V/H/S/2

There is one amazing segment of VHS 2 that has to do with a Cult. It is frenetic, gory, has a great story and makes the most of the "found footage" format. If the rest of the film had lived up to this one sequence, we would have had something special. It's better than Part One in most aspects, though I did like a few moments in that film.

Timo Tjahjanto really blew me away - his segment is imaginative and has some real shocks crammed into it's short running time. Some of the camera work is a bit too shaky as people run around, but I was able to get around that due to the intensity of the story. Out of the remaining short films, we get a return to full on Shaky Cam with Edwardo Sanchez (Blair Witch Project). Truthfully, Edwardo has ALWAYS got to shake the camera like he's in a runaway car or something. He seems to think this is a STYLE. I must argue the point. True artists do not need to shake a camera like a fool to get an image to move someone. Argento, Carpenter, Bava. Masters of the art. Dean Cundy would never run around like a fool, shaking his camera at every object he can find, disregarding the basic rules of directing at will, and no real professional should allow camera-work like this. What an artistic stretch for Edwardo. Next time just throw the damned thing on the ground and drag it around with a rope.

There are a few other sparks. Jason Eisener makes the most of his segment by having some real fun with it and throwing in an Alien Invasion that is both scary and funny. And I really enjoyed the basic idea and most of the execution of Adam Wingard's segment. Still, too damned much shaking here.

I am not sure I understand it really - why so much shaking in these "Found Footage" atrocities? I mean, the old camcorder videos that my family made at Holidays and on Vacation never looked like this. Grandpa tried to keep the camera still. I never actually have seen a home movie like these. Not even on old Super 8. Have you? Eyestrain central. For part 3, maybe they can just go to an old amusement park and give us a POV of the rides or jump out of a plane while filming. At least there'll be a legitimate reason for it being so damned shaky. I think I'd rather watch "HI-8" again.

Wow, what a contrast this film is with the first one! Most found-footage films I've seen have always had me wondering why the hell the people in the films are bothering to carry video cameras around and record the events that are unfolding around them as they run for their lives, this one is different, every use of a camera has been cleverly thought out and explained, from a camera mounted on a mountain bikers helmet to a documentary crew with button cameras, and even a bionic prosthetic eye, the intelligence that the film makers put it into this has made this into one of the best ff films I've had the pleasure of watching.

In comparison to the first V/H/S film I thought this one was a whole lot more mature, the stories were more believable and well written, the excellent sequence from a zombies perspective was hilarious and gory and by far my favourite, I'm not sure if it was meant to be funny, but if it was it worked brilliantly.

In V/H/S 1 there wasn't much said about the video tapes, only that they were found, someone wanted them and that they contained some pretty freaky stuff, this time I think the film makers have realised that they could have a gold mine hiding within the urban legend of the tapes, and have started to play on this legend a little more, and I think if they continue down the path they have ahead of them, expanding on the legend, keeping the intelligent use of cameras and smart reasons behind the tapes discovery for each film, then they could have a franchise as successful as the Saw franchise.

Here's hoping! More reviews at http://stuarthine.worpress.com

I believe V/H/S built high expectations for the next movies. Seems like V/H/S/2 let some of us down...

If you are a gore fan, this movie is good for you.

If you are an alien, zombie fan, this movie is good for you.

What I found rather terrible is the agressive shaking of the camera, which really makes the phrase "More is not better" true. It gave me a headache trying to figure out some scenes.

Certainly V/H/S/2 is more gore-y visually than V/H/S and uses a variety of themes. But this movie was very generic with it's themes. My favorite one had to be the one with the cult, it seemed much more uncommon.

Now, I am not saying that this is a time-wasting movie..Not an remarkable one though, either. I expect more from the next movies.

I decided to rewatch "V/H/S/2" to introduce this series to my brother. The film takes a dark approach, almost resembling a snuff movie, but always rewards us with creative twists that pay homage to various elements of horror cinema.

The film presents four short films directed by notable names in the genre, such as Simon Barrett, Adam Wingard, Eduardo Sánchez, and Gregg Hale (the creators of "Blair Witch Project"), Gareth Evans, and Timo Tjahjanto.

The movie begins with "Phase I Clinical Trials," which might be the weakest of the anthology. The premise involves a man who, after receiving an ocular implant, starts seeing spirits. However, the execution falls short. The concept is intriguing, but the short is hampered by a lack of tension, as well as makeup and cinematography that fail to create the necessary atmosphere for effective horror.

Moving on to "A Ride in the Park," we see a more creative and fresh take on the zombie subgenre. The idea of seeing the world through the eyes of a zombie is an interesting twist, especially in the context of found footage. This short stands out for its originality, offering a new perspective by showing things from the villain's point of view. Unlike the generic "In A Violent Nature," which used the same formula, this entry brought something new, keeping the viewer engaged and intrigued. It's an example of how a simple idea can be turned into something good when done right.

"Safe Haven" is, without a doubt, the highlight of "V/H/S/2." This short film, focused on a bizarre and terrifying cult, perfectly captures the essence of psychological and supernatural horror. The tension is palpable, and the narrative takes the viewer on an emotional rollercoaster, culminating in a shocking ending. The cinematography, atmosphere, and performances are exceptional, creating a very bizarre mood. This segment deserves to be expanded into a full-length feature.

The final short, "Slumber Party Alien Abduction," closes the anthology with an interesting take on alien invasion. While not the most impactful, it still manages to entertain and surprise. I recommend watching it with the volume up to enhance the sensory experience.

In summary, "V/H/S/2" is an anthology that, even though it doesn't fully capture the surprise of my first viewing, still offers moments of pure horror and creativity. It's an experience that, despite its imperfections, is worth revisiting-especially for those looking for something different in the horror genre.

V/H/S/ 2 is a modern-day horror anthology featuring eclectic talent from the directors of THE RAID and YOU'RE NEXT amongst others. As with many modern horror anthologies, the emphasis is on outright blood and gore over scares, although there are attempts here to frighten as well as repulse the viewer. There are four tales in all, as well as a mildly diverting wraparound story involving a creepy old house and a VHS collection. Most of the material is shot POV style, which I enjoyed as a fan of the 'found footage' genre.

The first tale is a simple riff on THE EYE, as a guy gets a new-fangled optic implant that restores his sight but has the unwanted side effect of allowing him to see spirits at the same time. I love the introduction of the deaf girl with her own twist and this is by far the scariest of the film, with some really jumpy moments. It's all predictable, but that's okay.

The second tale is about a cyclist with a Go Pro camera mounted on his helmet. His trip through the woods is interrupted by a zombie attack, and what we get here is unending gore and bloodshed, some of the most gruesome you'll see. It's all pretty distasteful actually, and more than a little pointless.

The third story is the Indonesian one, contributed by THE RAID director Gareth Evans; as a huge fan of his films, it was the one I was most looking forward to. Evans doesn't disappoint; this is as intense as his action films, and the madcap plot line involves a doomsday cult and the birth of the Antichrist. It's exceptionally gory, delightfully obscure, and without a doubt the highlight of the whole thing.

The fourth and final story is weak by comparison. It tells of an attack by extraterrestrials on a group of redneck characters, who are all really dumb, but there's way too much of the shaky cam here and little real meat to the storyline. The dog is the most interesting character and you can guess what happens to that. V/H/S/ 2 isn't bad at all for fans of gory horror, but aside from the Indonesian segment it's all rather familiar.