The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 explained

The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2
Director:Deon Taylor
Screenplay:
  • Corey Harrell
  • Deon Taylor
Story:Corey Harrell
Producer:
Starring:
Cinematography:Dave Perkal
Editing:
  • Suzanne Hines
  • Peck Prior
Music:Geoff Zanelli
Studio:
  • Hidden Empire Film Group
  • Naptown Productions
Distributor:Hidden Empire Film Group
Runtime:97 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:$3.5 million[1]
Gross:$2.9 million[2]

The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 is a 2021 American parody black comedy horror film directed by Deon Taylor, and written by Taylor and Corey Harrell. A sequel to the 2016 film Meet the Blacks, it stars Mike Epps and Katt Williams, with Bresha Webb, Lil Duval, Zulay Henao, Tyrin Turner, Michael Blackson, Andrew Bachelor, Gary Owen and Danny Trejo in supporting roles. In the film, which primarily satirizes Fright Night, Carl Black (Epps) moves his family back to his childhood home, encountering a mysterious new neighbor (Williams), a pimp who may be a vampire.

The House Next Door was produced by Taylor's Hidden Empire Film Group and Epps' Naptown Productions, and filmed in Atlanta from October to November 2017. Delayed from original October 2019 release, the film was theatrically released in the United States by Hidden Empire on June 11, 2021. It was a box office bomb and received largely negative reviews from critics.

Plot

After surviving the events of the first film and becoming an author, Carl Black moves his family back to his childhood home in Atlanta, where he hopes to continue working on his new book. There, the Blacks encounter their mysterious new next-door neighbor, Dr. Mamuwalde, a pimp whom Carl suspects is a vampire trying to take his family.[3] [4]

Production

In October 2017, it was reported that Deon Taylor would direct the horror comedy film The House Next Door, a sequel to his 2016 film Meet the Blacks. Mike Epps would reprise his role of Carl Black from the first film, starring alongside Katt Williams. The two had previously starred together in the 2002 film Friday After Next.[5] Other cast members confirmed to be reprising their roles from the first film were Bresha Webb, Zulay Henao, Lil Duval, Andrew Bachelor, Michael Blackson, and Tyrin Turner.[6] In November 2017, it was announced that Rick Ross and Danny Trejo had been cast in the film.

The screenplay for The House Next Door was written by Taylor and Corey Harrell, based on a story by Harrell.[7] It was produced by Taylor, Roxanne Avent and Omar Joseph through Hidden Empire Film Group, and by Epps, Angi Bones and Shannon McIntosh through Naptown Productions.

Filming took place in Atlanta, Georgia, from October 15 to November 17, 2017.[8] Cinematographer Dave Perkal shot the film with Hawk V-Plus anamorphic lenses.[9]

The film's score was composed by Geoff Zanelli.[10]

Release

In February 2019, Taylor posted on Facebook that the film would be released that October.[11] [12] However, the film was eventually delayed, and not released into theaters in the United States until June 11, 2021, by Hidden Empire Film Group.[4] [13]

Reception

Box office

In its opening weekend, the film earned $1 million from 420 theaters, finishing seventh at the box office.[14] It earned a total of $2,893,660.[2]

Critical reception

The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 holds a 17% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on six reviews, with a weighted average of 2/10.[15]

Notes and References

  1. News: Goldsmith . Jill . Deon Taylor's So Happy To Be Back With 'Meet The Blacks', Ellen Burstyn Flies In 'Queen Bees' – Specialty Preview . June 11, 2021 . . June 15, 2021 .
  2. Web site: The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 . . July 16, 2021.
  3. Web site: Danny Trejo & Rick Ross Cast In 'Meet the Blacks' Sequel 'The House Next Door'. N'Duka. Amanda. Deadline Hollywood. November 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180103201430/https://deadline.com/2017/11/danny-trejo-rick-ross-meet-the-blacks-sequel-the-house-next-door-1202204234/. live. January 3, 2018. May 6, 2021.
  4. Web site: Katt Williams is Now a Vampire in the Trailer for THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR: MEET THE BLACKS 2. Millican. Josh. Dread Central. May 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506195209/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/396958/katt-williams-is-now-a-vampire-in-the-trailer-for-the-house-next-door-meet-the-blacks-2/. live. May 6, 2021. May 6, 2021.
  5. Web site: Mike Epps, Katt Williams Team for Horror Comedy 'The House Next Door'. Kit. Borys. The Hollywood Reporter. October 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171116235038/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mike-epps-katt-williams-team-horror-comedy-house-next-door-1048642. live. November 16, 2017. May 6, 2021.
  6. Web site: Mike Epps and Katt Williams to Star in Meet the Blacks Sequel. Busch. Jenna. ComingSoon.net. October 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20200806075859/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/895555-mike-epps-and-katt-williams-to-star-in-meet-the-blacks-sequel. live. August 6, 2020. May 6, 2021.
  7. Web site: The House Next Door. Writers Guild of America West. June 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506204027/https://directories.wga.org/project/1181129/the-house-next-door/. live. May 6, 2021. May 6, 2021.
  8. Web site: Atlanta Local Production Update. SAG-AFTRA. 4. November 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20210429171404/https://www.sagaftra.org/files/november_2017_atlanta_local_production_update_.pdf. live. April 29, 2021. May 6, 2021.
  9. Web site: Features - House Next Door. Vantage Film . https://archive.today/20210506181249/https://www.vantagefilm.com/en/credits/features/house-next-door-10909. live. May 6, 2021. May 6, 2021.
  10. Web site: Emmy-Winning Composer GEOFF ZANELLI Shares Score-Writing Secrets and In-Depth Details About Scoring David Koepp's latest film You Should Have Left!. Adams. Leah. All Access Music. June 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200702145408/https://music.allaccess.com/emmy-winning-composer-geoff-zanelli-shares-score-writing-secrets-and-in-depth-details-about-scoring-david-koepps-latest-film-you-should-have-left/. live. July 2, 2020. May 6, 2021.
  11. Web site: MEET THE BLACKS 2! THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR IN THEATERS EVERYWHERE THIS HALLOWEEN!!! Ummmm yeah!! Get your popcorn and candy!!! Funniest movie of the year!!! MIKE EPPS -KATT WILLIAMS - LIL DUVAL -MICHEAL BLACKSON -HAHA DAVIS -KING BACH — HAHA DAVIS -RICK ROSS — SNOOP - DANNY TREJO—- BRESHA WEBB -ZULAY HENO— GARY OWENS !!!! "VAMPIRES ARE REAL!! SUPPORT THIS ONE!!! Stay tuned!. Taylor. Deon. Deon Taylor. Facebook. February 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506185745if_/https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2475164045844587&id=505423196152025. live. May 6, 2021. May 6, 2021.
  12. Web site: The Forgotten Parody Movie Defying Odds And Dominating Hulu. Balkovich. Robert. Looper. January 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210123181928/https://www.looper.com/318341/the-forgotten-parody-movie-defying-odds-and-dominating-hulu/. live. January 23, 2021. May 6, 2021.
  13. Web site: Meet the Blacks 2 Trailer Takes Mike Epps & Katt Williams to The House Next Door. Dick. Jeremy. MovieWeb. May 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210506202944/https://movieweb.com/meet-the-blacks-2-trailer-the-house-next-door/. live. May 6, 2021. May 6, 2021.
  14. News: D'Alessandro . Anthony . 'A Quiet Place Part II' Steals Box Office Beat Away From 'In The Heights' With $12M – Monday AM Update . June 14, 2021 . . June 15, 2021 .
  15. Web site: The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2 (2021). Rotten Tomatoes. August 11, 2021.