Partitions in space

Rating: Null/10 (10 December 2013)

We understand that the supernatural, what we call the supernatural anyway and identify as ghosts, has something to do with mind and conjured vision, this is why in so many of the films tools to that effect are central in the action: hypnosis, seance, memory, dreams and so forth. And yet the apparitions, insofar as we are faced with horror films, have to be understood in space itself, they can never be 'just a dream'.
So for me two things are of importance.
The handling of apparitions. Both this and the first film are very good in this regard, they have that concentration to a space already tense, charged, with the anticipation of something in it. We have all that staring into darkness, behind a door, in a dark corner of the room, inside a closet. Always effective when accompanied with the usual cues, this sets up in us the anticipation of presence.
So simply as a horror film this counts as a success in my book and if you're looking for this spatial intensity it can reward.
The other thing is the understanding of mind that subtends this space. This is let's say the ground from which the main action springs, and yet it can limit an otherwise fine film as much as a literal appearance of god can narrow a film on spiritual belief and transcendence.
In both films we have a literal ghost dimension that souls coldly roam and our protagonist must traverse in order to defeat the evil spirit in its realm. We're shown here two levels, reality and spirit realm and a causal connection between the two. What happens in one literally has power to control the other. This oft encountered notion seems to rest on a misunderstanding of the subconscious as an actual 'zone' somewhere in the mind instead of much more likely the level of attentive consciousness I bring to mind.
In this respect we have lots of mumbo jumbo here, topped by even a folding of time from the spirit realm!
We have sadly no real masters working in this field, I say this as a lifelong fan of horror who'd like to see some innovative work. Talented filmmakers of space, Reygadas or Malick these days, Cassavetes earlier, likely find nothing of real value in the scare to go through the effort of preparing the space for it. But until someone with vision tries the subject, small films like this are all we have and almost enough to satisfy.