DVD Review: American Psycho 2
Written by: Kage Alan

Film Rating: B-
DVD Special Features: B

The first "American Psycho" was met with a huge amount of controversy and the unrated version of the film was incredibly graphic and strange, so it was
only a matter of time before somebody decided to cash in on the title and
come up with a sequel.  Despite the reception of the first film, it was a
rather fresh approach to the material.  In attempting (and I specifically use
the word "attempting") to keep in that tradition, the writers decided to
focus on a female killer this time.  And why not?  Women have just as much
right to be psychopaths and sociopaths as men do.  Hey, I'm all for equality.

The sequel picks up near the end of the first film in Patrick Bateman's
apartment.  Instead of everything taking place in his head, it apparently
really did happen and the film just took creative liberties.  Whatever.  
We're not getting into this whole film within a film idea.  It's like time
travel paradoxes in bad Science Fiction films.  Anyway, just as Patrick is
about to kill his latest female victim, a young girl also being held there
gets loose, gets pissed off (her words in the opening narration, not mine),
and kills him with an ice pick.  How VERY Sharon Stone!

The little girl grows up and is introduced as Rachael (Mila Kunis, "That 70's
Show"), a college freshman with a keen interest in stopping other serial
killers.  Talk about being your own worst enemy.  In order to fulfill this
dream, she goes to the same school where famed FBI serial killer profiler
turned teacher Dr. Robert Daniels (William Shatner, "Free Enterprise")
resides.  Not only is she in the top of her class, but she's also the leading
candidate to be Dr. Daniels' teaching assistant for the following semester.
Unfortunately there's a little competition in the way of other students in
the class and Rachael doesn't much care for that sort of thing.  Then, of
course, there's that pesky college secretary and the local psychiatrist who
just get on a psycho's nerves.  What's a girl to do?  So many potential
victims, so little time.

The one major question I have is why the director bothered to play with red
herrings in the movie.  We're supposed to wonder who offs the first victim,
yet the trailer, DVD cover and description of the film clearly indicates
who's doing the killing.  Perhaps his time would have been better spent
adding another element to the story because that one is just a wasted effort.
While the dialogue and narration has its moments of humor, attitude, and
even a bit of social commentary, there's none of the surreal qualities or
on-screen violence that made the first film so...um...memorable.  "American
Psycho 2" tries to be clever, only its low budget stops it from ever being
able to achieve the notoriety and larger feel of the first film.

Lions Gate has given as a great looking Widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital
soundtrack.  Despite being a low budget production, the picture and sound
quality are quite good here.  And extras?  Yep, there are extras.  We get a
film trailer, an alternate opening, 3 ½ minutes of outtakes, 4 minutes of
deleted scenes and two audio commentaries, one with director Morgan J.
Freeman and one with the director and actress Mila Kunis.  Freeman comes off much more intelligent in his solo track and does his best to relay as much
information as possible, but the one where he is with Kunis is far more
entertaining.  She constantly interrupts him, contradicts him and points out
the film's flaws as well as relating a number of humorous anecdotes.  As a
whole, they're okay commentaries, but not ones that necessarily jump out at
you as something that are a must to listen to.

"American Psycho 2" has its moments and the actors do the best they can, but
it just never meets the expectations that the first film sets.  All the
violence takes place off-screen (a major letdown considering this is a psycho
film, hello???), there's a lack of dread or suspense and all the plot points
are telegraphed well in advance.  Still, if one's expectations aren't
incredibly high, there's just enough quirkiness and humor to keep you
watching from beginning to end.  Just an afterthought, but I'd LOVE to be in
a low budget horror film one day!

COMMENTS:
June 29, 2002
Comment: Isn't off-screen violence a GOOD thing? I HATE unnecessary violence in films. But that's a huge topic...