Horror in the High Desert 2: Minerva

Having just watched this and last night the first film, I'm beyond baffled by the recent positive reviews and can only speculate who made those. This film is dull and a total duff, just like the first one.

I've seen loads of horror films with bad reviews which I often think are undeserved, but this has made more annoyed by the bizarre positive reviews, especially those mentioning particular crew members (who on earth ever mentions the casting director? Seriously?). My standard for horror films is low, I like low budget indie films, but NOT when the reviews look blatantly not genuine. An OK film for found footage fanatics like myself.

Decided to write this because I saw part one of this fine little found footage horror movie and immediately rented the sequel without much expectation but I am pleasantly surprised. It's creepy, keeps you watching and expecting what would happen on the edge of your seat. Smartly made and it gives you just enough creepy dread horror bit by bit to keep you interested and scared. Yes, scared. I don't get scared watching 99% of horror movies but this one had me anxious and not wanting to see what comes out of the shadow of the infrared camera - because I was just plain scared. It leaves room for another sequel so hoping for the same soon. Good job.

My rating for the first movie of this franchise : HITHDesert 6/10. I don't remember much about this, the thing i remember is that it took too much time before it became intense. I kinda liked it but it was not definitely a MUST WATCH for horror fans.

About MINERVA : There is a possibility i overrate it. I love FF movies. I always have a lot of fun watching movies of this genre, there were not many of them which i feel i shouldn't have watched them when they ended. So, you have to be a fan in order to watch it. It's probably not amongst the best FF movies but i have watched many worse. It kept my attention until the ending, i found it interesting and thankfully, it didn't took too long until it became intense (Unlike the first one, as i said).

Don't expect cheap jump scares and many scaring scenes. Furthermore, don't expect to get answers about HITDesert lore. Unfortunately, it's a bit messy too, kinda confusing story lines and one of the most open endings in horror movies.

Still, i liked it and i will watch the third movie soon. There is something intriguing here. It's more creepy/eerie than scary, more mystery than horror. And there were some scenes that made me feel too uneasy.

The images that this movie conjured in my own mind actually gave me nightmares. When the woman tells her story and says that she overheard her father saying to her mother at night while the were looking out the window at strangers on their ranch "I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE PEOPLE" I got literal goosebumps and I don't think that has ever happened. The way in which these movies show just enough without showing too much is brilliant. It doesn't seem to work for everyone judging by some of the other reviews on here but for the rest of us this stuff haunts my sleep. I do wish they would have shown the woman telling those stories but maybe that is part of the next one.

Please do not waste your time. All the 9/10 reviews look dubious at best. No suspense or horror. I feel embarrassed for the fact that I wasted 1:14 minutes of my life on watching this thing.

Apparently there are at least 5 more horror in the high desert movies in the works. I mean, are we serious here? Have mercy on us and this time around actually think and try to make a decent film.

The first movie (2021) was actually creepy and I don't understand how a talent behind the original movie could have been satisfied with writing this movie and release it to the public. One of the most boring and flat movies I've ever watched in my life.

You could do better than this.