See No Evil 2

See No Evil 2 (2014)

*** (out of 4)

Surprisenly good sequel to the 2008 film has a group of friend's celebrating a birthday when one of them (Danielle Harris) can't leave work. What they don't realize is that the dead body of Jacob Goodnight (Kane) has come back to life and he's seeking more victims.

SEE NO EVIL was a decent, run-of-the-mill slasher film that was pretty much entertaining due to its incredibly graphic and over-the-top gore/murders. Outside of the murders the film really wasn't all that memorable so I was shocked when a sequel followed so many years later. I was even more shocked when I learned Jen and Sylvia Soska was directing it. SEE NO EVIL 2 isn't going to be mistaken for a masterpiece but I was pleasantly surprised to see how well it turned out thanks to a rather good screenplay and the very good direction.

Whereas the first film relied on gore and violence, this one here really doesn't contain too much of that and in fact some of the death's are off camera. Instead the Soska sister tried to add some tension and suspense and I think for the most part they succeed. There are some extremely good scenes including one where the Harris character is stuck in an elevator with the "dead" body. Another highlight includes a scene where two characters are in total darkness and keep striking a match to see where they are. There's an extended chase sequence through the basement, which also manages to build up some good suspense. The atmosphere created by the Soska sisters is another major plus and stuck inside such a small location the directors are also able to build up a claustrophobic nature.

The performances are pretty much what you'd expect to see in a film like this. Harris is always fun to watch and she manages to bring you into her character and make you care for her. Kaj-Erik Eriksen also gives a good performance. Katharine Isabelle plays her typical slut character but man is she terrific here. She clearly steals the film in a rather over-the-top "kiss" that I won't spoil. Kane doesn't give what one would consider a great performance but there's no doubt that frame of his makes for an impressive killing machine. The film also manages to have some nice cinematography and a very effective music score.

The screenplay contains moments where the characters do stupid things but this is a horror movie after all. I really can't think of too many horror films where the characters are doing smart things because if they were the movies would be over fairly quickly with them all getting away and surviving. I really liked what the writers did here including a couple twists that happen in the final ten-minutes including one that even the most jaded horror fans won't see coming. SEE NO EVIL 2 isn't going down in history as one of the greatest films ever made but it's certainly an entertaining slasher.

See No Evil 2 (2014) is currently available on Tubi and picks up where the first film left off in the Mortuary where the bodies from the first film are being brought by the authorities. Unfortunately, the killer may not be as dead as he appears and he's pissed about what happened to his mom and he's ready to take it out on anyone he comes across.

This movie is codirected and co-written by Jen & Sylvia Soska (American Mary) and stars Glenn Jacobs (MacGruber), Danielle Harris (Urban Legend), Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps), Chelan Simmons (Tucker and Dale vs Evil), Kaj-Erik Eriksen (The Commish) and Greyston Holt (House of Chains).

It stinks they couldn't do more with a character that had so much potential. The main character is a cross of Michael Myers and Norman Bates. His makeup and missing eye scene were great. The blood splatter and setting were also solid. Unfortunately the kill scenes themselves were mediocre and even the well setup throat slash is a let down. With a little better writing and execution, this could have been a gem. Unfortunately, this doesn't live up to its potential. I would score this a 4/10 and recommend seeing it once.

I will watch ANYTHING DanielleHarris is in from Halloween to Roseanne and Kane looks the part, even more jacked then in SNE. The rest of the cast do exactly what they should: Look hot Scream and run Die convincingly and the gore is above average for a straight to DVD/streaming movie.

SNE2 Is pretty good except...

Is this morgue attached to a hospital? Where are all the employees? I mean 3 people in a facility with more hallways then a suburban mall? Not to mention, and here's the kicker... They all coulda been saved if they would of just pulled one of the dozens of fire alarms the hospital obviously had...choices.

For a public building, those long, dimly lit corridors have shocking fire safety provision. Poor Kayla ran around sobbing for ages and I didn't see a single well-signposted Fire Exit. It's a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

Being a lifelong wrestling fan, and clearly a good, loyal WWE consumer, I would have rushed out to see a wrestling star in a horror film... Sorry Vince, I've not seen The Marine either. (Although Triple H was ok in Blade or whatever)

The opening credit sequence is actually pretty good - a ghastly array of tools, some medical, others less erm... less wholesome, many still dripping with blood. Intersperse this with shots of organs and other random pickled parts and it all goes along with the tense music to set a good tone. But I fear, is the only way down from this promising start?

Now I like to think of myself as fairly open minded sexually. I've tried a fair few things that would make Daily Mail readers weep. But necrophilia is definitely, unequivocally a hard limit.

I enjoyed the look on Tamara's face when, mid coitus, she notices that Jacob Goodnight isn't where he ought to be. Not so naughty now is it...?

"Oh my god, are you kidding me?! you (had sex) in a morgue!!?" Outraged Amy "I thought he was dead!! - Tamara in response

The movie is boring. There is tension in the entire film, but this is more of a sci-fi genre than horror. I was disappointed by the first part of the film in 2006, but after all these years I thought that we are waiting for something better. I was wrong.Throughout the film the main character succeeds in something that is impossible to time. The whole time he seemed to read the thoughts of others, because he knows exactly which doors should be closed, in which the room to wait. Better knowledge of the entire building and all the rooms in it than the workers who work there. I am disappointed.If you want to see the horrible details I assume that you will be satisfied, but it is all that is interesting in this movie.