It’s hard to imagine a film that stars a young George Clooney, Charlie Sheen, and Laura Dern would go unfinished for 37 years, but that’s what happened with Grizzly II: Revenge. The partially made film, which was the stuff of Hollywood lore, was finally completed and released this year, after Hungarian producer Suzanne C. Nagy was able to finish the task she started so long ago.

But that’s getting ahead. Grizzly II is the sequel to Grizzly, a surprise smash-hit horror film that capitalized on the trend for deadly clawed and fanged animals, instigated by the film Jaws. For a reason that is still undisclosed in the media — but probably based on Nagy’s Hungarian connections — Grizzly II was shot in Socialist-era Hungary, making it one of the few (only?) Hollywood films to utilise Hungary as a location at that time. Local director André Szöts was called in to helm, a cast of English speaking actors—including Clooney, Sheen, and Dern— was flown over, a 16-foot mechanical grizzly bear/monster was assembled, and history was made.

The plot revolves around a Woodstock-like music festival held in the forrest, where a dangerous ‘devil-bear’ picks off concertgoers before it can be hunted and stopped. The producers actually organized a real rock festival for Hungarian youth, enlisting metal band Nazareth to perform in front of a 50,000 strong crowd.

It’s hard to pin down what went wrong with the production: there were reports of missing funds, of the mechanical bear constantly breaking down, of off-screen pressures from the secret police, that contributed to the film’s abandonment. Along the way, the original writer/director was replaced, as was Vilmos Zsigmond, who was first tipped as cinematographer. Ultimately, it took thirty-something years for a pirated rough cut to start making the rounds among horror afficionados. With much of the film already out there, Nagy had the film re-cut, and additional footage added, so as to make an official release of Grizzly II: Revenge. While the film has not exactly wowed critics, that’s hardly the point.

Though Grizzly II may have rode the coat-tails of films like Jaws and Piranha, it was way ahead of its time in using Hungary as a stand-in for another location: this one being an American national park. Yet, due to circumstances, this bear was trapped behind the Iron Curtain, until now. Nagy can also take some credit for opening avenues between Hollywood and Hungary, as she told film site theringer.com: “There was a hope, a wonderful idea, that the Hungarian film industry was going to be noticeable,” Nagy says of the early ’80s. “[The country] wanted a lot from me. I’d be opening a gate to Hollywood.”

So, as they say, all’s well that ends well.

Enjoy this trailer for Grizzly II: Revenge

Flatpack Films has many years of experience dedicated to offering expert servicing. It has brought the best of Hungary to countless brands, agencies, and production companies through its unique locations, exceptionally skilled crews, top of the line equipment and technical solutions. Backed by an impeccable track record, Flatpack Films has worked with world-class clients including Samsung, Samsonite, Toyota, Braun, Chivas Regal and many more - bringing their projects to life through a highly bespoke approach.