8MM 2 (2005) starring Johnathon Schaech, Lori Heuring, Bruce Davison, Julie Benz directed by J.S. Cardone Movie Review

8MM 2 (2005)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Johnathon Schaech and Lori Heuring in 8MM 2 (2005)

More 16mm than 8mm

Embassy Councillor David Huxley (Johnathon Schaech) has a promising career ahead of him and an attractive, wealthy fiancée Tish (Lori Heuring). But David also has a thing for the kinky and it is this kinky which lead to him and Trish having a threesome with a young model. Unfortunately someone secretly filmed it and threatens David that his sex tape will be exposed unless he pays up. Desperate to find who ever it is who is demanding a silly amount of money it leads him in to the seedy under world of sex shops and online sex. But when things go wrong Tish finds her self having to find some way of not only saving David but also his career and their future together.

For those who haven't watched it "8MM" was about a detective trying to uncover whether a snuff movie was in fact real and as he was drawn into the seedy underworld of adult entertainment he became more intrigued and repulsed by what he found whilst also ending up in danger, as you would expect from a thriller about a detective. But if you have watched "8mm" you need to immediately put out of your mind that this is a sequel to the original story or one which has a familiar story as it is different from "8mm". It is only once you accept "8MM 2" for what it wants to be and that it got the name thanks to a last minute change from the studio that it kinds of becomes okay.

Now I did say that "8MM 2" kind of becomes okay and it isn't the most thrilling thriller you will ever watch. It tries hard to lull you in with a sexy opening from a fantasy in a courtroom to an erotic dance club scene before we get to the threesome. But it all feels familiar and those who remember the erotic night club scene in "Basic Instinct" will see what this is trying to emulate but doesn't come close. And then after that and the blackmail starts, well it is all about David entering a very seedy side of life in order to protect his political future and that means we get a variety of sex scenes.

The thing about "8MM 2" is none of it is really that original and whilst it works through what in truth is a predictable story in a solid way it fails to really grab you attention. Not only that there are some ridiculously unbelievable scenes when it comes to David's attempts to track down who might have been behind the secretly made sex tape. A scene where David breaks in to a hotel room and rips out a cable embedded in the wall is ridiculous especially when the guests staying there return and don't see him there standing against the wall. The worst thing is that this scene should get you on the edge of your seat over whether David will get spotted but instead it tosses you back with laughter.

There are many more of these sorts of scenes which fall to bits even before you start thinking them through. But then what "8MM 2" has is an appealing cast; Johnathon Schaech looks good in a suit whilst Lori Heuring has a devious side to her which makes you wonder whether she is as innocent as we first expect. It is the same when it comes to her politician father played by Bruce Davison because at least he makes us begin to wonder whether he may be setting up David to get rid of him.

What this all boils down to is that "8MM 2" isn't very good especially if you watch expecting a movie similar to "8MM". But if you take it for what it is "8MM 2" has its moments but unfortunately it also has many non moments which make you groan.


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