Plot: What’s it about?
In order to keep his school under intense watch, Headmaster Badian (Lance Henriksen) has authorized the installation of a high end security system. This system is more than a couple of cameras and some metal detectors, it is a complex chain of security measures all linked together and controlled by one force, a top notch computer system. With this expansive arsenal of security devices at his command, Badian can follow any student, keep watch on any portion of the school, and in short, be aware of all that happens on the grounds. This means he can have a flawless witness to any rules being broken and that scares the kids, who now can’t be kids and cause some mischief like before. But one teen named Jo Newton (Chelse Swain) decides to take a chance and strike a blow against Badian’s system, via a special computer virus. The virus lands as intended, but the results shock Jo and her friends, as the computer begins to use the school to cause a bloodbath on an epic scale. Can Jo and her faithful friends somehow conjure up a plan to overtake the computer, or will they simple be the next victims?
It seems every horror movie these days ends up with a sequel, as evidenced by this film, The Mangler 2. I can’t say that I loved the original picture, but I didn’t think it was as bad as some people claimed, so I decided to give this sequel a spin. As it turns out, this movie bears little resemblance to the first movie, aside from a general theme, so expect a sequel in the Demons line, as opposed to a more traditional approach. I didn’t expect much in terms of storyline & character work, so I wasn’t surprised by the paper thin elements here, which we learn in the extras took a total of nine days to write. Even by horror movie standards, this one has too many plot holes and sloppy moments, not too impressive. As a fan of horror cinema, I hoped for a decent enough flick, with some nice blood and breasts to make it all worthwhile. But this is where The Mangler 2 fails even its target audience, as it lacks both of those elements. I wish filmmakers would realize that genre fans want tons of gore, tons of naked female breasts, and at times, a nice blend of both. As it stands however, The Mangler is a PG-13 thriller labeled as an R rated horror movie. If you’re a genre completist, give it a rental, but even then, don’t expect much in return.
Video: How does it look?
The Mangler 2 is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This film has a dank visual scheme, so the image often looks drab and lifeless, but this is how it is supposed to come off, so don’t be concerned. The contrast allows for some murkiness to seep into the visuals, but keeps it all in check and retains stable black levels throughout. The colors look muted and never seem too vivid, but this is part of the intended look, so again, don’t be thrown off there. The source materials seem to be in top notch condition, although you can sometimes tell that lower grade stock was used, to be sure. All in all, a solid transfer that preserves the visual intentions of the filmmakers, which is what matters in the end.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 option is not bad per se, but I guess I just expected a little more than an average audio session. I was let down by how infrequently the surrounds are used and often when they are used, it is to mediocre results. I did notice some solid audio in a few scenes, but on the whole, this sound like a glorified stereo mix, to be honest. The music and sound effects are acceptable, but not up to the usual 5.1 standards of a more recent, tense picture, not even close. But the dialogue sounds terrific and no serious flaws arise, aside from the lack of presence, so I can’t knock the score too much. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc’s main extra is an audio commentary track, which features director Michael Hamilton-Wright, producer Glen Tedham, and actor Philippe Bergeron. The trio have a lot of comments to make, but seem to have no idea of how lame this movie is. Hamilton-Wright boasts about how quickly the project was written and then shot, but this is not good in my eyes, since the whole film seems rushed and lackluster. I don’t mind it when filmmakers and actors give themselves some credit, but these three talk like this is the Citizen Kane of horror cinema, when nothing could be further from the truth. This disc also includes a brief behind the scenes featurette, some talent files, a selection of still photos, two music videos, an outtakes reel, and the film’s trailer.
