**Slight Spoilers**
As a keen fish keeper and horror movie fanatic this movie appeals to me, I don't even need to watch a trailer, I know that no matter how bad it could be I will still have to watch it. I will admit to having seen the original Piranha (1978) and enjoyed it but that is no guarantee that I will like the sequel. Having watched the movie I am pleased to report this was a very entertaining diversion.
So being a really conscientious reviewer I did a little research, and this is the directorial debut of James Cameron, although James Cameron claims it wasn't. Apparently he directed for two weeks then the Italian producer took over. James Cameron thought it was a mess, but one man's mess is another man's urh... good stuff.
The movies takes place on a Caribbean island and begins with the obligatory couple having sex underwater only to come to a messy bloody end. When will these horny couples ever learn!? The piranhas have a new home, not content with fresh water, they now live in a ship wreck, when they aren't out flying around. Yes, they can fly! Boom!They proceed to carve up their victims and tally an impressive body count. Some victims are killed in the sea, some on the sea, and others are killed whilst on land. There is a sub plot, tying in with the original Piranha, involving a member of the secret team that made the mutant fish. Can these flying piranha be stopped? Can the sheriff, his wife and some other people I forgot stop them?
Piranha II is technically not the best movie, but I have watched much worse movies that had bigger budgets. The weakest aspect of the movie are the piranhas themselves, they are really unrealistic looking, particularly whilst in flight. That said the cinematography is not awful, perhaps that was because of James Camerons two week stint as director, who knows? The acting is surprisingly good and features the talented Lance Henriksen. There is gore, although less than I had expected, so gore hounds might be dissapointed. All in all its a decent b movie.
6 out of 10.
Summary: better than expected b movie, if you enjoy killer fish movies you will find something to enjoy.