By GABE THOMAS
Starring John Migliore, Deborah Jayne Reilly Smith and Kylie Gough
Written and directed by John Migliore
Wild Eye Releasing
OUIJA SHARK 2, more epically known as OUIJA SHARK VS. TAROT GATOR, is the latest in ghost shark action from director John Migliore. After the events of the 2020 original, the Ouija Shark chases our lead, Anthony (Migliore), through the depths of hell and back. It is only through the awesome power of the Tarot Gator that Anthony and his family have a fighting chance of defeating the ghostly great white. An ancient demon known as Master Caldura (Simon Wheeldon) is also on their tail, increasing the stakes like any good sequel about evil board game entities should.
When a film is released with such a ludicrous title and premise, there are only two ways it can go. The first option takes the SHARKNADO approach, where the film is too self-aware, sucking the fun out with a lack of sincerity. Alternatively, the movie can be a delightfully cheap mess that stays entertaining while fully indulging in the ridiculousness of its premise. Luckily for all of us, OUIJA SHARK 2 falls into this second category.
Every frame of this monster mash seems to have been shot on a greenscreen, save for a few moments in overexposed forests and underlit apartment buildings. The effects consist of obvious puppets and VFX plugins, yet there is something so endearing about it all that these become features instead of bugs. It harkens back (albeit unintentionally) to cheap made-for-TV creature features of the ’70s that relied on poorly constructed sets and monster costumes. Pairing a Godzila-level premise with a tight-knit team that can’t quite pull it off creates a truly fun and innocent feel.
Scenes of the titular monsters terrorizing metropolitan cities are wonderfully corny and creative, with constant comedy cutaways and silly situations. The lead villain is given a Rocky Horror-esque musical number upon his first appearance, surrounded by minions dressed in cheap gorilla costumes. Anthony, who played a deadbeat dad in the original film, has been upgraded to a full Doctor Strange knockoff. Obviously, anytime there is a chance to introduce some life and creativity into an otherwise simple script, Migliore and his crew take full advantage of it.
The emotional beats do not work, and there’s nothing special about the performances, although it is nice to see a cast composed primarily of women. Cinematic storytelling is not the strong suit here, but the film delivers on the carnage and chaos the poster promises. This is a true distillation of a child mashing their action figures together, only with more heart and sentimentality.
The movie will play perfectly for a very particular crowd, and at no point does it reach beyond that. From the moment it begins, there is no doubting the type of experience that lies ahead. When it comes to a giant flying shark with laser eyes battling a magical fireproof alligator, it’s the greatest movie ever made. Much like the best summer treats, OUIJA SHARK 2 is delightful while it lasts and leaves a good taste in your mouth. Shlock connoisseurs, this one is for you.
