a review of 隔山有眼2

TheQuietGamer
TheQuietGamer @TheQuietGamer
隔山有眼2 - 评论

While I've never seen it myself, I'm aware that the sequel to the original The Hills Have Eyes, aptly titled "Part 2," has something of a disastrous reputation, with even Wes Craven himself reportedly disowning it. The prolific horror icon had a chance to right that wrong here in this follow-up to the 2006 remake though as he stepped into the writer's chair with his son Jonathan. Unfortunately, what we got only provides further evidence that despite a strong telling and even stronger retelling of that first story this property was never destined to become a long-running franchise. Those hoping this would one-up the sick thrills of its predecessor may take some comfort in knowing that things get even nastier as we follow around a group of obnoxious soldier stereotypes that make the cast of of 2020's Monster Hunter seem charismatic by comparison. All of whom are unlikable, horrendously acted, spout the worst expletive-filled dialog ever put to paper, and make only the dumbest possible decisions in any given scenario. The action peaks VERY early on however in the opening birthing sequence that is so graphic and brutal it puts even the one in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning to shame. Most of what comes after is a lot of generic amputations and impalements that are brought to life by lackluster gore effects. None of it is scary or disturbing. It's just gross, favoring icky porta potty kills and particularly savage rape sequences over anything legitimately clever or unsettling. It's all shock value that's as cheap and ugly as the often straight-to-DVD quality visuals are. It doesn't even get the look right as it ditches the arid desert scenery in the second-half for the mutants' homemade, ramshackle living quarters hidden underground that call to mind Platinum Dunes' 2003 reboot of the Leatherface family chronicles over The Hills Have Eyes. Mutants who, by the way, come off more like rejected X-Men villains than malformed backwater psychopaths this time around. Clearly designed with the intent to kick off a series capable of churning out a seemingly endless array of future installments à la Hellraiser or Children of the Corn, this frightless disaster is as passionless as it is tasteless even with the Cravens' involvement. If this is the direction they were honestly planning on going then horror fans are better off without it. Especially since the prequel comic I read made it clear that sexual assault was going to be a staple. I'm sure it would have had a following among the likes of those who made it possible for The Human Centipede to become a trilogy, but you wouldn't find me in their ranks as I consider this to be truly one of the worst movies I have ever seen.