The Collection (2012) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed By: Marcus Dunstan
Starring: Josh Stewart, Emma Fitzpatrick, Christopher McDonald
Rated: R/Region: A/1X85/1080p/Number of disc: 1
Available from Lionsgate
Arkin escapes with his life from the vicious grips of “The Collector” during an entrapment party where he adds beautiful Elena to his “Collection.” Instead of recovering from the trauma, Arkin is suddenly abducted from the hospital by mercenaries hired by Elena’s wealthy father. Arkin is blackmailed to team up with the mercenaries and track down The Collector’s booby trapped warehouse and save Elena.
I was a fan of The Collector. I thought it was well done and creative. I think The Collection does a fine job of keeping that high standard rolling along. The film opens with what might be the best opening fifteen minutes I have seen on film in years. It tosses some creative gore and chaos in our direction and it does it all in grand fashion to set the rest of movie up. Now of course things do slow down a bit and never do reach that same awesome level that the opening did, but the rest we get isn’t bad at all. As the story unfolds the film tries to walk a line that distances it away from the usual and the norm and I believe it accomplishes what it wants for the most part. The previous events in the first film come into play and we have a story that completes the tale from that, but it also could stand alone as its own film if need be. That is pretty cool in itself, but I still hate when sequels don’t keep the name of the original and add a nice part 2 next to it.
And of course the film still reminds of a very SAW like atmosphere. And that isn’t unheard of since I believe word was the original’s script was meant at one time to be some form of SAW prequel. So if you do have any aching for another SAW film you at least get some cool traps and violent demises here to hold you over for that. I also think the ending we get from this one isn’t what you’ve come to expect from horror these days and I think it needs praise for that. I found the ending to be fitting and a nice way to close the chapter on at least this entry into this franchise. I’m not sure if we will ever get another one, but if we don’t the first one and this one makes for a great one/two punch and this film will give you all you’re looking for in a horror film. We get blood, we get chaos, we get violence, and we get some tension and cool visuals tossed in to cap things off.
– Commentary with Director/Writer Marcus Dunstan and Writer Patrick Melton
– 5 Mini Featuretts
– Alternate Scenes
– Trailer
