Review of V/H/S/2 (2013) by Maruf H — 06 Jun 2013

Before I delve into stripping apart each film, let me just say this: V/H/S/2 is gold.

"Clinical Trials Phase I" is the first subplot tape that improves on "Amateur Night" from the first movie by replacing a camera on the eye, to a camera *in* the eye; although innovation goes up, this subplot is as creepy as it gets (until the end), with a handful of generic suspense builds.

"A Ride in the Park" is the first evidence of the anthology sequel's lack of innovation, although it leans more towards the Warm Bodies-esque way of zombie story-telling: maybe they do have souls after all. The acting in this subplot in particular is what leads one to be upset at how V/H/S/2 is better in some ways, but worse in more obvious ways - for example, crappy acting.

"Safe Haven" feels a lot like what you'd expect from Indonesian-obsessed director Gareth Evans, and is the most cinematic of the tapes; however, it, too, ends with more confusion and laughter than any real fear or shock. On a positive note, Evans' ability to direct and make his actors convincing shows; also, the story itself and lack of 100% explanation leaves a lot for the mind to wonder about, making the premise of Paradise Gates all the more spooky.

"Slumber Party Alien Abduction" serves as the final straw and does away with any last remaining hope that V/H/S/2 intended to terrify the way its predecessor did. Possibly the most sporadic of all the tapes, SPAA takes what was so incredible with "The Sick Thing That Happened to Emily When She Was Younger" from V/H/S and turns into a cliche, physically hard-to-watch, chopped-together piece of footage that just involves a lot of running. The mystery is gone, the suspense is gone, the fire that the crazy fake doctor boyfriend instilled is all gone, all for a boring alien show.

The main story, "Tape 49", makes much more sense and follows better direction than "Tape 56" did in the original V/H/S, what with actually tying back into the subplot films (particularly watching them in a certain order), and being easier to follow. When the big reveal is made, the first real shock throughout the whole film is justified, and just when you wonder how this skewed version of the original film could possibly end, Simon Barrett feeds you the most LOL ending possible.

Overall, V/H/S/2 improves upon the original with innovative ways of getting footage, but falls short on creative innovation, minus Gareth Evans' "Safe Haven", and there's an evidential decrease in acting quality. However, each of the directors, minus Jason Eisener ("Slumber Party Alien Abduction"), are able to take their unoriginal "monsters" and make stories that can be followed.