After watching Grizzly II: Revenge, I can confidently say that good things do not always come to those who wait. Filmed in 1983 but not released until almost 40 years later due to financial issues, Grizzly II: Revenge is a bizarre mess. The film was intended to be a sequel to the 1976 film Grizzly, which was an attempt to capitalize on the nature vs. human trend after the commercial success of Jaws. The much delayed release in 2020 must be one of the longest gaps between sequels in movie history.
The only conceivable reason I can see for this film being released at all is the inclusion of stars such George Clooney, Charlie Sheen and Laura Dern in its cast. Despite the fact that they only had about five minutes of screen time before becoming bear snacks, the trio are highlighted in promotional material as the stars of the film rather than the expendable unknowns they were back in 1983. Grizzly II: Revenge was actually George Clooney’s first film and he apparently was not thrilled when it was finally released, commenting “I have a sense I have found something that’s worse than Batman & Robin,” in reference to his much maligned performance in the 1997 superhero film.
The film’s simplistic plot centers around a concert that is taking place place at Yellowstone National Park which also happens to be rife with grizzly bears. After some poachers kill a bear cub, the mother makes it her life’s mission to exact revenge by killing every human she encounters. She soon encounters the Clooney, Sheen and Dern trio who are hiking through the wilderness and quickly finishes them off, leaving little time for any of them to showcase the acting prowess that would eventually propel them to stardom.
Grizzly II: Revenge actually features a surprising number of actors who went on to become respected in the industry despite their regrettable decision to sign on to this project. Louise Fletcher, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, plays an unscrupulous concert organizer who insists the show must go on even as victims of mama grizzly pile up around the concert site.
John Rhys-Davies, known for The Lord of the Rings, Raiders of the Lost Ark and countless other films, delivers the film’s most memorable performance. Cast in the role of Bouchard, a cartoonish French-Canadian bear hunter who is hired to dispense of the troublesome grizzly, Rhys-Myers hams it up with one of worst interpretations of a French accent ever captured on film. His character is essentially a poor man’s version of Quint, Robert Shaw’s shark hunting character from Jaws. Rhys-Davies portrays the eccentric bear hunter, who is oddly dressed like a circa 1600s fur trapper, with the all the campiness that a film like this deserves.
Aside from its all-star cast and mercifully short run-time of 75 minutes, Grizzly II: Revenge has very little else going for it. The effects and production values are horrendous. The close-ups of the grizzly when it attacks look like someone wearing a bearskin rug. There are also an inordinate number of random sequences showing bears and other wildlife that look like stock footage inserted to give the national park setting some authenticity. So much stock footage was used, that the producers actually gave Adobe Stock a shout out in the closing credits.
Much of the films scenes take place at the concert venue as they prepare for the show and during the concert itself. Although it’s set in Yellowstone National Park, the movie was actually filmed in Hungary which I have to assume was a cost-saving measure. The film’s European roots become apparent in many of the filler scenes in between bear attacks that showcase various 80s euro style, synth-pop musicians warming up for the big show. The set for the concert venue itself was actually quite impressive with a massive stage, elaborate pyrotechnics, and a large crowd in attendance. I was puzzled how such a low-budget film could pull this off but, upon further research, I learned that the scenes were filmed at an actual Nazareth concert and the concert goers were apparently unaware that the synth-pop performances they were watching were staged for a film.
In yet another homage/rip-off of the Jaws movies, the climax brings the vengeful grizzly’s rampage to a stop when it gets electrocuted in the concert’s elaborate lighting system. The concert goers, blissfully unaware of the carnage that was taking place around the venue, think the electrified bear is part of the show and the film comes to an abrupt but welcome conclusion.
While I normally find entertainment in B-movies that are unintentionally bad, other than Ryhs-Davies campy performance, I couldn’t find much to enjoy from a so bad it’s good perspective. The most interesting aspect of Grizzly II: Revenge is that it provided so many of today’s best known actors with their start in the film industry. If curiosity gets the best of you and you would like to experience Grizzly II: Revenge for yourself, it’s available to stream on Tubi.
This is my contribution to The Favorite Stars in B Movies Blogathon. My monstrous partner on this site has also contributed an article here. Click on the image below to read the contributions of some other talented bloggers. Our thanks to Films from Beyond the Time Barrier for hosting the event and including our articles!
