March 13, 2009
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Hypothermia can save your life.
Although it lacks the visceral punch of the original, Mats Stenberg's enthusiastic follow-up to Roar Uthaug's satisfying Norwegian slasher Fritt Vilt (aka Cold Prey) is certainly not the cringe-inducing cinematic train wreck I thought it would be. The setup -- surprise, surprise -- is strangely reminiscent of Rick Rosenthal's Halloween II: the story takes immediately following the events of the first film, it's set (for the most part) in a dimly lit hospital, and the killer, while vaguely inhuman, suddenly adopts a handful of supernatural abilities. Naturally, more than a few leaps in logic are made in order to slip this nonsense past your suspended disbelief, especially once the killer crawls off the cold, hard slab and begins mindlessly slicing his way through a friendly group of health care-providing individuals. The mythos surrounding this birthmarked butcher is also explored in greater detail, though I've always held the belief that "less in more" regarding convoluted backstories involving burly men with violent tendencies. Perhaps the biggest problem plaguing Fritt Vilt 2 is its pacing; characters and events are quickly developed and immediately forgotten, giving you mere seconds to care before you're treated with some sort of juicy red spatter. As far as horror sequels are concerned, you could certainly do worse. Then again, the same can be said for just about anything.
Recipe For Mediocrity: Not Enough Well-Developed Characters + One Unfocused Script + He'd Better Be Dead This Time
Jannicke Is In The House: If nothing else, at least the filmmakers were smart enough to bring Ingrid Bolsø Berdal back for seconds.
Let's just hope they don't serve up thirds.
2 Spasms:
Glad to hear it!
Did I miss the DVD release or did you see an advance copy?
I completely disagree with your review. The film worked on all levels. It wasn't trying to reinvent the genre but it was meant to entertain and entertain it did. Beating the original at almost every turn. The killer seemed more fleshed out and as usual the characters were likable.
Fritt Vilt 2 has done what the new slasher remakes are desperately trying to do. It got it right.
Hopefully nest time your review well as well.
I eagerly await a sequel.
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