"The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape" is a found footage horror film that continues the story of the first installment, "The Fear Footage." Released in 2018, this independent movie delves deeper into the terrifying encounters of a man who stumbles upon a cursed VHS tape. The film follows the protagonist as he discovers a mysterious VHS tape left on his doorstep. Unable to resist his curiosity, he decides to watch the tape, unleashing a series of unsettling events that haunt him. As the curse takes hold, the line between reality and the supernatural begins to blur. The protagonist struggles to comprehend the dark forces at play and find a way to escape its grip.
The Fear Footage is a very amateurishly made found footage horror movie with overzealous creators who are pushing this thing harder than the second coming of Christ. Set over several stories as anthology's tend to do it's a very shoddy looking movie even for the genre which are notorious for looking like they were filmed by a 10yr old with an old 80's VHS camera.
This time we found ourselves laughing as we spend its 71 minute duration pointing out its flaws, its inconsistencies, the awful special effects and the directors complete inability to construct a film. We d say that the movie scale was Fear Footage to Shawshank Redemption, that it was the movie all bad movies should be measured by and made the Sharknado films look like the Godfather series.
The protagonist struggles to comprehend the dark forces at play and find a way to escape its grip. What sets "The Fear Footage 2" apart from other found footage horror films is its clever use of realistic filming techniques and genuine reactions. The movie is presented as raw footage, further immersing the viewer in the intense and chaotic events experienced by the main character.
‘The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape’ is an Unexpected Sequel
The Fear Footage 2 is completely unexpected. The first installment was set up as a found footage anthology, something along the lines of the V/H/S franchise. I expected more of the same with the sequel, but this movie can’t be further in execution from its predecessor.
The film begins with Daniel, who was a character in the first film. Daniel’s short didn’t exactly end well for him, so at first, I wasn’t sure what I had missed. But it turns out that Daniel has found a mysterious videotape – a tape that features him being overtaken by a supernatural force. Suddenly, what was expected to be an anthology film becomes something unique: a film, within a film, being investigated by a character in both films.
The first half of the movie feels a bit stilted; the acting is wooden. The dialogue doesn’t really feel like it is natural to the character. When Daniel is talking in the first half of the movie, it feels like the actor is just reading the script. It doesn’t feel as if he truly believes what he is saying, or is making any attempt to get into character. This was problematic as Daniel’s character is the introduction to the film. It fails to build the tension right off the bat that its predecessor does.
However, the movie hits its creative stride in the second act. Having met up with James, another guy in the film watched by Deputy Leo Cole, the pair set out to find out how they could have appeared on a movie that they never filmed, doing things that they have never done. They hit the road and head to Dark Bluff. The tiny town is full of local gossip, and a lot of confusion, but no solid information on where the tape could have come from, or what really happened to Deputy Leo Cole.
They two men stay in a cabin that is also reported to have had a horrific incident happen in it. The fact that it is in the middle of nowhere is creepy enough without the history, and it isn’t long before strange events begin to happen.
The isolation of these characters who are more or less strangers is where the movie shines. The build up to the climax is nail-biting; after all, neither of them really knows the other, and it makes for some really great character building. James and Daniel don’t see eye to eye on what to do. James is scared, and Daniel is obsessed. This is a deadly combo in any horror movie, and it really ups the ante in the second half of the movie.
The evening shots in the cabin are where the film delivers some of its best scares. The building is windows all the way around; while you have complete visibility to see what’s coming, you also have nowhere to hide. The pitch black of the woods works well here to build some seriously creepy scares. Minimalist props are used to great effect, and sweeping camera shots provide an excellent route to some stellar jump scares. And you KNOW as soon as they see a pool on the way in that they’re going to see some wet ghosts. Keeping it simple on a low budget is always the way to go, and director Ricky Umberger has definitely embraced that.
While it got off to a rocky start, the concept of this found footage that just skims the surface of full-blown meta had me wanting more. I’m already looking forward to a third just to see where this creative team could take it. ‘The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape’ is an ideal sequel: it keeps the spirit of the original while delivering something new and fresh. Overall, I enjoyed this one more than the first, which is a rare feat for a sequel.
I watched the Fear Footage for a second time last night with my husband. The first time we watched it we thought it was a really unoriginal mess of a film that tried to be one of many considerably better found footage movies but failed miserably. This time we found ourselves laughing as we spend its 71 minute duration pointing out its flaws, its inconsistencies, the awful special effects and the directors complete inability to construct a film. This will go down as one of the worst movies ever made to us, it really is that bad and not even one of those films you can enjoy for the sake of it being bad like Sharknado. It's just plain bad.
The shaky camera movements, low-quality visuals, and distorted audio all contribute to the film's realism, amplifying the fear factor. Throughout the movie, the audience is caught up in a psychological rollercoaster as the protagonist tries to unravel the mystery of the cursed tape. The suspense builds gradually, creating an eerie atmosphere that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The fear is enhanced by the unknown nature of the curse and the unpredictable nature of the events that unfold. "The Fear Footage 2" is not just a typical horror film; it also explores themes of obsession, paranoia, and the power of the human mind. As the protagonist's mental state deteriorates, his reactions become more erratic, blurring the line between what is real and what is a product of his fear. Overall, "The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape" is a bone-chilling found footage horror film that immerses viewers in a world of supernatural terror. Its unique filming techniques and realistic portrayal make it a must-watch for horror enthusiasts. Be prepared to question your own reality as you delve into the curse of the cursed tape..
Reviews for "The Role of Music and Sound Effects in "The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape"
1. Mike - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape". The scares were predictable and the found footage style just felt tired and overdone. The plot was confusing and poorly executed, leaving me feeling uninvested in the outcome. The acting was also subpar, with performances that lacked authenticity. Overall, the movie failed to deliver any genuine scares or unique storytelling, making it a forgettable and unremarkable horror experience.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape" was a complete letdown. The supposed scares were nothing more than cheap jump scares that failed to evoke any real fear or suspense. The plot lacked cohesiveness and felt disjointed, making it difficult to follow and understand. The found footage style quickly became annoying and distracting, with shaky camerawork that made it difficult to see what was happening. The lack of character development and compelling storytelling only added to the overall disappointment. Save your time and skip this one.
3. John - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape" but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The movie relied too heavily on typical horror clichés, resulting in a lack of originality. The scares were predictable, and the attempts to build tension felt forced and unnatural. The found footage style, while popular in horror, felt tired and uninteresting in this particular film. The poor acting and unconvincing characters further detracted from the overall experience. If you're looking for a truly scary and innovative horror film, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
4. Lisa - 2.5 stars - As a fan of the first film, I was excited to watch "The Fear Footage 2: Curse of the Tape," but ultimately, it didn't live up to its predecessor. The scares lacked originality and failed to truly frighten me. The found footage style, while effective in the first film, felt repetitive and uninspired this time around. The plot attempted to build on the mythology established in the first movie, but the execution left a lot to be desired. Overall, it was a mediocre follow-up that failed to capture the magic of the original.