Horror Movie Review: Aladdin’s Revenge (2026)

Aladdin’s Revenge, aka Aladdin Part 2, is the direct sequel to writer and director Brett Bentman’s horror reimagining of the classic Aladdin tale (not the Disney film). Somehow, Brett Bentman found a way to stretch this version into two films, and the first one was not good (read the review here).

This sequel is better, but only marginally, and mainly because the actors have a bit more to do, which allows them to show off some of their talents. Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop it being mind-numbingly dull and an overall waste of time. Not only is it baffling that this story was somehow split into two films, but it’s baffling that this is the best Bentman’s imagination could come up with regarding the Aladdin story.

Once again, Devanny Pinn takes the lead role as Rachel, and once again, proves to be the best thing about the film. Sometime after the events of the first film, she has been forced to attend a therapy session at the home of a court appointed therapist. Of course, this means going to an isolated house for the weekend alongside a couple of other people dealing with their own traumas. Good thing the lamp was destroyed at the end of the last film.

Of course, it’s back and it’s not long before the other patients find out about it, what its power is, and how they can use it. Aladdin is back, and the demon is out for revenge. Rachel might have thwarted his plans previously, but now he’s specifically targeting her.

It’s not as interesting as it sounds with the majority of the film’s runtime taken up with conversations about the lamp, what it can do, and why it shouldn’t be used. Which wouldn’t be too much of a problem if the horror scenes were notable, but they’re not. Even though there is an attempt to make the new characters matter, especially when the film delves into their personal traumas, it feels too serious for a film like this. I’m not saying it needed to be slapstick, but a bit more silliness wouldn’t have gone amiss.

This might have made the film more memorable, especially as, just like the first film, Bentman is desperate to avoid triggering the house of mouse, so does everything possible to avoid slipping up. If you’re expecting a deep dive into the original Aladdin story or a fresh take on it, think again. I feel like I’m repeating myself as I said this about the first film, but it’s a problem here too.

What is less of a problem is the acting. As I said, Devanny Pinn is good and there’s a strong scene late in the film between her and Billy Blair (Jake from the first one), but Tiffany McDonald stands out too. Able to take Bentman’s weighty dialogue and make it matter, even if the events around said dialogue don’t feel as important.

If all of this wasn’t enough to make this a must miss, the music is… odd and it’s visually unappealing, especially as Bentman has relied heavily on AI again for certain scenes and effects, and it looks atrocious.

I reckon something good could be done with the Aladdin story, but it needs to be in the hands of a better writer and director. Harsh? Did you sit through two of these films!?