Second Blood

Second Blood is a 2016 Kuwaiti action film, directed by Fawzi Al-Khatib, and written by Shehab Al-Fadhli and Fayez Hussein Ali. The film stars bodybuilding champion Abdulhadi Al-Khayat, Ranaa Ghandour, Khaled Al-Buraiki and Mojeb Al-Qabandi.

Second Blood
Directed by	Fawzi Al-Khatib
Produced by	Mohammed AlSayed Mehdi Boushahri Mohamed Al Mubarak
Written by	Shehab Al-Fadhli Fayez Hussein Ali
Starring	Abdulhadi Al-Khayat Ranaa Ghandour Khaled Al-Buraiki Mojeb Al-Qabandi
Music by	Ibrahim Al-Mazeedi
Cinematography	Ramadhan Nakad
Edited by	Ahmad Abdullah Alkhudari
Production companies	Jabara Media Group
Distributed by	Jabara Media Group
Release date	November 27, 2016
Running time	105 minutes
Country	Kuwait
Language	Arabic

Al-Khayat, in his movie debut, plays the lead character Yousef Rambu—an ex-member of the Kuwait Army Forces with a troubled past.[1][2][3] He is sent to rescue political prisoners from a forgotten Asian island. Second Blood, which is inspired by Rambo: First Blood Part II, premiered on November 27, 2016.[4][5]

Plot

Yousef Rambu (Al-Khayat) is an exceptionally well-trained spy and a former commando. As a member of the Kuwait Army Forces he had been captured behind enemy lines during one of his missions. Imprisoned by a Chinese intelligence agency, Rambu was subjected to brutal forms of torture for months which rendered him resistant to pain. Rambu's superiors send him to the jungles of a forgotten Asian island where influential politicians are being held captive by terrorists. Rambu's mission is to save them.

Cast

• Abdulhadi Al-Khayat as Yousef Rambu
• Ranaa Ghandour as Monira Rambu
• Khaled Al-Buraiki as Bader
• Mojeb Al-Qabandi as General Mughni
• Massouma as Female interrogator

Production

In November 2015 it was reported that independent production company from Kuwait, Jabara Media Group, was developing an action movie which would share resemblances with American classics—First Blood (1982) and Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985). As indicated, Kuwaiti bodybuilding champion, police officer and real-life commando Abdulhadi Al-Khayat signed a contract to play Yousef Rambu, "an ex-member of the Kuwait Army Forces, an exceptionally tough and courageous man."[6] Hailed as a Kuwaiti answer to John Rambo, Rambu shares a lot of common characteristics with the American movie icon.[7] Al-Khayat's appearance in Second Blood is his first movie performance, and the movie itself is a screenwriting debut for both Shehab Al-Fadhli and Fayez Hussein Ali. In late December 2015 it was announced that Fawzi Al-Khatib will direct the project.[8][9] Al-Khatib found Rambu to be "an improved version of the original Rambo."[4] It was also reported that Ranaa Ghandour will play the role of Rambu's wife, Monira.[8] Filming commenced in February 2016 in Punjab, Pakistan.[1][10] Completion of the material continued until May.[4]

Release

Second Blood made its world premiere on November 27, 2016; the movie was released in limited theaters in Kuwait City and also met the VOD distribution.[4][5] Jabara Media Group released the film in Australia, Germany, Japan, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Bahrain, Republic of Macedonia and Morocco.[4]

Critical reception

Second Blood received mixed reviews.[11]

Sequel

A sequel, called Second Blood 2: Back in the Army, was announced before the movie's premiere.

References

1. "A Kuwaiti 'Rambo' movie is being developed"
2. "Rambo Getting Kuwaiti Remake"
3. "John Rambo powraca w nowym filmie. Produkują go... Kuwejtczycy"
4. "Kuwejcki film inspirowany serią 'Rambo' zyskuje datę premiery"
5. "Second Blood (2016) - Release Info"
6. "Rambo: Chystají se seriál a kuvajtský remake"
7. "Kuvajtský profesionál Abdulhadi Al-Khayat: fotografování v posilovně"
8. "Kuwejcki film inspirowany serią „Rambo” zyskuje reżysera"
9. "Kącik filmowy: nowy zwiastun Deadpoola, Przebudzenie mocy, Alien: Covenant i dużo więcej"
10. "Sylvester Stallone vyvíjí pro Fox seriál Rambo: Nová krev. A chystá se i remake původního filmu!"
11. "Abdulhadi Al-Khayat − Biography"

External links

• Second Blood at IMDb