Review of V/H/S/2 (2013) by Matt J — 08 Nov 2013

This sequel to last year's surprise buzz-maker takes the same appreciative approach to scare-flick tradition: Take hipsters, mix into classic genre riff, goose until ludicrous; repeat. V/H/S/2 is content to recycle the conventions and stylistic restrictions of the original while pursuing the default vision of just about every horror sequel: more of the same, with less inspiration, a bigger budget, and more gore. The first film may have been better, and was certainly more original, but VHS is a patchy, outmoded format that can always accommodate second-generation materials. The best of them you could certainly see as full length features, chilling little tastes of a complete vision - story, characters, horrific situations and visual aesthetic. The worst? Simply generic. The highlight of the movie for me was Jason Eisener's Slumber Party Alien Abduction, which was scary, chilling, inventive and outstanding. It's as scattershot as its predecessor, but V/H/S/2 rounds up enough horror filmmaking talent to deliver a satisfyingly nasty -- albeit uneven -- dose of gore.

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film... (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).