Straight up, most people didn't want a prequel to Joe Carnahan’s hyper-violent, kinetic masterpiece Smokin' Aces. The original was a lightning-in-a-bottle flick that worked because of its insane ensemble cast and a twist that actually landed. So, when Smokin Aces 2 Assassins Ball dropped as a direct-to-video release in 2010, the collective eye-roll from film buffs was audible. But here’s the thing: if you go back and watch it now, it's actually a blast. It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s kind of ridiculous.
It also understands exactly what it is.
Prequels are tricky. You’re trying to capture the vibe of a predecessor without the budget or the original A-listers like Ryan Reynolds or Alicia Keys. P.J. Pesce, the director, basically leaned into the absurdity. He knew he couldn't out-prestige the first one, so he turned the dial to eleven on the cartoonish violence.
The Weird Plot of Smokin Aces 2 Assassins Ball
The story centers on Walter Weed. He's a low-level, desk-jockey FBI analyst played by Tom Berenger. Honestly, Berenger brings a weirdly grounded energy to a movie that involves a guy in a clown suit with a miniature gatling gun. Weed discovers there is a massive hit out on his life. The price tag is huge, and the deadline is precise: April 19th at 3:00 AM.
Why then? It’s a mystery for most of the runtime.
The FBI puts him in a "secure" bunker underneath a jazz club called Little Jazz After Hours. It’s a classic setup. One location. High stakes. A bunch of eccentric weirdos closing in from all sides. Vinnie Jones shows up as McTeague, an assassin who is basically there to look intimidating and kill people with surgical precision. He’s great. He always is.
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But the real stars? The Tremor family.
In the first movie, the Tremors were neo-Nazi speed freaks who stole every scene. Here, we get the "original" lineup. It’s a prequel, remember? Ma Tremor and her brood of psychopathic sons are the highlights. They use a literal circus cannon to launch a person into the bunker. You can't make this stuff up. It’s that specific brand of 2000s-era "extreme" cinema that we don't really see anymore.
Why the Direct-to-Video Label is Misleading
Usually, "direct-to-video" is code for "this movie is garbage." Sometimes that’s true. Not here. Smokin Aces 2 Assassins Ball has a surprising amount of heart in its technical execution. The cinematography tries really hard to mimic the quick-cut, high-contrast style of the original.
Breaking Down the Assassins
The roster is basically a video game character selection screen. You've got:
- Ariella Martinez: A femme fatale who uses poisons. She’s played by Martha Higareda. Her scenes add a bit of a noir vibe that balances out the screaming Tremors.
- Finbar McTeague: Vinnie Jones doing what Vinnie Jones does best. He’s the "Surgeon," and he brings a level of professionalism to the chaos.
- Fritz Tremor: He’s the one with the aforementioned clown obsession. It’s creepy. It’s effective.
The dynamic between the FBI agents—led by Clayne Crawford as Agent Baker—and the assassins is where the tension lives. Baker is trying to figure out why his boring boss is worth millions to the criminal underworld. The answer involves a deep-state conspiracy that feels very "of its time," but it works for the genre. It's not Chinatown, but it doesn't need to be.
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The Technical Side of the Carnage
A lot of the stunts were practical. That’s a big deal. In an era where everything is becoming a CGI blur, seeing actual pyrotechnics in a low-budget sequel is refreshing. The "Assassins Ball" itself—the final confrontation—is a choreographed nightmare of bullets and blood.
The pacing is breathless. It’s about 88 minutes long. That is the perfect length for a movie like this. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It gets in, blows stuff up, reveals the twist, and rolls the credits.
People often complain about the lack of logic in movies like Smokin Aces 2 Assassins Ball. Those people are missing the point. This is a "popcorn and beer" movie. It’s designed to be watched with friends while you yell at the screen. The logic is internal to the world Joe Carnahan built. It’s a world where assassins are celebrities and the FBI is perpetually three steps behind.
Real-World Reception vs. Cult Status
Critics hated it. Rotten Tomatoes has it sitting at a pretty grim percentage. But if you look at user forums or subreddits dedicated to mid-tier action movies, you’ll find a lot of love for it. Why? Because it’s honest. It isn't trying to win an Oscar. It isn't trying to start a cinematic universe. It’s a gritty, mean-spirited little action flick that delivers on its title.
There’s a specific scene involving a "fart bomb" and the Tremors that usually turns people off if they want high-brow art. But if you grew up watching Shoot 'Em Up or Crank, this is right in your wheelhouse. It captures that specific post-Tarantino aesthetic where everyone has a cool nickname and a gimmick.
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Examining the Twist (No Spoilers, Sorta)
Without giving away the ending for the three people who haven't seen it, the movie attempts a "gotcha" moment similar to the first film. Is it as good as the original twist? No. Is it plausible? Barely. But it recontextualizes Walter Weed's character in a way that makes a second viewing interesting.
You start to notice things. Small choices Berenger makes. The way he looks at certain characters. It’s actually a pretty nuanced performance for a movie that features a man being launched out of a cannon.
Actionable Insights for Fans of the Genre
If you’re looking to dive back into this world or films like it, there are a few things you should do to get the most out of the experience.
- Watch the original first. It sounds obvious, but the callbacks in the sequel (especially regarding the Tremor family) land much better if the first movie is fresh in your mind.
- Check out the "Behind the Scenes" features. The DVD/Blu-ray extras for this movie are actually great. They show how they pulled off the bunker sequences on a shoe-string budget. It gives you a lot of respect for the crew.
- Look for the cameos. There are small nods to the first film’s production team and style that are easy to miss.
- Lower your expectations for "Realism." This is a heightened reality. If you go in expecting a gritty police procedural, you’re going to be disappointed. Go in expecting a live-action comic book.
Smokin Aces 2 Assassins Ball exists in a weird pocket of film history. It was part of that final wave of "DVD Premiere" movies before streaming completely took over the mid-budget market. Today, this would be a "Netflix Original" and it would probably trend for a week before disappearing. But as a physical release, it feels like a relic of a time when action movies were allowed to be ugly, loud, and unapologetically weird.
If you want to understand the DNA of modern action—the kind of stuff you see in John Wick or Bullet Train—you have to look at these mid-tier sequels. They were the testing grounds for the hyper-stylized violence we take for granted now.
Take a night. Turn off your brain. Watch the Tremors blow stuff up. It’s worth the ride.