David F. Sandberg's most recent home-brewed horror short is yet another collaboration with his wife, Lotta Losten. 'Cam Closer II (2023)' acts as a conceptual sequel to the ten-year-old 'Cam Closer (2013)', taking a similar premise and doing something slightly different with it. I do mean "slightly", as the picture isn't really all that different from its predecessor. The flick is a bit too long, even at around four minutes in length, because it ekes itself out past the point of suspense. It's also rather predictable, which leads to a feeling that you're waiting for the scare to be over rather than anticipating an upcoming break in the tension. It may seem like a small distinction but it's definitely significant. Having said all that, the piece has the same sort of DIY charm that many of Sandberg's other shorts also have. It's really endearing to know this now big-time director is still making movies at home with his phone seemingly for the fun of it. The original short was, as far as I can tell, Sandberg's first foray into the horror genre, so this new outing represents a sort of ten-year anniversary celebration. Plus, the picture is well-crafted throughout and retains the simplicity key to short-form horror. It's a solid, if slightly underwhelming effort that reminds you just how down to earth David F. Sandberg still is.
