Although tried and convicted for a multitude of crimes, a man who calls himself "Reaper" (Robert Random) is released from prison pending a new trial and sets out to punish a Los Angeles undercover cop named "Wade Olson" (Jason Williams) who he holds personally responsible for his imprisonment. To further his plans, he and some of his followers kidnap Wade's girlfriend "Donna" (Jane Higginson) and take her to their desert hideout where they not only molest her but take pictures of her at various times to place at strategic locations in order to lead him directly to him. And although he realizes he is heading directly into a trap, his feelings of guilt preclude him from doing anything else. What Reaper doesn't count on, however, is Wade being joined by three other people who have a score to settle with him as well. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this movie turned out to be a decent grade-B action movie due primarily to the suspense involved concerning Donna's fate. Admittedly, the character known as "Rainmaker" (Barne Subkoski) was a bit too ridiculous--but that's Hollywood for you. Be that as it may, I found this to be an adequate movie for the time spent, and I have rated it accordingly. Average.
3 Reviews
No fear of the Reaper.
actionfilm-216 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Usually with sequels it's expected to see the hero return, but with this film both the hero and villain return from the first film ("Danger Zone" later re-released in 1994 as "Death Riders") . This sequel works just as well as a stand alone film. The original Danger Zone was a very basic, very low budget affair. This film has a modest budget but it manages to look bigger with a wider scope of events and characters.
Biker/undercover cop Wade has his old lady kidnapped by a an outlaw biker named Reaper, all because of some past static between the two. Reaper being the cold hearted cat that he is, has left many enemies in his wake. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so it's not long before Wade has a group joining him in his pursuit of the evil biker. They include a family man burned by Reaper in a business venture, Reaper's ex-girlfriend who had her newborn sold by the villain like a pack of cheap cigarettes, and finally a guy who describes himself as a professional rainmaker, who had his skills jinxed after Reaper gave him a piece of cursed jewelry. Needless to say he's the oddest member of the group looking like a cross between Santa Claus and Peter Fonda with his white hair, beard, and flower power hippie threads and poncho. The four iron horse riders all head across the super slab of the desert, their thundering bikes closing the gap between mere hatred and vengeance.
Danger Zone 2 is not great action cinema, but it certainly entertains. There are some nifty ideas in the film, don't want to mention them here as it would spoil the film. Jason Williams as Wade has a nice laconic Eastwood style manner, and the rest of the cast are fun to watch as well. Outlaw biker films enjoyed popularity during the late sixties and early seventies, with actors like Adam Roarke, William Smith, Russ Tamblyn, and others starring. Since then outlaw biker films have been few and far between, Stone Cold (with Lance Henrickson and William Forsythe) was perhaps one of the last to earn a theatrical release.
Both Jason Williams (Wade), Robert Random (Reaper), and Barne Subkoski (Rainmaker) returned for a third installment in the Danger Zone series titled Danger Zone 3: Steel Horse War.
Biker/undercover cop Wade has his old lady kidnapped by a an outlaw biker named Reaper, all because of some past static between the two. Reaper being the cold hearted cat that he is, has left many enemies in his wake. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so it's not long before Wade has a group joining him in his pursuit of the evil biker. They include a family man burned by Reaper in a business venture, Reaper's ex-girlfriend who had her newborn sold by the villain like a pack of cheap cigarettes, and finally a guy who describes himself as a professional rainmaker, who had his skills jinxed after Reaper gave him a piece of cursed jewelry. Needless to say he's the oddest member of the group looking like a cross between Santa Claus and Peter Fonda with his white hair, beard, and flower power hippie threads and poncho. The four iron horse riders all head across the super slab of the desert, their thundering bikes closing the gap between mere hatred and vengeance.
Danger Zone 2 is not great action cinema, but it certainly entertains. There are some nifty ideas in the film, don't want to mention them here as it would spoil the film. Jason Williams as Wade has a nice laconic Eastwood style manner, and the rest of the cast are fun to watch as well. Outlaw biker films enjoyed popularity during the late sixties and early seventies, with actors like Adam Roarke, William Smith, Russ Tamblyn, and others starring. Since then outlaw biker films have been few and far between, Stone Cold (with Lance Henrickson and William Forsythe) was perhaps one of the last to earn a theatrical release.
Both Jason Williams (Wade), Robert Random (Reaper), and Barne Subkoski (Rainmaker) returned for a third installment in the Danger Zone series titled Danger Zone 3: Steel Horse War.
Very fine B-movie
lor_11 April 2023
My review was written in June 1989 after watching the movie on Forum video cassette.
"Danger Zone II: Reaper's Revenge" is a worthy successor to the 1987 release, a model of crisp, well-scripted B-picture entertainment.
Filmmaker Jason Williams returns as the taciturn hero Wade Olson, whose biker nemesis Reaper (Robert Random) is released from prison on a legal technicality. Reaper kidnaps Olson's girlfriend Jane Higginson and our hero is on his trail.
Structured as a trek in the desert en route to a violent showdown, pic is interesting not only for colorful details of its biker milieu but a cleverly interwoven script by Dulany Ross Clements that links (almost mystically) the history and fates of disparate characters.
Olson keeps meeting people on the road who've also been wronged by Reape. They tag along with him to settle their own scores: Rainmaker (Barne Wms. Subkoski) who' been cursed and can't start rain anymore; Doug (Walter Cox) who needs the Reaper's signature to sell a Vegas building and save his wife and adopted daughter; and Francine (Alisha Das), introed to prostitution by Reaper, who also sold her baby daughter. It all ties together.
Acting, especially by the lowkey Random (who probably would kick Charles Manson out of the neighborhood for being too nice a guy) and the attractive female leads, is a plus. Daniel Yarussi's lensing on location is effective as is a hard rock soundtrack.
"Danger Zone II: Reaper's Revenge" is a worthy successor to the 1987 release, a model of crisp, well-scripted B-picture entertainment.
Filmmaker Jason Williams returns as the taciturn hero Wade Olson, whose biker nemesis Reaper (Robert Random) is released from prison on a legal technicality. Reaper kidnaps Olson's girlfriend Jane Higginson and our hero is on his trail.
Structured as a trek in the desert en route to a violent showdown, pic is interesting not only for colorful details of its biker milieu but a cleverly interwoven script by Dulany Ross Clements that links (almost mystically) the history and fates of disparate characters.
Olson keeps meeting people on the road who've also been wronged by Reape. They tag along with him to settle their own scores: Rainmaker (Barne Wms. Subkoski) who' been cursed and can't start rain anymore; Doug (Walter Cox) who needs the Reaper's signature to sell a Vegas building and save his wife and adopted daughter; and Francine (Alisha Das), introed to prostitution by Reaper, who also sold her baby daughter. It all ties together.
Acting, especially by the lowkey Random (who probably would kick Charles Manson out of the neighborhood for being too nice a guy) and the attractive female leads, is a plus. Daniel Yarussi's lensing on location is effective as is a hard rock soundtrack.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
