• Release year: 2025
• Director: J.P. Leck.
• Producers: J.P. Leck.
• Screenplay by: J.P. Leck.
• Cinematography by: J.P. Leck.
• Music by: J.P. Leck.

Shotgun Commentary: pretty decent sequel to the fantastic Circle City Supernatural (2023).

Review

Circle City Supernatural 2 is the second instalment of the cinematic side of the Endless Elsewhere, a transmedia fictional universe mostly centred around a town called Circle City, where monsters and strange technology are the bread and butter of its locals’ daily lives. A big part of this universe is the radio show that Lindsay (Lindsay Leck), the protagonist of these films, hosts. Now, this universe has a ton of other stories and insane ramifications across different media. However, we shall only focus on the timeline and dimension(s) of this particular film. Otherwise, we could be here all month. Still, do check the universe out if this film seems like a film you’d like to watch!

A new adventure

Following the first instalment’s structure, this feature is a collage of eerie local tales narrated by different people who call on a radio show. This strategy worked like a charm then, and I’m happy to report it still does now. With a rich selection of twelve stories—my count could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure it isn’t—it is hard to nail it every single time. Luckily, it is just as hard for you to not find a few favourites among them.

Fair warning, there is a pretty big thematic difference between the first movie and this one. While Circle City Supernatural was essentially focused on horror, this feature turns to science fiction as its main genre. Not to worry, there are healthy splashes of horror all around it, but the main message is “beware of creepy tech” more than anything. Well… there is also an interesting amount of bugs, just saying…

Still, much like its prior instalment, this piece is overflowing with imagination, not merely in its narrative, but also in its execution. The use of stop-motion animation for a story that would’ve definitely eaten up a big chunk of the budget is not a groundbreaking strategy, but it is certainly smart. Furthermore, it is perfectly justified inside the film itself. The fact that no loose ends were left in this regard, even though it could have just as well been left unjustified, speaks not only of the talent but also of the interest and love that went into this work.

The cherry on top

The result of this passion for storytelling comes through in every single story, from human-eating scarves, also known as “scarfs”, to vampires, evil bunnies and dimension-travelling. A personal favourite, both for its ingenuity and the big chill that went down my spine while watching it, is the mannequin story. A simple story with not much to it that will be hard to forget. This particular segment reminds me of Guillermo del Toro’s reflection on the origin of good horror, this being to take a perfectly common circumstance and change but one thing we take for granted in it. Its minimalistic approach to horror and the brilliant use of the camera throughout the tale make this brief story one of the best of the repertoire.

All in all, Circle City Supernatural 2 is a more than worthy sequel to its predecessor. While the low budget is obvious, this element only makes the story more special. An ode to creativity and resourcefulness that is certainly worth witnessing. So if you happen to like great indie films, do give this film a watch. You can do so right here!

Advice to take from this movie:

• Sometimes it’s okay to NOT open the creepy door.
• Don’t touch machines you don’t know.
• Never turn your back on a huge, red-eyed bunny.

What’s your take? Have you watched Circle City Supernatural 2? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message on my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