Quartile rating: 5/10 · 1 rating
When the devil resurfaces with aims to take over the world in human form, Johnny Blaze reluctantly comes out of hiding to transform into the flame-spewing supernatural hero Ghost Rider -- and rescue a 10-year-old boy from an unsavory end.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is a loud, chaotic sequel that struggles to build on its predecessor in meaningful ways. The plot is thin and derivative — a standard 'protect the chosen child from the devil' framework with little originality. Nicolas Cage's unhinged performance has cult appeal but is broadly inconsistent, and the supporting cast is forgettable. The cinematography, helmed by Neveldine/Taylor (Crank), has some genuinely kinetic and visually distinctive moments — handheld chaos and stylized fire effects give it occasional visual flair above the genre norm. However, the story remains formulaic for a superhero sequel, the ending is flat and unsatisfying, and the film adds little to the mythos it's drawing from.