The original “V/H/S,” released just last year in 2012, is a wonderful example of concept over content. The movie is presented as a modern horror anthology that pulled together five separate stories-all captured in the “found footage” format- and presents them with an incomprehensible wrap around story. The idea was to be a lo-fi, mumble core, indie scare flick that allowed a bunch of hipster filmmakers to put something together on the cheap. 10 directors; 12 writers. And the movie was an overlong, weak and disappointing lump of shit.
But I am glad to report that I can jump on the bandwagon with this one and report that “V/H/S 2” is a much better product than its predecessor and actually worth a rent. Hell, I’d even suggest a horror fan should make it part of the collection as this go-round delivers on the promise and features some solid and effective segments that will creep you out.
It’s as if the makers of the first film watched the original and felt the same as the rest of us. Part 2 is 20 minutes shorter and has enough money spent on it so that you can actually use the words “production value” when describing the look of the film.
Instead of relying on people just inexplicably filming everything, the filmmakers have come up with inventive ways to keep going with the “found footage” element (although I think the sub-genre has worn out the welcome).
The camera is placed inside the robotic eye of a poor soul in “Phase I Clinical Trials” (sort of) providing an actual reason for footage to exist. This segment is short and slight and a bit of disappointment as it is directed by Adam Wingard- the man that brought my favorite horror film of the year “You’re Next”.
“A Ride in the Park” is a fun romp that places you on the ground floor of a Zombie Holocaust. This marks the return to the “found footage” realm for director Eduardo Sánchez- one of the masterminds that started it all with “The Blair Witch Project”. This short isn’t nearly as effect as that but show a hint of ingenuity as the story unfolds from footage captured with a camera mounted to a helmet as our victim takes a ride through a forested park. The gore is cheap looking but overall this one works.
The winner for the weirdest way to capture “found footage” goes to Jason Eisener and his idea to strap the camera to a dog for the majority of his effort “Slumber Party Alien Abduction”. The segment has some nice jolts and jumps but the fact that the majority of the footage features a tuft of dog hair in the bottom of the screen is distracting. I respect that they tried to come up with something new, but this one just gets silly because of its “artistic choices”.
I have saved the best for last: Timo Tjahjanto’s “Safe Haven” elevates the entire film and pounds home the most disturbing and effective story of the bunch. A documentary film crew visits the compound a religious cult on the worst day possible; the day when all of the cult leader’s prophecies are to come true. The film is well paced and haunting (although the monster comes off as a little silly).
What “V/H/S 2” does in the negative that mirrors the original is that it never establishes any characters in any way that allows you to care about them. The great anthologies in the past have been keen enough to limit their characters to stereotypes so that you can identify with them quick and easy. “V/H/S 2” isn’t smart enough to do that and the film suffers because of it.
By the way, my favorite top three Horror Anthologies are as follows:
- “Trick R’ Treat” (2007)
- “Creepshow” (1982)
- “Trilogy of Terror” (1975)