Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
"Torture porn" sequel packed with bloody, gory deathtraps.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Collection
What's the Story?
The "Collector" from the first movie is still at large, and a thief, Arkin (Josh Stewart), who infiltrated his lair, is still a prisoner. When the Collector sets a huge deathtrap for dozens of young people -- in the form of a hot dance party -- Arkin escapes. Unfortunately, pretty Elena (Emma Fitzpatrick) becomes the villain's next prisoner. Elena's wealthy father (Christopher McDonald) sends out an elite rescue squad, who enlist the reluctant Arkin to find and navigate the Collector's hideout. But what happens when superior firepower and bravery are no match for the Collector's treacherous deathtraps?
Is It Any Good?
Writer/director Marcus Dunstan and co-writer Patrick Melton worked on several of the Saw movies, as well as Piranha 3DD, and their taste for torture and extreme gore carries over to THE COLLECTION. Possibly to their credit, the gore isn't as strong here as in other entries in the "torture porn" subgenre, with the movie instead focusing on inventive and imaginative set design, like something out of a gruesome Halloween haunted house.
Creepy traps lurk around every corner, and displays of mutilated bodies formed into new shapes can cause chills, even without the benefit of characters or a story. Unfortunately, that's where The Collection falters. The characters have wooden personalities, and their behavior can best be described as "unthinking." The villain, likewise, has no personality and feels like a dull rip-off of slasher villains from the 1970s and 1980s. With no emotional pull, the movie quickly grows stagnant, and no amount of creative gore can save it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Collection's violence. How intense is it? Is it scary, suspenseful, or just disgusting?
What's the appeal of "torture porn" horror movies?
How do the filmmakers treat the heroine's disability? Is she a role model?
What are the best examples of teamwork in this movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 30, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : March 26, 2013
- Cast : Christopher McDonald , Emma Fitzpatrick , Josh Stewart
- Director : Marcus Dunstan
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : LD Entertainment
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 82 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence, grisly images, language and brief nudity
- Last updated : September 21, 2019
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