The Cell 2

2009

Crime suspense

New Line Home Entertainment

Reel DVD

Available on DVD and BluRay

R4 DVD

Reviewer: Bob Estreich

This film follows on from the 2000 The Cell with Jennifer Lopez although the plot has little in common. The Cell 2 seems to be a rip-off of a successful film rather than a follow on. So how good is it?

The lead role of Maya is well played by Tessie Santiago. Maya was kidnapped and brutally tortured by a sadistic killer known to police as the Cusp Killer. . His specialty is killing his victims then quickly reviving them so he can repeat the process in a different way. He keeps doing this until they expire or beg to die. To do this he uses drugs, electricity and suffocation. He made one mistake though – he left Maya for dead. She recovered and the rush of chemicals each time she died has left her a curious legacy – when she is in contact with something of the victim’s or the killer’s, she can see what is going on or look into their memories. She has been trying to help the FBI track down the Cusp but her efforts failed. Maya has one big mental block – she cannot see the killer’s face.

While in captivity she had a wooden box locked over her head. She came to regard the darkness as her friend, because taking the box off and bringing her into the light meant more torture. The killer, however, seems to be more comfortable in the light. In spite of this Maya’s inability to see his face means he has got away with it so far and Maya has become discredited in the eyes of the FBI.

Now a local sheriff’s niece has been kidnapped and he will do anything to get her back. Reluctantly Maya agrees to help him despite the FBI’s disapproval..

The killer is aware that Maya can get inside his head. It becomes a cat and mouse game between him and the policeman, using planted clues to make the policeman look guilty. Maya starts to understand the killer better and her help is enough for the policeman to start looking for a likely suspect. How can they succeed when the police are after them, the FBI does not believe her, and the killer knows her every move?

Maya is the only one who knows the Cusp well enough to find a weakness. Meanwhile the Sheriff’s niece is dying repeatedly.

The film is good suspense although some of the pseudo-science is a bit less than credible. The acting is good and the only letdown is some gaping holes in the plot. Why, when they have the killer finally bailed up, does police backup not arrive? When cars draw up to his hideaway why doesn’t the killer hear them? Why is the power still on in a derelict building? These minor niggles aside, it’s a worthwhile film with enough action to keep you on the edge of your seat.

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This review will appear in Volume 2 No.5 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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