When Pooh’s usual honey-filled adventures turned into a horror movie on TV, it became a nightmare.
“Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2″ is a 2024 British indie horror film directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield and written by Matt Leslie.
Highlights
- Winnie the Pooh 2 movie stars with Christopher Robin escaping from the gore rampage and seeks solace in the therapist.
- Critics noted that the second installment of the movie improved the customs, sets, and gore elements with budgets.
- The new character Owl adds depth to the storyline while Tigger’s character development falls short.
It’s part of The Twisted Childhood Universe (TCU) and a sequel to “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey” (2023), which reimagines A. A. Milne’s classic stories in a horror setting.
After the success of “Blood and Honey,” director Frake-Waterfield showed interest in a sequel. In November 2022, the sequel was officially approved for production.
The movie stars Scott Chambers as Christopher Robin and Ryan Oliva as Winnie-the-Pooh.
The other stars, Tallulah Evans, Teresa Banham, Peter DeSouza-Feighoney, Alec Newman, and Simon Callow, are in supporting roles.
In this installment, Pooh goes on a violent spree in Christopher Robin’s hometown, seeking revenge for being exposed to the world.
Disclaimer: This review is based on a viewer’s perspective and does not represent any official endorsement or critique.
Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey 2 Continues With The Prequel Plotlines
Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 (2024)
Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Owl, and Tigger decide to stop hiding and bring their fight to the town of Ashdown, causing many deaths and chaos along the way.
Genres
Thriller Horror SlasherRelease Date | June 26, 2024 (On Amazon Prime) |
Casts | Scott Chambers Tallulah Evans Ryan Oliva |
Writers | Rhys Frake-Waterfield Matt Leslie A.A. Milne |
Directors | Rhys Frake-Waterfield |
“Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2” debuted at the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square, London, on March 18, 2024.
The film was released on Amazon Prime Video on June 26, 2024.
It begins with Christopher Robin fleeing the Hundred Acre Wood after narrowly escaping Winnie-the-Pooh’s and Piglet’s deadly rampage.
Then, he returns to his hometown of Ashdown, seeking refuge.
Meanwhile, the bodies of Maria and her friends are discovered in the woods, leading authorities to suspect Christopher as the culprit.
Dubbed the “Hundred Acre Massacre,” the horrific incident spawns a movie adaptation that tarnishes Christopher’s reputation in Ashdown.
Now an outcast in his own town, Christopher grapples with haunting nightmares of Pooh and seeks solace from his hypnotherapist, Mary Darling
He confronts unresolved childhood trauma, particularly the abduction of his twin brother Billy, who vanished without a trace years ago.
So, what’s in the ending- will Pooh seek revenge, or will Christopher Robin find a way to confront the trauma? (we are careful with the spoilers)
Winnie The Pooh: Blood And Honey 2 Is Not In Favour Of Critics
On Rotten Tomatoes, about half of the critics (49% of 37 reviews) gave “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2” positive feedback, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 10.
It noted that the sequel improved in some aspects compared to the original. But it remained a movie that primarily appealed to hardcore slasher fans.
Metacritic, based on six critics’ assessments, assigned the film a 36 out of 100 score, indicating that the overall reception was “generally unfavorable.”
Similarly, Nick Schager from The Daily Beast noted that despite a larger budget and improved production, the film still falls short in crucial areas
He felt the movie didn’t do justice to its writing, directing, and acting, comparing it unfavorably to its PRequel.
Nonetheless, Luke Thompson of The A.V. Club provided a positive review of the film, describing it as “cinema at its most punk rock.”
He praised its raw, unpolished nature, calling it a bold, rebellious statement that challenges mainstream conventions.
Thompson acknowledged the film’s rough edges but highlighted its talent, which prevented it from being easily dismissed.
Winnie The Pooh 2 Is A Cringeworthy Horror Spin For Me
Even though I wasn’t impressed with the 2023 film “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey,” I decided to give its sequel, “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2,” a chance.
Given my lack of interest in the predecessor, I didn’t harbor grand expectations of writers Rhys Frake-Waterfield and Matt Leslie.
Luckily, “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2” did prove better than its predecessor.
The costumes, sets, and gore improved noticeably, suggesting a larger budget for “Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2.”
The movie begins with an entertaining animated segment, setting an engaging tone.
While the acting is average, the frequent killings keep the audience interested, with the storyline serving as a bridge between gruesome scenes.
The introduction of Owl as a new character adds depth to the plot, though Tigger’s portrayal feels somewhat underwhelming.
The film maintains its momentum in the first half, stumbles a bit during a club scene, but quickly rebounds with a steady flow of intense moments.
One thing that bothered me was when the filmmakers included footage from the first movie on a TV in the sequel, pretending it was something a character was watching. It felt awkward and forced.
They also try to add funny moments and jokes that comment on the movie itself, but unfortunately, they aren’t hilarious.
Instead of making the movie more enjoyable, these jokes feel forced and make the movie a bit boring overall.
Aside from the murders, the story about Christopher Robin feels lengthy and lacks excitement.
It could have been more entertaining if the movie had focused more on Pooh and his killer friends.
While I can’t fully praise these aspects, the film is still watchable and provides some level of enjoyment.