P2
Starring: Rachel Nichols, Wes Bentley
Directed By: Frank Khalfoun
Written By: Frank Khalfoun, Alexandre Aja
Released: 2007
Grade: B

P2’s success severely suffered from poor advertising. While the trailer was wise enough to stick the respected name of horror creator, Alexandre Aja, of High Tension fame in it, it didn’t do much else right. All that was really seen was a women running and screaming from some killer in an abandoned parking garage. While this is theoretically a scary situation, it seemed kind of stale and overused. It just seemed to lack any depth. With all of the slasher films that are around today there must be some reason or motive displayed Otherwise, it’s just killing for killing sake; and even then there must be something that caused this desire to kill even if the victims don’t contribute to this importance. I am very glad to say that the movie is far better than the trailer is. The most important figure of the movie, what really gives it the energy and power that it has wasn’t even shown in the preview; our killer of course. He isn’t just some ominous figure in the dark, we see him up close and personal. We see him for who he is and more than that who he sees himself as in his dark devious attempt to get what he wants and to get it to want him in return.

Angela (Nichols) works very long hours at her job that never seem to end. Even on Christmas Eve she is the last one stuck at work, long after the typical hours. Her family is waiting on her, eager for her to join in on the celebration. Just as she finally thinks she is going to get out though, things start going wrong. She has car trouble and the security guard, Thomas (Bentley), seems to be right there, almost waiting for her. She tries calling a cab, but when it comes the doors are mysteriously locked and it abandons her there. Angela continues to try to find a way out, but soon this becomes much more complicated. Angela gets knocked out and wakes up in Thomas’ office. She is chained up to the table. Thomas tells her how much he has been wanting her and now they will have a date together. Angela tries to tell him that her family is expecting her and even that her boyfriend will come looking for her any minute now. Thomas sees right through this though. He tells Angela how much this hurts and how much he loves her, it is his mission to get Angela to give in and show Thomas that she loves him too.

Angela isn’t the only one in danger though. Thomas shows Angela a security tape in the elevator where one of the businessman sexually assaulted Angela. It was a minor case and Angela claims that she is sure it was just an accident, but this isn’t good enough for Thomas. He takes Angela in his car as they drive to a part of the garage where this man is sitting, tied up with his mouth taped shut. Thomas says that this is her Christmas present from him; revenge. If she won’t murder this man, than Thomas will.

The two leads really translate the film to the audience. They are basically the only characters in the film aside from very minor parts. There is action, but a lot of it is them talking and just being stuck in this parking garage together. Rachel Nichols played the damsel in distress very well. No matter how hard it became, she never gave up. She did everything she could to get out of there and even to help someone who has wronged her. Wes Bentley is really the star of the film though. Of course this doesn’t beat his breathtaking performance in American Beauty, but that same type of unique charisma and free spirit is shown through Thomas. He has so much passion and just hearing his perspective and insight is almost as thrilling as the actual horror elements of the film.

P2 has some suspenseful chase scenes and one particularly gory kill, but this is not what takes up the bulk of the movie. P2 is really just a tragic love story, where one doesn’t love the other. It is the classic obsessive case where the love interest doesn’t show interest back. So the stalker must kidnap to try to find any ounce of hope for this love. Why? Because he needs that satisfaction more than anything else. Obviously Thomas is a very lonely man, where desperation builds up and makes him more and more eager to receive love from this girl who he only seems to be able to admire from afar. In a twisted way, Thomas feels that what he is doing is just as much for Angela as it is for him. He even tries to defend her honor by threatening this man that didn’t respect her. Not just for Angela but for every woman who he has inappropriately hit on or disrespected. This is where the irony really comes out. He feels death is the proper treatment for this man for hitting on a co-worker. Yet, Thomas knocks Angela out, takes off most of her clothes, and fondles her using her as a doll since he knows while awake, she will resist him.

Thomas attempts to take charge of the situation since Angela doesn’t treat him the way that he wants her to. Her being locked up there, seems like the only way that Thomas can even talk to her, even if she doesn’t talk back to him. As further events unfold, Thomas may be forced to realize that you can’t make someone love you, especially not through violence. If he can’t win her over though, the solution for Thomas may be just to kill her. It has been shown many times before, the theory that if you can’t have someone than no one should. Aja, Khalfoun, and Bentley really worked together beautifully to ass the right amount of intensity through a very interesting perspective. Although P2 doesn’t bring anything completely new to the plate, it does a very good job with violent and dangerous, but still very human emotions, tendencies, and actions.

- Kelsey Zukowski