Continuing on where the first feature left off, set-up like a part 2 - a high-school girl receives the cursed locker key from her teacher/tutor as she lies mysteriously ill in the hospital bed. A flashback sequence of the two in conversation pops up to reminds us just where it's heading. So curiosity gets the better when she sets out to find the truth behind the urban legend of a paid locker, where a new born child was left to die. So those looking for love using "this" locker, placing a gift inside and confessing their love; instead feel the wrath of a spirit who wants them dead. Nothing personal - just the naivety of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. So in traditional form, a cursed object is the centerpiece to all of this horror and those who come into contact can't escape what fate has in stored. I love how these characters shove their heads into the locker as if it stretches out for miles, or hoping for something to come out and say boo(!).
The structure is more of the same, as before, but in true sequel fashion. There are frequent shots of the spirit; some plot expansion on the curse and the commonplace thrills come thick and fast, while the characters are secondary to all of this. Despite the fact there are quite a few plot threads running at the same time (involving the medical staff, bullies, friends and our protagonist), in the end it's all about putting these characters into situations that can only end in one way. The mystery is no longer there and Horie lets it open up. In doing so things (including the curse) seem to move at much quicker rate. This means some techniques from the original are hardly used (the phantom baby cries), or completely discarded (the moving sack that the baby was found in). When this spirit appears, it's straightforward; a poor man's miniature hybrid of Sakado (RINGU) and Kayako (JU-ON) --- from her pale appearance, right down to her jerky body movements. All she does is pop up out of nowhere staring, or if feeling extra motivated invisibly flinging her victims around and pulling them into darkness. Few shots can be creepy, like the reused fright from the first film, but executed even better here that it makes you feel sore from watching it happen. However more often it's repetitive and might raise a chuckle when not using shadows, or taut camera angles to hide the less than convincing make-up that shows in well lit set-pieces.
Not as dark, or even dreary. The shot-on locations don't have that sterile look, but for me the ominous air, in spite of some inconsistencies in the placement of the ghost, was still felt. Where as the first film I found dull, and solemn, this second sequel feels less distant, wanting to up the chaos and providing more weird occurrences to compensate for its formulaic mindset. I was definitely captivated, even if the drama's pure fluff with no real resolution, deaths not as gritty and the characters less defined, but most of the cast, especially Maki Horikita, do a capable job.
Issues aside, at least this sequel throws caution to the wind and was better for it.
