The Birds II: Land's End
Encyclopedia
The Birds II: Land's End is the 1994 television movie
sequel
to Alfred Hitchcock
's 1963 classic The Birds
. It stars Brad Johnson
, Chelsea Field, James Naughton
, and Tippi Hedren
, in a role different from the one she played in the original Hitchcock film. The original music score was composed by Ron Ramin.
The plot of the sequel is very similar to the original. Biology teacher and Somali Civil War
veteran, Ted, his wife, and children move to a summer house on an island after the death of their son. While there, flocks of birds start attacking individuals for no apparent reason. The town mayor denies the birds' role in the injuries, but is forced to believe after further incidents of violence by the birds.
flock begins pecking the window. At Ted's house, a golden eagle
attacks. Meanwhile, Doc Rayburn, a Green Berets
veteran, spots some cars parked near a department store. He also spots some crow
s furiously pecking the corpse of a mouse
. Later in the day, Terry strolls along the street. Suddenly, she is swarmed by a flock of attacking golden eagles. Ted comes to the rescue, driving the eagles away by chucking dynamite
at the birds. Later, a crow swoops down and inflicts a cut on Ted's forehead. The next day, people get word that the Eastern Seaboard
is mysteriously under siege from sudden bird attacks. Rachel freaks out from the news, while Ted and Terry stare at the radio, speechless. At night, Buster, the family's Great Dane
dog, attacks a flock of crows scavenging on a dead sheep. Doc's Greyhound
s also join the attack. The resulting fight kills one of the greyhounds. A few days later, all five people decide to fight back.
Ted's house is suddenly attacked by a flock of raven
s. Ellen and Doc race to the rescue. Ellen starts chucking molotov cocktails while Doc fires a submachine gun at the animals. The ravens fall back, but are run over by a freight train on a railroad track. While Doc relaxes near the beach, a seagull attacks him. Luckily, Doc is able to subdue the animal and kill it by stabbing it repeatedly with a bowie knife
. At Ted's house, Ellen questions why the birds have suddenly started attacking humans. Ted responds by saying that the birds may have gotten the Rage Virus. Later, Ted's guess is proven right when Ted actually spots some seagulls and golden eagles killing a Great White Shark
. Later, Ted's house is suddenly under siege by a huge swarm of birds. Doc grabs a light machine gun and mounts it on the front porch. He then proceeds to shoot down the attacking birds. Rachel grabs an assault rifle and opens fire. Ted also grabs a rifle and fires. In the ensuing gunfight, Ellen is wounded by a bird attack that cuts her wrist. Rachel's forehead is slashed by a sparrow. Doc and Ted are both wounded when a golden eagle slashes their heels with its talons. The group manages to beat off the birds before they sustain any more injuries. The next day, the house is under attack from ravens and crows, causing everyone to abandon the house altogether. Ted's family fights off the birds with rifles.
Later, Ted hatches an escape plan that Ellen agrees with. Ellen races toward a scooter and plans to escape using the scooter. Unfortunately, she's killed by the bird attack. This forces Ted and his family to take over. Ted takes the wheel of the Vespa scooter. Doc and Gordon escort Terry to a truck and escape using the vehicle. Rachel uses her rifle to open fire on the birds attacking the Vespa scooter as it makes its way down a highway. Later, several turkey vulture
s join the attack. When Ted swerves into a subway tunnel, the birds follow. Ted spots a subway train speeding toward the Vespa, giving him an idea. The birds continue to chase the Vespa scooter-until they are squashed to a pulp when the train speeds up. Ted and everyone else bails out, leaving the train to squash the Vespa. The president, Gerald Kennedy, orders the United States to be evacuated. The Ojeda family are chosen, while Rayburn and Gordon are left behind. Ted and his family are transported by a helicopter to Concord, New Hampshire
. Suddenly, vultures attack the Blackhawk. Ted takes a minigun and opens fire. However, several vultures are sucked into the rotors and are sliced to pieces, causing the helicopter to go down near Chesapeake Bay
, Maryland
.
The final showdown begins here. Ted and Rachel both hold off the attackers. SSgt. Gus Griggs and Pvt. Don McDonald, both use assault rifles to hold them off. After the gunfight, the soldiers and Ted take Rachel to a refugee center before the credits.
slated the production, especially criticizing the writing and acting, saying: "The actors in Birds II have little to do except widen their eyes in terror, and even that seems a daunting stretch for Johnson." He also commented on the fact that it was an Alan Smithee
film, the pseudonym used when a director wants to disown the final film, writing "...but the poster and cassette box that Showtime sent along with the review tape clearly state that Rick Rosenthal
directed Birds II", before adding "He has good reasons to want his name erased from it. If it were me, I'd sue."
Many other reviews were in the same vein, The New York Times
calling the film "feeble." The film also received a score of 2.7 out of 10 on Imdb.
