‘SHILOH 2: Shiloh Season” is a rather less successful follow-up to the 1997 children’s film about a boy and the beagle he saved from its cruel owner.

In the first movie, “Shiloh,” the lad’s compassion for a dog mistreated by its crusty old owner led him through a series of ethical dilemmas, wonderfully written and directed scenes in which the child’s moral sense is developed through reason.

The story, adapted (like the sequel) from the novels of Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, was that rare children’s film that seamlessly blends storytelling with ethical instruction. No wonder it became such a huge video hit.

“Shiloh 2” reunites most of the old cast, though with a new actor, Zachary Browne, replacing Blake Heron as the young Marty Preston. It is thematically darker than its predecessor and, unfortunately, overthought, measuring its synthetic moralizing out by the teaspoon.

Though “Shiloh” director Dale Rosenbloom wrote both screenplays, this one feels canned and obviously assembled, whereas the first one flowed naturally and seamlessly.

The mean old coot from the first movie, Judd Travers (Scott Wilson), has gotten worse. He’s developed a serious drinking problem and has come to the conclusion that Marty, who paid him fair and square for Shiloh, rooked him.

Judd has become a reckless poacher on Preston family land, as well as a threat to the community by driving his pickup while under the influence.

Marty’s dad, Ray (Michael Moriarty), attempts to warn Judd about his trespassing, but he is sternly rebuked by the slobbering geezer, who makes threats against Shiloh and the Prestons. The story proceeds through a series of crises in which Judd’s problems put various members of the Preston family in danger, and at last force a resolution to his suffering.

Whereas the first “Shiloh” was about Marty learning about the lengths to which one can responsibly go to protect a cute helpless animal, “Shiloh 2” is about Marty figuring out how to have compassion for an unlovable human creature.

Scott Wilson gives a remarkable performance here, making hateful Judd, who was beaten as a child, vividly human – and justifiably hard to take. His excellent work reveals the shortcomings of the other major players, though.

Poor zombified Moriarty is an alarming shadow of the character he played two years ago. Zach Browne, the new Marty, seems ill at ease in this rural setting, and too precious by half.

To be fair, though, Browne has to struggle against the script’s oversweetening of his character. The kid’s heart seems too easily turned to feeling sorry for Judd, and too readily persevering in charity. Most kids would hate and fear him, at least initially. We don’t sense that the moral struggle here is in Marty’s heart, but in Judd’s.

The directing this time is by Sandy Tung, who doesn’t have Rosenbloom’s fluid style. A scene in which Judd’s dogs attack Marty’s sister in her yard seems obviously a put-up job, with the bad dogs running away at what appears to be their trainer’s unheard call. Frequent use of saccharine, greeting-card shots of the adorable dog, which were avoided in the first movie, cheapen the sequel.

Still, “Shiloh 2” will likely enjoy a healthy run on video. It will be appreciated by kids, but probably more by parents, who have so very little in the way of uncynical, quality filmmaking to show their children these days.

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SHILOH 2: SHILOH SEASON

Starring Zachary Browne, Michael Moriarty. Directed by Sandy Tung. Running time: 96 minutes. Rating: PG. At Criterion, Murray Hill Cinemas and 59th Street East Cinema.