4.9 | / 10 |
Users | 3.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
As Nell Sweetzer tries to build a new life after the events of the first movie, the evil force that once possessed her returns with an even more horrific plan.
Starring: Ashley Bell, Julia Garner, Spencer Treat Clark, David Jensen (II), Tarra RiggsHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 61% |
Supernatural | 32% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English, English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 1.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
He'll kill us all.
It could be argued -- and quite effectively, given the modern Horror landscape -- that today's scare pictures are built around one of two things (and
usually both), each of
which usually ties in with the other in some form or fashion: one, marketing campaigns and two, "frightening" character poses and appearances.
Forget artistic
creativity beyond the promotional materials and special effects. Long gone, it seems, are the days of the truly terrifying Horror films and their
filmmakers, the former just a shell and the latter now replaced by
executives who only care about how to sell the movie, not producing a quality movie. Make a scary (or at least abnormal)-looking poster, claim
"footage too frightening for theaters!" on the home video promotional material, make sure there are plenty of "oh my Gods!" and screams and
weird looking people, places, and things in the trailer, and fill in the details later. That seems to be exactly how The Last Exorcism Part II came
together. Here's another awful modern Horror movie built around recycled ideas, stale plot devices, and cheap technical qualities that showcase all of
the
same old nonsense that's defined the middling Horror landscape for some time now. This one has it all, and as such has nothing. It's an empty,
meaningless movie with no dramatic value and no novelty in its scares. In other words, there's no reason to see it.
Whatever.
The Last Exorcism Part II opens with a terribly cold and almost painfully flat and sterile blue and gray tinted sequence. The smooth HD video quality fails to support or even underscore the scene, instead making it feel all the more painfully dull. The technical quality is fine; it's just that inorganic digital doesn't really seem to do anything for Horror other than keep production costs down. When the action shifts to New Orleans, however, the benefit of the digital shoot becomes more apparent. Exteriors offer positively dazzling colors; whether more grassy and isolated locales or right in the middle of the city and its colorful festivities, the palette explodes off the screen in a display of brilliance reserved only for the finest top-end transfers. Details, too, are splendid. The most minute skin and clothing textures are effortlessly revealed, as are all of the interior and exterior background elements, regardless of how bright or dark the scene may be. It's still very flat and very clean, but it looks quite nice. Black levels are faultless, and skin tones appear neutral. There are no major instances of banding or noise or other problem areas often accompanying HD video shoots. This is a superb effort all around from Sony.
Terrible though the movie may be, The Last Exorcism Part II's lossless soundtrack is anything but. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 presentation opens with heavy bass, so heavy it rattles rather than remain tight, but that's pretty much the extent of any negative observations. Musical elements prove very smooth and naturally convincing; light piano notes flutter through the air with an ease and spaciousness that's nearly second-to-none. Gentle surround support aids the package, both in music and ambient environmental recreations both in more calm and serene locales as well as in the more festive and active downtown New Orleans moments. On the other end of the scale, those corny heavy scare sounds are at least well implemented from a purely sonic perspective; the screeches and crashes and clanks and whatever it is that make them all come together in strong technical harmony. The film ends with an aggressive hard Rock beat that shreds the speakers with potent energy and amazing clarity. Dialogue remains clear and firmly grounded in the center for the duration. This is a top-end soundtrack from Sony.
The Last Exorcism Part II contains a commentary track and a few featurettes.
The Last Exorcism Part II earns a point for a professional polish and acceptable acting; it's a step above the worst The Asylum has to offer, but that's very remote praise and a real stretch for something positive to say. This is Horror cinema at its very worst, a movie built around stale visuals and styles that aim to scare the audience in the moment rather than build a narrative and atmosphere that really terrifies long after the movie ends, the kind that makes people afraid to turn off the light or fearful that it might really happen. This is the essence of watch-and-forget, a movie that won't stick to the ribs or linger in the mind and certainly not make anyone afraid of the dark, except, perhaps, for a fear that the lights going down might mean the movie is again starting up. Sony's Blu-ray release of The Last Exorcism Part II does, no surprise, feature standout video and audio. A few extras are included. Stay far away.
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