The Rizen: Possession

Technically better than the first. Though can't be watched as a stand alone. Watch The Rizen from 2017 and then watch this one. Better than your average Indie Horror. Especially when it comes to writing and acting.

How best to describe this film? How about confusing? Although most of it consists of two distinct groups of people walking around in the dark getting picked off by zombie-like creatures, there have been similar films that score well, but this one fails at every level. Is it science fiction or occult? A bit of both, apparently, and with more background it might have warranted damning with faint praise. Sadly, there is more background. Although it isn't entirely clear from the dialogue, this is actually a sequel. The first film is even worse.

If you were strapped to a chair with your eyes forcibly open (like Alex in "A Clockwork Orange") then you would have an excuse for seeing (not watching) this movie. Please Mr. Mitchell, stop writing/directing movies; or, if you find it impossible to control your urge, at least share with us how you obtain financing so that some worthy filmmakers can off-set this drivel with their work.

This movie is listed on Tubi TV as The Facility rather than as The Rizen: Possession. There's no indication that it is a sequel or related to any other movie. I don't know why they listed it like this especially since they also have the first movie. Whatever the reason, it doesn't do this movie any favors. Without the previous movie for context, a lot of what happens in this one just becomes incoherent nonsense. For examples, there are a lot of flashbacks. In some of them you see the actors in different costumes. In some you see somewhat similar looking but clearly different actors. These are the actors from the first movie but it just makes no sense if you haven't seen that. There are a lot of things like that in this movie.

This is a decent sci-fi horror movie but make sure you watch The Rizen first. Otherwise, a lot of this movie won't make a bit of sense.

This is a sequel - there is another Rizen this follows up on - so no pun intended. You do not really have to see the previous movie, but if you do, you will see the connection(s) ... no pun intended here either. The movie looks a lot better than the other movie. The acting is also way better overall. Script seems to be tighter too.

What is missing (if you want to call it that), is the silly humor the first movie had. The action steps it up though - and we have two stories interconnected. If you have a heart for low budget Science Fiction Horror movies - you could do far worse than this. I dug it and have to admit, with the limited budget and the location restrictions ... this is quite well done.