Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 (2024): review

Bigger ambitions, the same foundation

Rhys Frake-Waterfield continues the horror treatment of familiar children’s characters with visibly greater resources. Christopher Robin remains affected by the threat from the Hundred Acre Wood, while Pooh and his companions bring further violence into his surroundings.

The film wants to do more than repeat its initial slasher idea. It expands the story, attempts emotional background and introduces a layer of self-reference. That accumulation of ideas does not make the result more coherent.

Effects outpace the characters

The bloody effects are a recognisable improvement. Viewers primarily looking for graphic violence will find more extensively staged material than before. Vince Knight’s dark images support the horror but become rather monotonous overall.

The characters do not develop to the same degree. Scott Chambers makes a reasonable impression as Christopher Robin, yet cannot compensate for the screenplay’s weaknesses. Ryan Oliva’s Pooh and the other threatening figures do not acquire personality simply through increased prominence.

An overloaded narrative

The added background is meant to create depth but often feels imposed. The self-referential ideas fail to fit together persuasively, and the emotional passages rarely achieve their intended impact. Rather than strengthening the film, these additions too often interrupt its cohesion.

That problem also affects supporting characters and relationships. They occupy screen time without necessarily becoming more interesting. The sequel lacks a clear decision about what kind of film it wants to be and how its different elements should connect.

Verdict

Blood and Honey 2 has better effects and visibly more resources, but it remains an unconvincing horror story for me. Its overloaded plot and flat characters matter more than the technical improvement. Genre enthusiasts with low expectations may enjoy its brutality; greater expenditure does not make this a better film.