-Contributed by Luke Merrill
V/H/S/2
We left off the other night reviewing the first half
of the new release V/H/S/2. As you may recall V/H/S/2 is an anthology film
loosely based around the premise of occult underground videocassettes. After
viewing the first 2 of the 4 short films included in the movie , I would say I’m certainly
entertained but there’s nothing
spectacular that is driving me to come back and screen the film a second time.
Well forget all of that, because the third film, “Safe
Haven “ will have me coming back for more time and time again. Not just because
of its extraordinary violence (which it has in abundance, laugh), but just
because of the intensity of its acting cast. The interplay between the
characters, suggests an involved backstory, causing the viewer to care more for
their plight, which make the storyline all the more tragic. Also the sheer
intensity of actor Epy Kusnandar, who played the role of cult leader “Father”
has made me re-evaluate how I should never take lightly the demands of a
waifish 120lb man.
I would follow this man anywhere.
Set in the Orient possible the Philippians, or Laos,
I can never be certain, “Safe Haven “ chronicles the attempts of a small
reporting team who attempt to infiltrate a cultish religious sect. This is an extremely
exciting and promising concept for me, one I haven’t seen executed well since
Clive Barker’s Lords of Illusion. Cultists can be more scary then the
paranormal because, if necessary, they can pass for normal humans until they
are triggered, and when they do, oh how the insanity floodgates get blown wide
open.
“Safe Haven “ is no exception, things were sufficiently
ominous enough as it was, but when the call comes down that today, right now,
is the date of the ascension, Hell quite literally breaks loose. Chock full of
nothing, but disturbing image after disturbing image, “Safe Haven” is the film that makes you think twice about
turning off your lights at night. I'm going to say it is the best in the series
of films, and I’m actually glad that it was placed 3rd in the
series, because after viewing it you need to calm down a little bit. All I
could do after that rollercoaster ride of a finale was look over at my fellow
moviegoers and say, “Well, that. sure escalated quickly.”
The 4th Film in the Anthology, “Slumber
Party” was a little slow on the start and featured mischievous little scamps playing sibling
pranks while their parents were away for the weekend. Just fine by me, I was
enjoying a little light-hearted nature, coming fresh off the last film. But at
the height of their Prank war, CRASH, BRONG, ZZZZZEEEEERRREEEETTTZZZ, the
aliens have landed, and they want your children!
We've come for your Daughter.
Although creepy “Slumber Party” mostly just confused
me, the lighting was limited and I found one minute they’re confined in some
alien something or other, then in the lake, on the run, picked off one at a
time, ad -nauseum. So it was difficult to get a feel for what was actually
happening within the film. I was also surprised to find out the director was
Jason Eisener of “Hobo with a Shotgun” fame. That movie was so over the top
with violence and gore, it really shocked me that he directed this. But thank God
for small favors, I really was not ready for an over prevalence of violence and
gore when children are involved.
The Aliens
themselves were creepy enough, what you could see of them, but one has to
question with such advanced technologies that allow you to span across the
galaxy, why would you have so much trouble picking off a small troop of
children? The aliens had to physically grab them and drag them away. No night
vision goggles, heat sensing equipment, stunners, or stasis fields. How about an old fashion net? The
Gorillas from Planet of the Apes used nets all the time, and they evolved later
than man, but were still smart enough to figure the net thing out. I would’ve
settled for a net, there has to be a better way to abduct children, come on.
It’s as if these aliens were the same ones that came
10 years ago in M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs. You remember the ones, came to the
planet, terrorized man, didn’t realize they were invading a planet composed of ,
what like 70 % WATER. THE MOST LETHAL SUBSTANCE KNOWN TO THEM. Yeah those aliens, they packed up, went away
for a while, figured out the waterproofing solution, but now, are having
trouble with those rascally, slippery kids. I don’t care if it’s an invasion or
abduction, whatever, aliens you need to get your ducks in a row. Come back when
you have some kind of plan or strategy. I would be so embarrassed, if I were
abducted by these jokers. It’s really comical, they’d be hacking off and
replacing new limbs while anal probing me 24/7 and I’d have to think, in a way,
I kinda deserve this. They just walked up and dragged me away, no cool stun rod
or teleportation ray, nope just ” Hey You!
Get in my spaceship we have probing to do.”
So that about wraps up V/H/S/2, there is one last
scare to tie up the introductory story, but it was kind of assuming and offered
real little in terms of an explanation for the film itself. So I really don’t
have too much to say about that segment. But on the whole I thoroughly enjoyed V/H/S/2, and recommend at least one
watchtrough on a dark and quiet night if you’re in the mood for the heebie
jeebies. It presents a nice alternative to those who don’t particularly care
enough about a particular horror genre. So you get a nice sampler of what the
industry has to offer with the current technology. The weekend is still going
strong with Halloween Horror, so check in tomorrow for another contemporary
film review. Your Head Counselor signing off.
Tags: Aliens, Cultists, Movie Night at the Rec Hall, VHS2, Horror Camp
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