THE BIRDS II: LAND'S END - Andy's Vinegar Syndrome Review

[AndyDursin]

A little "sneak peek" here...

Leave it to Vinegar Syndrome to produce a full restoration of THE BIRDS II: LAND'S END (86 mins., 1994, R), the long-forgotten Showtime cable sequel to the Alfred Hitchcock '60s fave. Technically this film is less a sequel than it is a self-contained survival tale of a family encountering an avian attack on a sleepy North Carolina island. Off-camera, it was a struggle of a different kind – an apparently rocky marriage between a director mostly known for schlock (including the worst “Halloween” sequel of them all) and an Emmy/Peabody-winning producer known for his more aspirational TV work. Despite its pedigree, unfair comparisons to Hitch and “Alan Smithee” listed as director, the big surprise with “Birds II” is how entertaining it is – especially if you're able to accept it on its own terms.

“Birds II” finds married family man Ted (charisma-free “Always” lead Brad Johnson) navigating the rocky waters of marriage with wife Mary (Chelsea Field) and their two young daughters – this after the death of their young son. The group decide to take a vacation in a secluded home on “Gull Island” so Ted can finish up his thesis while Mary takes a gig working for the local photographer (James Naughton, just removed from his Tony win for Broadway's “City of Angels”). All seems sort-of well until the local birds decide to raise a raucous, dive-bombing unsuspecting humans and, most horrifying of all, claiming the life of the family's stalwart pet dog, Scout.

Shot in North Carolina, “Birds II” was one of several Showtime horror sequels that also included the decent “Psycho IV: The Beginning” and even better “When a Stranger Calls Back.” “Land's End” doesn't quite belong in their company and was savaged by Hitch-defending critics back at the time of its release – a few home video releases in the '90s later and this has basically become a forgotten “made for TV” affair with fewer fans, it seems, than “Gull Island” has residents.

Yet if you can separate memories of the original film, this is a pleasingly breezy, fast-moving and surprisingly character-centric cable movie that's both well scored and shot – by no less than frequent Clint Eastwood collaborator Bruce Surtees! Director Rick Rosenthal (of “Halloween II” and “Halloween: Resurrection” infamy) apparently clashed with producer David Rosemont over the general direction of the production – yet his decision to spurn a credit in favor of movie pseudonym Mr. Smithee seems more a personal protest than a statement of what's actually on-screen (it's certainly better than his second “Halloween” sequel, 2002's dismal “Halloween: Resurrection”).

The performances are decent (Tippi Hedren even shows up as shop owner “Helen”), the Wilmington, N.C. and surrounding locations are nicely captured, and Ron Ramin's orchestral score is a major plus. The bulk of the material and general character interplay are mostly comforting in a mid '90s domestic drama type of way – but then Rosenthal gets going and the last 15 minutes are an absolute gas. Explosions rock the local docks as Ted and Mary try to get off the island, while The Birds do a number on local residents. It's entertaining carnage with surprisingly adequate Peter Kuran special effects which play homage to the original Hitchcock optical work along with more graphic gore shots and the occasional gull-splatter – at least bloody enough to net this a mild R rating.

Vinegar Syndrome's new Blu-Ray goes a long way to helping rectify this obscure sequel's reputation, courtesy of a full 2K remaster (1.33) from its 35mm interpositive. Details and colors are all sprightly and crisp, while the stereo sound is a major asset with Ramin's fine score being one of the movie's strongest elements. Extras include a near hour-long retrospective featuring a few cast and crew members; a tour of locations with production assistant Craig Edwards, who also appears in the former; a terrific interview with Ramin, detailing his work on the movie and extensive background in TV; a still gallery; and a commentary with TV movie authority Amanda Reyes and “Sam Pancake.”