The Shamer's Daughter II: The Serpent Gift (Skammerens datter II: Slangens gave)

While the first film in this Danish movie series, while predictable, was entertaining, this sequel can be quickly forgotten. Most of what made the first movie any good -- epic battles and character relationships -- has been swapped for a bland father-daughter road movie. Although many of the characters from the original return, they're largely sidelined. Drakan -- the charismatic villain from the first movie -- is played by a new actor who fails to capture the same menace. Another of the original film's strengths was the dynamic between Dina and Nico. But separating the two at the start of The Shamer's Daughter II: The Serpent Gift deprives us of a relationship we've already invested in.

Giving Dina additional supernatural powers also feels like a misstep. While her gift to shame people was intriguing, putting characters into a hypnotic daze by playing a magical flute fails to capture viewers' imagination in the same way. There are moments of genuine suspense, such as the introduction of an aquatic dragon; Nico and Davin's plight; and Drakan's assassin, Sarkan (Nicolas Bro). But what we end up with is a watered-down disappointment of a sequel, when we'd really have been happy with more of the same.