R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned (2022) – When the Wild West Meets the Afterlife
Released straight to Blu-ray and digital platforms in November 2022, R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned is a supernatural action-comedy that serves as a prequel to the 2013 film R.I.P.D.. Directed by Paul Leyden and co-written with Andrew Klein, the film stars Jeffrey Donovan as Sheriff Roy Pulsipher, a character who ends up joining the mysterious “Rest In Peace Department” after his death.
Set in 1876 in the American West, the film begins with Roy getting shot and killed during a standoff with a notorious outlaw named Otis Clairborne. Instead of moving on to the afterlife, Roy is recruited by the R.I.P.D., an otherworldly law enforcement agency that captures and neutralizes souls that refuse to pass on. Paired with Jeanne d’Arc—yes, the historical Joan of Arc—who now works for the agency as well, Roy is sent back to Earth with a mission: stop a rising evil that threatens to open a portal between Hell and the world of the living.
As they investigate the mysterious town of Red Creek, they discover that Clairborne, now possessed by a demonic entity, is leading efforts to open the Hellmouth beneath a haunted mine. The townspeople are dying from strange gases, and the local mayor is involved in the cover-up. Roy and Jeanne face undead outlaws, possessed citizens, and supernatural forces, all while navigating their own differences as partners.
The climax of the film takes place in the mine, where Jeanne sacrifices herself to seal the demonic portal using a drop of holy water known as the “Tear of God.” Roy, using the same sacred water on his bullets, finally defeats Clairborne and saves the town from destruction. In the end, Roy is allowed a brief glimpse of his daughter’s future before returning to his eternal duties with the R.I.P.D.
Reception for R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned was mixed to negative. Many critics and audiences pointed out the film's low-budget visuals, predictable storyline, and lack of the star power that made the original a modest cult favorite. However, some viewers appreciated its fun blend of Western and supernatural genres, and found Jeffrey Donovan’s performance charismatic and fitting for the setting.
Rather than trying to outdo the original, this sequel focuses on expanding the R.I.P.D. universe with a more contained, B-movie-style adventure. Its straightforward narrative, light humor, and action-packed sequences may appeal to fans of quirky, offbeat genre mashups. For others, the film may feel like a throwaway experiment, designed more to entertain casually than to leave a lasting impression.
In the end, R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned offers a watchable, if forgettable, journey into the undead Wild West. While it won’t revolutionize the genre or spawn a new franchise era, it adds a small chapter to the lore of the R.I.P.D. world—and delivers just enough supernatural Western flair to hold your attention on a lazy movie night.
