The sequel to the 1984 film is a low budget affair and none of the actors from the original returned. This continues with the character of Dave Herdig (played by Brad Johnson, replacing Michael Pare), who - 9 years later - has seen better days. His wife (the young woman he met in the first film) has died, leaving him a son; his business is failing; and he's experiencing disturbing physical lapses which he thinks is connected to the experiment from 9 years ago. His scientist friend (Prof. Longstreet, back from the previous film) assures him that no such experiment is being reactivated. But, of course, it is - the bad guy (Gerrit Graham) is the son of a German scientist from Hitler's team in WW2. He sends a special stealth fighter plane back to 1943 Germany and changes history - even as Herdig's DNA unravels due to the experiment, reality also unravels around him and he suddenly finds himself in an alternate 1993, a world in which Germany won the 2nd World War.
The 'what if' proposition of Germany ruling the world after WW2 is nothing new in science fiction. This is hampered by the low budget - most scenes seem to take place in out-of-the-way places like empty factories and there's no opportunity to glimpse what such a world would be like. Herdig is quickly rescued from a German squad by some rebels and then is on the run, trying to sneak past more guards and checkpoints. Then he's captured and soon there's a showdown with the villain, who is in charge of the whole east sector of the U.S. or some such thing. The iffy proposition is how the villain wants to also go back to 1943 to help out his scientist dad, who had died in disgrace back in 1965; the stealth plane had been destroyed during its attack on the U.S. and the scientist hadn't been able to refashion the airplane. The impetus for the hero is to be reunited with his son (who disappeared when this new reality came into being) and the solution is to make sure that Germany doesn't get the future airplane. The climactic action is pretty good and involves more time paradoxes.
BoG's Score:
5 out of 10
