Surprisingly Good

Rating: 8/10 (19 February 2006)

I came to this film with no expectations - I hadn't seen the original installment. The way the opening builds to a creshendo of horror is spectacular. From then on, - and, once I'd gotten over the shock of the gruesome death of the first "survivor", I found myself both thoroughly entertained and impressed. Intelligent horror? Yes, it is possible!
Unlike, other reviewers, I thought the acting was excellent by and large. The only truly irritating moments in the movie were provided by the black character who repeatedly refused to believe something spooky was going on in the face of increasingly overwhelming evidence - it's a stock device and it's so lame. But this had nothing to do with the guy's acting ability, which I thought was excellent given the limitations of his given character.
Otherwise, I was just totally impressed by the artistry of the team behind this shocker. The build-up of tension, the tease, that led towards each death was masterful.
I read the list of "goofs" the film is supposed to feature and, with only one exception, I didn't spot any. I was just so drawn in to the action.
I'm not big on horror as a genre but, if you're going to watch an odd horror or two, I can certainly recommend this.