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Lori Heuring, Johnathon Schaech, Alex Scarlis, Julie Benz, Robert Cavanah, Zita Görög, Bruce Davison, Jane How

The original film 8 MM deals with the theme of why people commit horrendous acts of violence, as it deals with an 8MM film that contains a real murder. These films have been dubbed snuff films. Director Alejandro Amenábar even makes a better story of his terrific thriller called Thesis (1996) that portrays a female college student studying violence in media who also comes across a snuff film. Thus, when a title comes out with the name 8MM 2, the audience will make the logical deduction that it will also deal with a theme of why people commit vile murderous acts on film. In addition, to set the film in east Europe enhances this notion of brutal violence, as many films and news updates contain dreadful crimes in Eastern Europe that have links with organized crime. Thus, the implications of another tense and suspenseful cinematic event is set to bring viewers down the horror lane. ***

However, it would be complete miscalculation by the audience to make the inference that the sequel would follow the same theme. Here in 8MM 2, which does not even have any of the same actors, director, or theme, merely applies the title of a successful film in order to attract viewers. The film tries to evoke a similar atmosphere of depravity and immorality among the upper class, as Joel Schumacher’s 8MM. It succeeds to some extent, but does not have the same grim and dark touch. ***

8MM 2 opens with a shot of a courtroom where a number of people are talking while the sound of a passionately active couple sexually pleasure one another. Here the story advertises the film’s path, as David (Johnathon Schaech) tells his fiancé, Tish (Lori Heuring), about a sexual fantasy of his. They are on their way to a weekend vacation at a luxurious hotel where they intend to bathe each other in sinful lust, which enhances when Tish invites a woman to join them after a nightclub visit. Together they end up in a ménage à trios that they never are going to forget. ***

After the return from their wicked vacation, there are obviously some tense emotions underneath the surface. It bears the same sentiments that Threesome (1994) portrayed through three sexually experimenting college students. However, the emotional turmoil quickly evaporates when David receives an envelop with pictures of Tish, David, and the girl that they met in the club. Due to Tish’s father’s political position as an ambassador in Hungary and a potential candidate for the Supreme Court nominee and David’s future in politics they cannot approach law enforcement. It leaves them dealing with the criminals themselves, which brings them on a journey into the Budapest red light district and the world of pornography. ***

The film provides a futile attempt to make it a political thriller, but this too fails. Instead, it provides an erotic thriller with non-existent suspense, but much erotica. In some aspects, the film will remind the audience about Wild Things (1998), but there is far more sexuality present in 8MM 2. The film tries to hide a poor story underneath the world of sex while dealing with a rather amusingly silly extortion affair. In addition, Tish and David also seem completely oblivious in regards to the threats that the underworld could pose on them if the criminal elements so desired. The many awkward moments within the film outweigh everything else, and leave the viewers with a hollow and empty cinematic experience. *** ---

The anamorphic widescreen presentation is without any visible specks and dirt, which is as should be, as it never was intended for the theater. There is a little digitalization in a couple of scenes together with some edge enhancement. Otherwise, the visual presentation is rather good. The audio comes in Dolby Digital 5.1, which is decent with some ambient sound. However, most of the film is dialogue driven. *** ---

The Making of 8MM 2 is the only featured extra on this DVD, and it is a two-part affair. Director J.S. Cardone and the main actors talk about how it was to make the film together. They also share with the audience about problems that they encountered. It is an edited concoction of scenes from the set to sit-down interviews with a blue background. This is summed up by two previews: 8MM (1999) and Sueño (2005). *** ---

8MM 2 was a rather disappointing film, as it had nothing to do with the original film with Nicolas Cage, and the story was a clichéd combination between Wild Things and an adult film. The question is whether the audience is better of with the latter, as the story does not capture the audience’s attention in regards to suspense, or drama. Thus, I must kindly warn the audience about this film, as I thought it offered a very poor cinematic experience. ***