Plot
Searching for a missing student, two private investigators break into his house and find collection of VHS tapes. Viewing the horrific contents of each cassette, they realize there may be dark motives behind the student's disappearance.
Release Year: 2013
Rating: 6.4/10 (4,277 voted)
Director:Simon Barrett
Storyline
Searching for a missing student, two private investigators break into his house and find collection of VHS tapes. Viewing the horrific contents of each cassette, they realize there may be dark motives behind the student's disappearance.
Filming Locations: Frederick County, Maryland, USA
Technical Specs
Runtime:
User Review
Author:
Rating: 9/10
V/H/S/2 is one of those rare sequels that improves on the original in
almost every way. Everything is bigger, funnier, bloodier, but also
shorter, with one less segment compared to the last film. However, less
is more when it comes to this sequel. From the four segments that are
included in this anthology (excluding the wrap-around segment), two are
excellent, one is good, and the "worst" one is pretty entertaining,
providing a more consistent quality of shorts as opposed to the first.
Although I enjoyed the first one greatly, I must admit it doesn't hold
up as well on repeat viewings. Nevertheless, whether you enjoyed or
hated the first film, V/H/S/2 is a clear improvement, fixing some of
the major problems that were in V/H/S. In fact, some might be glad to
know the misogyny that plagued the first film is toned down
tremendously here. Additionally, the less you know going into this, the
better, so I'll keep my reviews for each segment as vague and general
as possible. They are shown in the following order:
1. The wrap-around segment: Unfortunately, this segment doesn't add
much to the overall narrative that was established in V/H/S. Everything
is still pretty vague as to what the tapes are and where they come
from. However, it's better than the wrap-around from the first because
the ball gets rolling much quicker to get to the tapes that we all paid
to see. 6/10
2. A guy gets a robotic eye implant that allows him to see ghosts.
Directed by the talented Adam Wingard, this is the "worst" of all the
tapes that are shown, but it isn't bad. There's an obvious gimmick here
in the way the POV is handled, evoking the style of "Enter the Void,"
blinks and all, but it's entertaining and fun to watch as everything
unfolds. 6/10
3. A guy rides his bike in a forest until he comes across some zombies.
Just when you think the zombie genre is out of ideas, this segment
provides a nifty twist to the situation, which I will not reveal.
Although the idea is better than the execution, the segment is funny
and very enjoyable, with an ending that will surprise you. 7/10
4. As we get to the latter half of shorts, things go into full
throttle. A group of reporters interview the leader of a cult when
things suddenly go downhill. Directed by Gareth Evans ("The Raid") and
Timo Tjahjanto, this is the best and the longest of the bunch, running
about 30-40 minutes. To reveal anything about this segment is a sin,
but I will say that it's one of the best horror shorts I've ever seen.
The slow buildup and expert pacing allows time for the characters to
grow before all hell breaks loose, and when I say that, I really mean
it. What follows after cannot be described in mere words, but trust me
when I say V/H/S/2 is worth seeing just for this segment. To say the
least, my visceral reaction would be hilarious to see. I was dying.
9/10
5. While it's obvious to say this last segment won't top the previous
segment, it's almost as good in a different way. A group of kids have a
slumber party when it's interrupted by extraterrestrial beings. Filled
with energy, humor, scares, and incredible suspense, it's the most fun
segment to experience. I was legitimately scared. While the previous
segment is filled with dread and a sense of impending doom, this
segment is more lighthearted and will make anyone giddy in their seats.
It's like "The Goonies" with aliens, and boy will it have your heart
racing. 9/10
Overall, I enjoyed all the segments, although the last two are easily
my favorites. I seriously thought I was going to have a heart attack.
It's clear the filmmakers are having fun and want to entertain the
audience, and they've succeeded on that level. V/H/S/2 is a step up
from the first, and if you just want to have a fun time in theaters, I
highly recommend it.
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