Horror in the High Desert 2: Minerva

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.

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.

While the plot and characters didn't pull me along to the same degree as the first, the intensity and atmosphere sure did. I see this as more of a 2nd part , instead of a sequel, if that makes sense.

While I was not as invested in Minerva (or the 2nd girl) as I was with Gary from the first film, the movie left me with that thirst to find out more of the mythology, or the "dark forces" at play.

Yes, I am confused at what the deal is with the old hermit guy, but very eager to discover more in part 3 (I was kind of expecting more to come to light in this film). I will rewatch this week as i probably missed some fine details since I had to mute the volume at times just to slow my heart rate down, bc it was pounding throughout.

Needless to say, I am immersed into this franchise. I am very hopeful that the 3rd film will give us a good balance between scares, character development, and backstory.

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.

This was pretty decent for a sequel, however where it did some things better, it also was a tad too short and got a bit tedious at times, I liked all three of these movies but this one and "Firewatch" gave me a sense that they set out to make ONE sequel and then were like nah wait a sec. And decided to make the sequel into two movies instead.

This film also hints that whatever Gary (Gawy) found out there has a more supernatural tint instead of just inbred cannibals.

If you liked the first one you'll probably like this one as well, and if you like this one you'll probably like the "Firewatch" as well, I recommend watching them in one sitting, they're not that long and though slow paced aren't boring either.

I could've done without some slow paced scenes such as the volunteer firefighter (who is later mentioned as EMT) running around inside the abandoned mine town, they could've made that a tad bit shorter and maybe added a couple more "eyewitness accounts" or spooky stories, anyway its a good film just not as good as the first one, and even the third one is slightly better because of the pacing.