Amateur Porn Star Killer 2 — Amateur Porn Star Killer 2( DVD)
Appearing two years after the first Amateur Porn Star Killer. This sequel irons out a few issues from the first film's set-up, increases the troubling sleazy side of things, and brings in moments of visual moodiness. Here from Wild Eye’s Raw & Extreme series is a region-free DVD of the film with a commentary track as it’s only extra.
Amateur Porn Star Killer 2 came out in 2008. It was once again directed by, co-written and stars Canoga Park, California-born Shane Ryan-Reid. Between the mid-90s and the present day, he has an impressive sixty-two directorial credits- taking in five features, with the remainder being made up of shorts & anthologies. The full lengths move between thriller Big Boobs, Blonde Babes, Bad Blood (2006), street-based teen drama The Girl Who Wasn’t Lost (2011), and three Amateur Porn Star Killer films.
It once again has a fairly short runtime of just seventy-seven minutes- but I think films within the faux-snuff genre, should be around or near this length- to have both the maximum impact, and not over stay its grimy/ grim welcome.
The film is captured throughout in lo-fi Black & white VSH quality- though thankful it largely remains( relatively) clear what is going on. We open with a sudden jump into a rapid collage of naked women being roughly attacked, enlarged male members, hardcore sex, and people being attacked on the street. We then switch to POV footage from within a car- that is driving through the nighttime on the outskirts of a US city- it's pelting rain, and the driver is seemingly looking for something or someone. The car comes to a stop just across the road from a doughnut shop- with the male figure watching a slight Asian woman outside the shop.
He jumps out of the car with his camera following the woman down the nighttime streets- she is simply known in the film/ on the credits as The Victim who is played with great conviction/ believability by Kai Lanette. The man with the camera is twenty-something Brandon( Ryan-Reid). Initially, he seems slightly nervous/ charming, with his awkward laughing & constant gum chewing. We find out she is walking home, and just as she is going to step into her apartment- he convinces her to come with him to have some fun.
He picks up his car to drive her to his place- which he says he’ll be leaving the next day. But there are warning signs- he mumbles about killing dogs, and in his apartment is women's underwear hanging out of a box.
Like the first film things unfold in real time- aside from the occasion jump-cut rapid college of violence & hardcore sex. To begin with, she is very sassy & sure of herself, pushing him away & getting changed. She clearly likes things a little rough, with him grabbing her face & throat. But he starts to switch becoming generally nasty- spitting in her face, and asking to put her head in the toilet. But she still remains in control. I won’t fully reveal the resolve- but it’s a damn impactful & deeply troubling gut punch- which involves extreme sexualized violence, and of course death.
Like the first film, aside from the collage footage, it features just two actors-And it’s certainly fair to say both Lanette and Ryan-Reid give their all both acting wise & physically, as the pair play their parts in a believable at times intense manner, and we get penetrative real ‘n’ rough sex.
The first film certainly had its impactful & troubling moments- but there were one or two issues- like difficult-to-watch/make-out footage, mumbled/ unclear dialogue, and the overlaying of both images & music. For this sequel, all these elements are corrected- with the added addition of moody shot use. Sure, we still have a few issues- it takes quite a time to get to the snapping/ point, though the build is effective. And a few of the collage/wrapping-up elements- fall down slightly. But as sequels go Amateur Porn Star Killer 2 is suitable impactful, and at points deeply troubling.
The only extra here, aside from the trailers, is a commentary track from Doug Brunell of Film Threat. He starts by talking about how he wasn’t thrilled when he heard about this sequel, after finding the first film ‘perfect’( !). Moving on he discusses the stalking elements in this film and how the lead victim is a different kind of character. He talks about how the director wanted to create an experience & character study. He mentions that he thinks he interviewed Lanette, though can’t recall what was said. He touches on reviews of the film both positive and negative. Later on, he talks about how the viewer becomes perpetrator via proxy- with the way it’s filmed. He discusses the mounting sense of the uncomfortably, as the film ramps up. He talks about the surprising twist in the last third of the film. This track is ok, though I didn’t gain or learn much from it.
In finishing while Amateur Porn Star Killer 2 may not possess the same level of unpleasantness / on-edginess as the first film. The issues that plagued/ pulled down the first film have gone. With elements of up close/ nasty hardcore added into the mix, as well as moments of uneasy stalking.