Piranha II: The Spawning (1982)
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7% of critics liked it
(15 reviews) -
12% of users liked it
(1,775 ratings)
This poorly scripted horror film about miniature, finny "jaws" details the mating rituals of the fictional "grunion" fish (falsely introduced as "piranhas" for more box-office recognition) and their need to attack and kill humans -- either inside or outside the water.… More This poorly scripted horror film about miniature, finny "jaws" details the mating rituals of the fictional "grunion" fish (falsely introduced as "piranhas" for more box-office recognition) and their need to attack and kill humans -- either inside or outside the water. These saber-toothed wonders have been hatched from a canister of eggs on a sunken ship in front of a posh Club Med resort, which features the mating rituals of humans who at times need to attack and kill fish. The product of a series of secret genetic engineering experiments, the toothy fish are to be tracked down by an undercover biochemist (Steve Marachuk), who is soon joined by the resident scuba diver at the resort (Tricia O'Neil). With believable gore but second-rate special effects, this film in no way presages the coming success of its debut director, James Cameron. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Directed By
- James Cameron
- Written By
- H.A. Milton
- Genres
- Drama, Horror, Science Fiction & Fantasy
- In Theaters
- Dec 1, 1981 Wide
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Idiotic premise has US government genetic engineering experiments creating a deadly form of grunions (hinted at being used in the Vietnam war).
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, Time Out
A copy rather than a sequel, this has none of the intelligence, wit or tempo that graced the first swarm of hungry fish.
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Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
Thankfully James Cameron went on to bigger and better things, but who can blame him for trying to pretend this movie never existed?
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The special effects are awful (the piranhas are obviously hand puppets) and the script worse.
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Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
For curious completists only.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Tricia O'Neil
as Anne Kimbrough
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Steve Marachuk
as Tyler
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Lance Henriksen
as Steve Kimbrough
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Ricky G. Paull
as Chris Kimbrough
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Ted Richert
as Raoul
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Leslie Graves
as Allison
- Carole R. Davis
- Arnie Ross
- Tracy Berg
- Albert Sanders
- Anne Pollack
- Dorothy Cunningham
- Ricky Paull Goldin