THE EYE 2

Joey is a young woman in love with a man who seems not to return her feelings. One evening, after yet another disappointment, Joey attempts suicide but is taken to the hospital and saved in time. From that day on, she begins to have strange visions and seems haunted by a woman with long black hair and a gray dress. Soon, she will also discover that she is pregnant. Shocked by the increasingly frequent apparitions, Joey decides to confide in a Buddhist monk who will tell her an old belief according to which a person who is approaching death or is about to give the world a new life can easily contact the afterlife; he also reveals that the souls of the dead frequently try to reincarnate in the unborn. Joey understands that the woman who haunts her is a spirit interested in her son, and she will have to be ready for anything to keep her away from her womb… William Castle taught us that all it takes is a particularly well-targeted advertising campaign and one that can intrigue the public, to decree the commercial success of a film (and at the time he worked, this formula was infallible). It seems that this trend is recently coming back into fashion, so "The Eye 2" does not escape the rule, showcasing on the poster and in television advertising a warning that in large letters discourages viewing the film to people with weak hearts and pregnant women… Because what is forbidden attracts! Too bad that in this case it is only smoke and mirrors, as "The Eye 2" turns out to be one of the most innocuous and predictable films imported from the Far East. In 2002 the same Pang brothers had succeeded in creating with "The Eye" a subtly unsettling film, albeit not original, that managed to keep the viewer on edge thanks to ghost appearances skillfully choreographed and rich in pathos. One would therefore expect from this sequel (which, however, has no narrative link with the previous film) a repetition of the formula, if not an enhancement of it (we know how horror sequels work: more blood, more suspense and more scares than the previous one), but that was not the case. The ghost appearances are numerous, but they fail to convey even the slightest tension because they resolve themselves into simple sudden noises that presume to scare the viewer, but fail because they are highly predictable (with the exception of the excellent sequence at the bus stop… see for yourself!). At some points, however, one ends up unintentionally bordering on the ridiculous, such as in the sequences of floating ghosts or in the exaggerated finale on the hospital terrace. All of this is further seasoned with a cloying love story with soap opera twists that could surely have been avoided, as well as a bothersome moralistic aftertaste that accompanies the last half hour of the film. In conclusion, "The Eye 2" may disappoint, although in addition to the negative aspects it presents appreciable qualities: the Pang brothers demonstrate that they know how to direct the film well, taking care of a fast editing that manages to keep the viewer's attention on a plot that is already quite slow; moreover, the photography, as was the case in the first episode, is very well taken care of and tends to opalescent and misty colors, which reproduce well the idea of the supernatural that hovers in the film. A compliment also to the protagonist, played by Qi Shu, who manages to build a complex character balancing between hysteria and compassion. In conclusion, "The Eye 2" turns out to be a great wasted opportunity: a film that could have been remembered especially thanks to a fascinating and original story (but those who have seen "Nightmare 5" will notice similarities..), it fails instead due to the total lack of suspense and the absence of the characteristics that have made Eastern cinema famous all over the world. A third chapter is also being worked on.