Horror Film Review

Mirrors 2 (2010):  I've been trying to write a review of this movie for the past two days.  It's not like it's a difficult film to understand.  Far from it.  This is a mediocre sequel to a mediocre original.  I think that's the problem.  Blah.  Blah blah blah, blah. 

So I'll make it quick.  Nick Stahl plays Max Matheson.  He's driving the car when he and his fiance are both killed after swerving to avoid a drunk driver.  Paramedics bring him back but not her.  Max is guilt-ridden, in therapy, and taking pills.  His father (William Katt) owns Mayflower Department Store (same name as the torched one in the original) and gets him the night watchman job.  Max then starts seeing gruesome deaths in the mirrors and thinks he's gone 'round the bend. 

Mirrors 2 really reminded me of Stir of Echoes in that while ostensibly a horror movie, it turns out to be more of a mystery.  Max meets the sister of a Mayflower employee who's gone missing.  It's not rocket science, folks.  The sister's spirit's hanging around and taking revenge.  The victim's mirror reflection will act separately, do something awful and then the real person feels the effects (like eating glass shards).  She's knocking off everyone who was involved with her death.  The only question is whether she'll stop killing once they're dead. 

Breakdown 

Acting:  Nick Stahl does fine as the damaged, slightly manic Max.  He looks like a wounded puppy, for God's sake.  The supporting cast hams it up a bit, but not so as to be distracting. 
Story:  Uninspired.  You've seen it before in Stir of Echoes and numerous Japanese horror flicks.  And except for a few "gotcha" jumps near the beginning, it's not very scary. 
Direction:  Again, uninspired.  The guy was there for a paycheck. 
Production Values:  This is a thoroughly Hollywood movie, so they're high.  I bet the budget for the title sequence alone was more than most independent films. 
Gore:  Oh, yes.  So much so that you begin to wonder if the story was crafted simply to showcase the work of the f/x guys.  Not that I'm complaining.  The decapitation scene is impressive. 
Ending:  Not terrible.  Then again, not terribly original either. 
Verdict:  Should you watch Mirrors 2?  Unless you're a massive Nick Stahl fan or would like to see some creative gore, I can't really recommend it.  Go watch Stir of Echoes again.

My Rating:  2 out of 5