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
's 1963 classic The Birds
The Birds (film)
The Birds is a 1963 horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock based on the 1952 short story "The Birds" by Daphne du Maurier. It depicts Bodega Bay, California which is, suddenly and for unexplained reasons, the subject of a series of widespread and violent bird attacks over the course of a few...
. It stars Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson (actor)
Brad Johnson is an American actor and former Marlboro Man.Johnson's first acting credit was in the low-budget biker film The Nam Angels , and shortly after he had his first co-starring role in a major film when he played the role of Ted Baker in the 1989 film Always, directed by Steven Spielberg...
, Chelsea Field, James Naughton
James Naughton
James Naughton is an American director, theater, film and television actor.-Early life:Naughton was born in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of Rosemary and Joseph Naughton, both of whom were teachers He is the brother of actor David Naughton.-Career:Naughton graduated from Brown University and...
, and Tippi Hedren
Tippi Hedren
Nathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren is an American actress and former fashion model with a career spanning six decades. She is primarily known for her roles in two Alfred Hitchcock films, The Birds and Marnie, and her extensive efforts in animal rescue at Shambala Preserve, an wildlife habitat which she...
, in a role different from the one she played in the original Hitchcock film. The original music score was composed by Ron Ramin.
The plot of the sequel is very similar to the original. Biology teacher and Somali Civil War
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. The conflict, which began in 1991, has caused destabilisation throughout the country, with the current phase of the conflict seeing the Somali government losing substantial control of the state to rebel forces...
veteran, Ted, his wife, and children move to a summer house on an island after the death of their son. While there, flocks of birds start attacking individuals for no apparent reason. The town mayor denies the birds' role in the injuries, but is forced to believe after further incidents of violence by the birds.
Plot
The story opens with Ted Ojeda, his wife, Terri, and his daughter, Rachel Ojeda, moving to a house on an island after their son, Randy Ojeda, died in an airplane crash some years earlier. Meanwhile, Ellen Lopez (Hedren), listens to the radio with her brother, Gordon Lopez, a US Army Ranger veteran. Later, a sparrowSparrow
The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...
flock begins pecking the window. At Ted's house, a golden eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
attacks. Meanwhile, Doc Rayburn, a Green Berets
Green Berets
A green beret was the headgear of the British Commandos of World War II. Certain military organisations still wear green berets because they have regimental or unit histories that form a connection with the British Commandos of World War II....
veteran, spots some cars parked near a department store. He also spots some crow
Crow
Crows form the genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Ranging in size from the relatively small pigeon-size jackdaws to the Common Raven of the Holarctic region and Thick-billed Raven of the highlands of Ethiopia, the 40 or so members of this genus occur on all temperate continents and several...
s furiously pecking the corpse of a mouse
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
. Later in the day, Terry strolls along the street. Suddenly, she is swarmed by a flock of attacking golden eagles. Ted comes to the rescue, driving the eagles away by chucking dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
at the birds. Later, a crow swoops down and inflicts a cut on Ted's forehead. The next day, people get word that the Eastern Seaboard
Eastern seaboard
An Eastern seaboard can mean any easternmost part of a continent, or its countries, states and/or cities.Eastern seaboard may also refer to:* East Coast of Australia* East Coast of the United States* Eastern Seaboard of Thailand-See also:...
is mysteriously under siege from sudden bird attacks. Rachel freaks out from the news, while Ted and Terry stare at the radio, speechless. At night, Buster, the family's Great Dane
Great Dane
The Great Dane , also known as German Mastiff or Danish Hound , is a breed of domestic dog known for its giant size...
dog, attacks a flock of crows scavenging on a dead sheep. Doc's Greyhound
Greyhound
The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed...
s also join the attack. The resulting fight kills one of the greyhounds. A few days later, all five people decide to fight back.
Ted's house is suddenly attacked by a flock of raven
Raven
Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus—but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied...
s. Ellen and Doc race to the rescue. Ellen starts chucking molotov cocktails while Doc fires a submachine gun at the animals. The ravens fall back, but are run over by a freight train on a railroad track. While Doc relaxes near the beach, a seagull attacks him. Luckily, Doc is able to subdue the animal and kill it by stabbing it repeatedly with a bowie knife
Bowie knife
A Bowie knife is a pattern of fixed-blade fighting knife first popularized by Colonel James "Jim" Bowie in the early 19th Century. Since the first incarnation was created by James Black, the Bowie knife has come to incorporate several recognizable and characteristic design features, although its...
. At Ted's house, Ellen questions why the birds have suddenly started attacking humans. Ted responds by saying that the birds may have gotten the Rage Virus. Later, Ted's guess is proven right when Ted actually spots some seagulls and golden eagles killing a Great White Shark
Great white shark
The great white shark, scientific name Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a large lamniform shark found in coastal surface waters in all major oceans. It is known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached...
