About Murder Mystery 2:
The VHS/Analogue Horror couture is blooming. Or festering, depending on how you look at it. As with any mass phenomenon, it’s mostly garbage, but the emergence of competent gems like this one and Night At the Gates of Hell make it all worth it. I’m yet to check out more, but these two seem to be cutting above the rest by paying attention to nuances. Murder House isn’t another small-time punk monster romp in some hastily flipped surroundings. Nah, conceived by huge cinema nerds with a lick of humour and taste, it boasts a lovely villain and a well-seasoned style coupled with strong cinematography. Beyond the usual overlays, you have a choice between a fixed camera with tank controls and a first-person view, which was my pick. I prefer considered camera angles, yet can’t help but opt for effectiveness over artfulness. Besides, it felt like playing a less creepy Normality. All in all, the “video nasty” atmosphere wasn’t just emulated, it was carefully reproduced. Just like the setting and visuals that have achieved a disturbing harmony with the subject matter, fantastic ambience and banging slasher music immediately struck the familiar chords with me. Particularly effective when abruptly replaced with your lone footsteps in silence.
