frank realizes that he needs extra help, traveling into the desert to locate Joe, who’s become a recluse. Urged back into duty, Joe sets out to stop growing yakuza interests, but he’s distracted by Melina (Kross), Jennifer’s doppelganger and the reluctant cop’s lone chance to reclaim the life he lost.

New to the franchise is director Gregory Hatanaka, who takes over for Shervan, tasked with continuing what the late helmer started a long time ago. Naturally, “Samurai Cop 2” opens in 1991, reuniting with Joe after his victory over Asian crime. He’s tired and ready to start a life with Jennifer, but the domestic peace is short-lived, with a park shooting from an unidentified murderer changing his life forever. It’s a clean set-up for a revenge story, but the screenplay takes its time with Joe, focusing most of the first half of the picture on yakuza events, with both crime families experiencing shifts in power as the bodies pile up, with two lunatics, Dogge and Linton, defining aggression. And Frank is also in the mix, teaming with Detective Higgins (Laurene Landon) as they investigate a new wave of brutality sweeping through the city. “Samurai Cop 2” doesn’t really offer a coherent story, but that doesn’t stop the production, which commits to a mood of evildoing as warring sides increase their antagonisms, primarily sold through absurd overacting and fumbled line-readings.

“Samurai Cop 2” tries to ape the original endeavor’s inability to stand up straight, but it forces the atmosphere, calling its shot instead of organically participating in idiocy. It’s an extended inside joke that isn’t terribly compelling, with fourth wall breaking and crude green screen backgrounds more about fan-service than filmmaking. Instead of developing Joe’s saga, the production recycles beats from the original effort, once again spotlighting stiff choreography and dismal acting from Karedas, who’s obviously enjoying another chance to rub himself all over his female co-stars, as nudity and sex is a priority to Hatanaka. Cameos are also provided to connect the pictures, welcoming the return of Melissa Moore as Peggy, Warren Stevens as the Film Editor, and Gerald Okamura as…well, Okamura. Familiar faces from the franchise are amusing, but the feature generally disapproves of natural aging.

To be fair to “Samurai Cop 2,” it’s often difficult to tell if the movie is trying to be bad or is simply awful on its own. Technical achievements are limited, with hokey sets suggesting futuristic settings that are never clarified; cinematography is shellacked with iffy color manipulation; and the soundtrack is completely inappropriate, with Hatanaka using tuneless rap, rock, and pop songs to augment action sequences, deploying the music without editorial finesse -- it mostly sounds like someone impatiently burning through an iPod playlist, with abrupt starts and stops. As for the plot, it’s truly inconsequential, working through terrorist attacks and personal losses without any sort of gravity. The screenplay does reach on occasion, creating a position of reflection within Joe, who views his life as a television soap opera, but any kind of follow through on that idea is quickly abandoned by the movie, added to the pile of failed abstraction Hatanaka can’t handle. Also provocative is a brief subplot that finds Joe urging Melina to alter her look to resemble Jennifer. That’s also dismissed long before it has a chance to develop into something interesting.

Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.35:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers a darker, decidedly digital look. The HD-shot feature is generally passable in terms of detail, exploring aging cast members and flimsy sets, while costuming also provides compelling textures. Colors are explosive, intentionally exaggerated to keep up the jokey spirit of the movie, though technical achievements are questionable. Skintones looks appropriate to the occasion and primaries are satisfactory. Artifacting is detected throughout the viewing experience, with banding a problem, along with mild pixelation. Delineation also struggles at times, showing solidification with limited lighting.

Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 Dolby Digital mix isn't very compelling, trying to manage the film's frantic action moments with the terrible but acceptably defined soundtrack. Intelligibility is periodically threatened, clouding dialogue exchanges. Dramatic extremes are understood, but nuance isn't welcome here. Atmospherics are amplified but never distracting. Interestingly, the DVD offers a 5.1 Dolby Digital mix.

Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features Mathew Karedas and Mark Frazer.

• Commentary #2 features Gregory Hatanaka.

• Behind the Scenes (3:28, HD) is a brief overview of the production process, watching the players interact between takes, and there's a moment dedicated to Tommy Wiseau's specialized acting needs.

• Deleted Scenes include "Joe & Higgins" (1:29, HD), "Joe & Peggy" (2:08, HD), "Linton's Speech" (2:37, HD), and "Peggy Outtake" (3:19, HD).

• Still Gallery (2:28) provides publicity pictures of the cast.

• And a Trailer (1:06, HD) is included.

Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The finale takes the heroes into The Complex, which is home to yakuza activity, setting the stage for a major showdown amongst the crime families (there's actually a third clan wrapped up in the mess, but the movie doesn't emphasize the development enough to matter), giving the production a chance to raise hell with flimsy martial arts, sprays of CGI gunfire and blood, and heaping helpings of Wiseau trying to act (spoiler: he fails). Of course, all this mayhem is haphazardly assembled, playing like an extended trailer. "Samurai Cop 2" is obviously going to play to a forgiving audience -- fans who've waited a long time to see Joe and Frank return to the screen. However, there's a painful artificiality to the picture as it deliberately fumbles around, missing a prime opportunity to shock viewers by actually achieving competency, taking the series into an unexpected direction.