. Later, Ted's house is suddenly under siege by a huge swarm of birds. Doc grabs a light machine gun and mounts it on the front porch. He then proceeds to shoot down the attacking birds. Rachel grabs an assault rifle and opens fire. Ted also grabs a rifle and fires. In the ensuing gunfight, Ellen is wounded by a bird attack that cuts her wrist. Rachel's forehead is slashed by a sparrow. Doc and Ted are both wounded when a golden eagle slashes their heels with its talons. The group manages to beat off the birds before they sustain any more injuries. The next day, the house is under attack from ravens and crows, causing everyone to abandon the house altogether. Ted's family fights off the birds with rifles.
Later, Ted hatches an escape plan that Ellen agrees with. Ellen races toward a scooter and plans to escape using the scooter. Unfortunately, she's killed by the bird attack. This forces Ted and his family to take over. Ted takes the wheel of the Vespa scooter. Doc and Gordon escort Terry to a truck and escape using the vehicle. Rachel uses her rifle to open fire on the birds attacking the Vespa scooter as it makes its way down a highway. Later, several turkey vulture
Turkey Vulture
The Turkey Vulture is a bird found throughout most of the Americas. It is also known in some North American regions as the Turkey Buzzard , and in some areas of the Caribbean as the John Crow or Carrion Crow...
s join the attack. When Ted swerves into a subway tunnel, the birds follow. Ted spots a subway train speeding toward the Vespa, giving him an idea. The birds continue to chase the Vespa scooter-until they are squashed to a pulp when the train speeds up. Ted and everyone else bails out, leaving the train to squash the Vespa. The president, Gerald Kennedy, orders the United States to be evacuated. The Ojeda family are chosen, while Rayburn and Gordon are left behind. Ted and his family are transported by a helicopter to Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
. Suddenly, vultures attack the Blackhawk. Ted takes a minigun and opens fire. However, several vultures are sucked into the rotors and are sliced to pieces, causing the helicopter to go down near Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
The final showdown begins here. Ted and Rachel both hold off the attackers. SSgt. Gus Griggs and Pvt. Don McDonald, both use assault rifles to hold them off. After the gunfight, the soldiers and Ted take Rachel to a refugee center before the credits.
Main cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Brad Johnson Brad Johnson (actor) Brad Johnson is an American actor and former Marlboro Man.Johnson's first acting credit was in the low-budget biker film The Nam Angels , and shortly after he had his first co-starring role in a major film when he played the role of Ted Baker in the 1989 film Always, directed by Steven Spielberg... |
Ted |
| Chelsea Field | May |
| James Naughton James Naughton James Naughton is an American director, theater, film and television actor.-Early life:Naughton was born in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of Rosemary and Joseph Naughton, both of whom were teachers He is the brother of actor David Naughton.-Career:Naughton graduated from Brown University and... |
Frank |
| Jan Rubes Jan Rubes Jan Ladislav Rubeš CM was a Czech-Canadian bass opera singer and actor.-Life and career:Rubeš was born in Volyně, Czechoslovakia, the son of Ružena and Jan Rubeš. Not too long after World War II, he graduated from the Prague Conservatoire and joined the Prague Opera House as a bass singer... |
Karl |
| Tippi Hedren Tippi Hedren Nathalie Kay "Tippi" Hedren is an American actress and former fashion model with a career spanning six decades. She is primarily known for her roles in two Alfred Hitchcock films, The Birds and Marnie, and her extensive efforts in animal rescue at Shambala Preserve, an wildlife habitat which she... |
Ellen |
| Richard K. Olsen | Doc Rayburn |
Reviews
The TV-film received widely negative reviews and was criticized by many critics. Ken Tucker of Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
slated the production, especially criticizing the writing and acting, saying: "The actors in Birds II have little to do except widen their eyes in terror, and even that seems a daunting stretch for Johnson." He also commented on the fact that it was an Alan Smithee
Alan Smithee
Alan Smithee was an official pseudonym used by film directors who wish to disown a project, coined in 1968. Until its use was formally discontinued in 2000, it was the sole pseudonym used by members of the Directors Guild of America when a director dissatisfied with the final product proved to...
film, the pseudonym used when a director wants to disown the final film, writing "...but the poster and cassette box that Showtime sent along with the review tape clearly state that Rick Rosenthal
Rick Rosenthal
Richard L. "Rick" Rosenthal, Jr. is an American film and television director. He is also a producer, actor, and writer.-Biography:...
directed Birds II", before adding "He has good reasons to want his name erased from it. If it were me, I'd sue."
Many other reviews were in the same vein, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
calling the film "feeble." The film also received a score of 2.7 out of 10 on Imdb.