Plot: What’s it about?
While all serial killers are brutal madmen, few have been as sadistic in their methods as the mass murdered dubbed by the FBI as The Cusp. This killer captures his victims, takes their lives, then resuscitates them, only to kill them all over again. This sick and cruel practice has claimed numerous lives, but one of the victims managed to escape. She is Maya Casteneda (Tessie Santiago), a woman with a hint of psychic skill who now works with the FBI to ensnare the killer. The process used by the killer to keep bringing her back to life changed her however, opened up her psychic pathways like never before. If she is to help, she will have to delve into the mind of the killer himself, but if she does, can she return in one piece?
The Cell wasn’t a good movie, but it had some remarkable visuals. If you stripped away those visuals however, the film had very little to offer. The Cell 2 shares the thin plot of the original, but doesn’t even attempt to provide the same kind of creative, eye opening visuals. In other words, this sequel has all the problems of the original and abandons the one element that worked, which makes no sense. This isn’t a true sequel however, as aside from the presence of a serial killer and the general concept of going inside said killer’s mind, no plot threads are common. I have no idea how this passed muster for release, as The Cell 2 is worse than most Sci-Fi Channel productions. The plot sucks, the mind trips are lame, the performances are weak, and there simply isn’t anything to compliment here. I would have loved it if The Cell 2 was a memorable serial killer flick, but it isn’t and to be honest, no one should waste their time on this release.
Video: How does it look?
The Cell 2 is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. The transfer here is capable, but isn’t going to turn any heads or impress anyone. The detail is good, you won’t mistake this for a DVD, but the overall depth isn’t in the same league with the format’s upper crust. The colors run hot, but that seems to be intentional, while contrast is smooth and accurate. So we have a run of the mill transfer, but at least it gets the job done.
Audio: How does it sound?
This Dolby TrueHD 5.1 option is forgettable, but the blame lies with the film’s sound design, not this track. The movie is all about basic audio, no bells or whistles to speak of. This is a thriller, so some surround use to boost tension or set the mood would have been good, but no such luck. This is a lossless soundtrack, but it sounds more like a mid-level Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The audio doesn’t sound bad, but it never has much life. This release also includes a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, French and German language tracks, and subtitles in English, French, Spanish, and German.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The lone supplement is a half hour featurette, which contains some hilariously delusional interviews.
