Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

The Terror Within II Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 10, 2021

Sometime during the production of 1989’s “The Terror Within,” star Andrew Stevens took a moment to consider his professional situation and thought, “Yeah, I could make one of these movies easily!” Stevens makes his directorial debut with 1991’s “The Terror Within II,” also claiming a screenplay credit while resuming his acting duties as David, a scientist crossing America to save the world from a growing mutant threat. Stevens doesn’t have a new vision for the story, which remains an “Alien” rip-off, but he brings a stronger cast, different monster madness, and hires cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, who, in two years’ time, would go from shooting this no-budget endeavor to Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List.” So yes, kids, don’t give up on your dreams.

After surviving the massacre at Mojave Lab, David (Andrew Stevens) is making his way to the Rocky Mountain Lab, crossing a land crawling with mutant threats known as the “Lusus.” Joined by his dog and carrying vital elements for a vaccine, David soon saves Ariel (Clare Hoak) from certain doom, with the pair quickly becoming lovers. At the Rocky Mountain Lab, panic is spreading while a viral threat intensifies, leaving the survivors, including Von Demming (R. Lee Ermey) and Dr. Kara (Stella Stevens), impatient as they await David’s arrival.

The conclusion of “The Terror Within” doesn’t match the opening of “The Terror Within II,” suggesting Stevens really wanted to do his own thing with the sequel, which is a positive direction for the picture. A good chunk of the follow-up remains outdoors, enjoying the view as David grows a big, bushy beard and fights for food (technically, it would take about a month to walk between Lab locations), soon coming across Ariel, with the pair quick to have sex, and the vulnerable woman “feels” her pregnancy the next day. Time has no meaning in “The Terror Within II,” but Stevens sets a comfortable B-movie survival mood for the first half, and bunker action is passably interesting, watching the crew deal with corpse incinerations, secretive vaccine plans, and communication woes.

There’s initial hope that Stevens has dropped the sexual assault angle from “The Terror Within,” but he’s powerless to stop it. Monster rape returns in the sequel, once again ruining the simple pleasures of bottom shelf nonsense, getting ugly instead of creative. “The Terror Within II” loses its way once it tries to match up with the previous installment, returning to close-quarters hunting between a twisted Lusus and the Rocky Mountain Lab gang, with Kaminski doing his best to turn production pennies into nickels, putting in light and color to bring some style to the endeavor. It’s a heroic effort.

The Terror Within II Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

While "The Terror Within" provided a straightforward technical effort, production ambition on "The Terror Within II" reaches a little higher. Color is prioritized by Kaminsky, who tries to hide visual limitations with big lights, filling the screen with washes of blues and yellows, and reddish filtering adds some heat to outdoor travel. Primaries are capable during bunker events, and skintones are natural. Detail is largely lost to softness and filtering, with facial surfaces muted, along with monster creations. Exteriors maintain some dimension. Delineation works through some mild solidification at times. Source is in decent condition. Mild blockiness is detected.

The Terror Within II Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix does show its age, with pops common throughout the listening event, along with periodic buzzing, which is faint. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, capturing actor intensity and expositional efforts. Scoring is basic, without much presence, but suspense scenes are boosted by orchestral additions. Sound effects are pronounced, dealing with monster attacks and bunker operations.

The Terror Within II Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Trailer (1:07, SD) is included.

The Terror Within II Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Terror Within II" doesn't offer a meatier take on the franchise concept, but it does provide a compelling opening act and some needed cinematographic hustle, giving Stevens a chance to show his stuff as a director. It turns out, there's not a lot of stuff, but away from bleak turns of the plot, and "The Terror Within II" has a few more beats of survival and sunniness that best the previous chapter.