I haven't seen the original Rose Red yet, but I did pick up this dvd at the rental store. It was decently acted, had appropriately scary mood music, in other words everything you needed to make a good horror flick. Well apart from heart that is. It just seemed to me like they just weren't trying too hard to make this thing work. It did scare you in various places, but it was almost formulaic scariness. I'd pass on this, unless you've seen Rose Red and wanted to see it's history.
I'll possibly pick up Rose Red at the video store one of these days, or maybe not -- just wasn't compelling enough from this prequel. I'll give it a 6 out of 10.