ninja killface II: die killface die
Revenge ignites anew as the Killface saga continues with a shocking twist — Aries Lansing is alive. The merciless Mr. Revolver won't rest until Killface is defeated, unleashing lethal hitmen Jabber Calibax and Chuck Morris to end the chase. After a devastating betrayal and a deadly showdown on Sign Hill, Killface retreats to South Lake Tahoe, honing his skills for the inevitable final confrontation. Swords clash and fates are sealed in the chilling climax amidst the serene woods of Lake Tahoe. Brace yourself for an action-packed sequel filled with thrills, spills, and vengeful chills.
Characters
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Ninja Killface
NATHAN BLONKENFELD
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Mr. Ray Revolver
RAY REVELLO
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Aries Lansing
KIRSTEN OLSEN-DAVIS
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Bruce Cummings
BRUCE CUMMINGS
“I’ll get you Ninja Killface! If it’s the last thing I do!”
Mr. Ray Revolver, Ninja Killface II: Die Killface Die
By 2005, Ninja Killface II marked a turning point for Dollars & Donuts Productions. It was their most ambitious undertaking to date, born from a desire to expand Ray Revello’s role while accommodating Nate’s increasingly unreliable attendance. To work around this, the film adopted an episodic structure that allowed flexibility—many scenes featuring Killface’s back were performed by stand-ins.
The production spanned an entire year, with key scenes filmed across South San Francisco and South Lake Tahoe. The climactic Tahoe showdown, staged near Daryl’s family vacation home, brought unexpected challenges, including a police visit after neighbors spotted Nate running down the street wielding sais.
Donald Flores was introduced as Chuck Morris, Killface’s protégé, with pivotal fight sequences unfolding in a cemetery, the woods, and a gravity-defying slide down Sign Hill. The team’s creativity extended to its technical innovations—Killface II featured some of Daryl’s earliest experiments with digital effects, pushing the boundaries of what the group could achieve with their resources.
The post-production process was equally groundbreaking. For the first time, editing was completed in Final Cut Pro on a Mac Pro tower gifted to Daryl by his parents for his high school graduation. This upgrade elevated the film’s polish, setting a new standard for future projects.
Ninja Killface II also holds a unique legacy. For years, Daryl and Ray’s high school English teacher, Mary-Liz Guthier, invited them to screen the film for her video class. These screenings served as a testament to creativity, passion, and the sheer determination to make something bigger than themselves—a defining ethos of Dollars & Donuts Productions.
After making Ninja Killface in 2003, Dollars & Donuts knew they had to raise the stakes. But Ninja Killface II: Die Killface Die wasn’t just a sequel—it was an evolution. This ambitious follow-up became the most elaborate production Dollars & Donuts had ever attempted at the time, stretching over two years of stop-and-go filming and culminating in a brutal final showdown in the forests of South Lake Tahoe.
The Genesis of a Sequel
The idea for Ninja Killface II emerged during the production of the original film. Daryl Della, ever the dreamer, envisioned a second installment even before finishing the first. The inspiration for the title—borrowed from the campy Darkman III: Die Darkman Die—didn’t immediately excite Nathan Blonkenfeld (Killface himself), who dismissed it as silly. Nevertheless, once Ninja Killface was complete, the team was eager to move forward. Plans for a vampire-themed project were briefly entertained, but the allure of returning to the world of Killface ultimately won out.
The Tahoe Connection
South Lake Tahoe became central to the film’s aesthetic. The rugged woods, initially scouted for a canceled vampire project, provided the perfect setting for Revolver and Killface’s final confrontation.
Filming the final battle in Tahoe proved grueling. Nate, already exhausted from a full day of running up and down the street, was accidentally knocked unconscious during a take when Ray’s punch connected for real. The shoot continued the next day, with both actors bruised but determined. The fight, originally conceived to include absurd gore—like Revolver holding in his slit throat while continuing to fight—was scaled back but still delivered a visceral and satisfying climax.
Technical Challenges and Triumphs
Post-production on Killface II marked a turning point for Daryl. Frustrated by his aging iMac’s inability to handle the film’s complexity, his parents gifted him a G5 with Final Cut Pro. This upgrade allowed for greater polish, elevating the film’s editing and visual effects.
The Ambitious Scope
Where Ninja Killface had been a scrappy experiment, Killface II was a sprawling venture. Drawing inspiration from the climactic brawls of Freddy vs. Jason, the film promised bigger fights, new characters, and more outlandish stunts. Ray Revello reprised his role as Mr. R. Revolver, now hellbent on revenge, and Donald Flores joined the cast as Chuck Morris, a rival hitman. Nate’s increasing flakiness led to creative workarounds, including the use of stand-ins for Killface in scenes where his face wasn’t visible.
Early scenes were shot in garages and on South San Francisco’s Sign Hill, where Nate and Donald’s fight scene showcased a significant step up in choreography. Nate’s tumble down the hill left him with a lacerated hand, one of several injuries he sustained during production.
Improvisation and Absurdity
Improvisation remained a hallmark of Dollars & Donuts, and Killface II was no exception. The inclusion of Chuck Morris came about after Donald’s brother suggested the name, adding a layer of humor to the character’s intense training scenes with Killface. Similarly, the crew’s obsession with the generic soda Duo resulted in a fake commercial and random appearances of the drink throughout the film.
Ray’s portrayal of Mr. R. Revolver continued to delight, with his exaggerated delivery and larger-than-life presence elevating the film's over-the-top tone. Richard Castromayor also made a brief but memorable appearance, getting punched out in Revolver’s garage—a cameo that underscored the film’s playful spirit.
Legacy
When Ninja Killface II premiered in 2005, it became a cherished milestone for the cast and crew, marking a period of growth and experimentation for Dollars & Donuts. Screenings at El Camino High School, organized by Mary-Liz Guthier, brought the film to classmates and friends, many of whom asked the inevitable question: “When’s part three coming out?” Plans for a third installment—featuring an ambitious plot with time travel and cameos from past films—never materialized, but the enthusiasm for the idea spoke to the group’s dedication and creativity.
The characters of Killface and Revolver lived on, making appearances in Ninja Killface Goes to Disneyland and Jack Knife vs. the Gorilla. While these films never reached a broad audience, their legacy remains personal and meaningful to those who poured their time, energy, and laughter into their creation. Ninja Killface II stands as a defining chapter in Dollars & Donuts’ journey, a reminder of the fun, struggles, and friendships that shaped its early days.