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Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)

★★½ — Return of the Living Dead Part II (1988)

Ken Wiederhorn came to this mid-budget horror sequel with an unusual CV, having previously directed the well-regarded Nazi zombie picture Shock Waves (1977) and the slasher entry Eyes of a Stranger (1981). Return of the Living Dead Part II arrived three years after Dan O'Bannon's original, which had itself been a loose spin-off from the George Romero zombie tradition rather than a direct continuation of it. The sequel was produced by Greenfox and released through Lorimar in early 1988, landing at a point when the late-1980s horror cycle was already showing signs of fatigue, with studios churning through franchise sequels at pace. Two cast members from the original, James Karen and Thom Mathews, were brought back in different roles, a self-aware nod that acknowledges the film's awareness of its own recycled nature.

If you liked the first one, you’ve basically seen this one already. Same premise, same zany tone, same chaotic zombie nonsense, just with less personality and characters you don’t really care about. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just unnecessary. The funhouse horror-comedy vibe is still there, and it leans even harder into the punk-rock goofiness of the original… but without bringing much new to the table. It feels like a sequel made just because someone thought, “Hey, people liked the first one, let’s do it again, but with neon!” It’s watchable. It’s silly. It’s got its moments. But ultimately, it’s just more of the same, and the first time was better.

Rating: ★★½ | Year: 1988 | Watched: 2025-07-20

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Physical: Amazon UK

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