Sequel to the cult favorite, Screamers, follows a space crew from Earth ordered to answer a distress signal regarding human survivors on the mining planet of Sirius 6B. Robot creatures, which move underground, nicknamed "screamers"(..because they make a loud screeching sound before contact with victims), are actively evolving, now capable of fusing mechanically with human body parts, which makes them an even greater threat. Also on it's way is a meteor storm which will destroy Sirius 6B and so the crew must avoid the perilous danger from the screamers, find any survivors and escape within a 6 day window. Making matters worse is when a screamer drains the fuel cells of the crew's ship, forcing them to find a source of power elsewhere. Finding a small group of miners still alive, the crew hopes that they can lead them to the fuel cells needed to get off the planet before it is destroyed by the meteor shower. As long as the screamers are active, this will not be easy.
Lance Henriksen shows up about an hour in as Orsow, a scientist who understands the screamers because he actually was the one who designed them. Plenty of bloody gore as the screamers tear apart victims, both as little bug-like robots and in half-human, half-robot hybrid form. A mix of computer graphics and practical effects, not too bad, I've seen much worse. Plenty of exciting action set pieces, but nothing that extraordinary or earth-shattering. You can see that the budget is a bit less than the first, understandably so considering this sequel comes 14 years after the original. Sorely lacking a Peter Weller to buoy the cast, Greg Bryk is more accustomed to portraying villains, and is pretty much a major reason the crew faces such difficulties, setting off the army of screamers after turning one on to collect logarithms which would provide his superiors with advanced technology for purposes of war..he portrays Commander Andy Sexton, the leader of the crew. Gina Holden, as Lt. Victoria Bronte, portrays Joe Hendricksson's(Weller)daughter, getting involved with a mysterious miner. The remaining cast, either portraying members of Sexton's crew or those miners found still alive, become casualties along the way. Important scenes, explaining the evolution of the screamers, include the crew's finding a factory containing an assembly line of screamers reaching for miles, and what appear to be tortured humans imprisoned behind an electromagnetic field(..released by the crew who think the miners are mere savages keeping them for a food supply). There's a twist I think many viewers will see coming a mile away, but the ending is shocking enough. The running threat of the robots(..or their technology)reaching Earth is always present.
Lance Henriksen shows up about an hour in as Orsow, a scientist who understands the screamers because he actually was the one who designed them. Plenty of bloody gore as the screamers tear apart victims, both as little bug-like robots and in half-human, half-robot hybrid form. A mix of computer graphics and practical effects, not too bad, I've seen much worse. Plenty of exciting action set pieces, but nothing that extraordinary or earth-shattering. You can see that the budget is a bit less than the first, understandably so considering this sequel comes 14 years after the original. Sorely lacking a Peter Weller to buoy the cast, Greg Bryk is more accustomed to portraying villains, and is pretty much a major reason the crew faces such difficulties, setting off the army of screamers after turning one on to collect logarithms which would provide his superiors with advanced technology for purposes of war..he portrays Commander Andy Sexton, the leader of the crew. Gina Holden, as Lt. Victoria Bronte, portrays Joe Hendricksson's(Weller)daughter, getting involved with a mysterious miner. The remaining cast, either portraying members of Sexton's crew or those miners found still alive, become casualties along the way. Important scenes, explaining the evolution of the screamers, include the crew's finding a factory containing an assembly line of screamers reaching for miles, and what appear to be tortured humans imprisoned behind an electromagnetic field(..released by the crew who think the miners are mere savages keeping them for a food supply). There's a twist I think many viewers will see coming a mile away, but the ending is shocking enough. The running threat of the robots(..or their technology)reaching Earth is always present.