Grave Encounters 2, a 2012 Canadian supernatural horror film, delves into the eerie realm of found footage. Directed by John Poliquin and penned by The Vicious Brothers, this sequel entices viewers back to the ominous psychiatric hospital of its predecessor. The story unwinds around a group of Grave Encounters enthusiasts, driven to explore the validity of the first film's events. Their quest turns harrowing as they encounter the same sinister forces that plagued the original Grave Encounters crew.
Released on iTunes on October 2, 2012, and later hitting theaters in a limited release on October 12, 2012, the film achieved commercial success. Despite being critically panned, it has cultivated a dedicated cult following due to its meta nature, a testament to its lingering allure in the horror genre.
The script for the sequel was written by The Vicious Brothers with plans to turn the films into a trilogy, however, this never came to fruition after the lack of hype generated by Grave Encounter 2.
Plot[]
Film student Alex Wright, obsessed with the original "Grave Encounters" film, believes it to be more than fiction. Along with friends Jennifer Parker, Trevor Thompson, Tessa Hamill, and Jared Lee, Alex sets out to uncover the truth. His online plea for information attracts a mysterious message from "DeathAwaits666," leading to a chilling revelation from the mother of Sean Rogerson (The real name of Lance in Grave Encounters) who, despite suffering from dementia, insists her son is alive.
_bord.jpg){kind=link}
The film students using a Ouija board to contact the ghosts of Riverview.
Digging deeper, Alex discovers that the cast and crew from the first film are missing or dead. A confrontation with Jerry Hartfield, the producer, reveals the shocking truth: "Grave Encounters" was real. Driven to investigate further, Alex and his friends head to the abandoned Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital, now revealed to be an alias for its real name, Riverview Hospital, in British Columbia. There, they find more than they bargained for - a violent paranormal entity communicating through a Ouija board, a hostile security guard, and inexplicable events leading to the horrifying deaths of Jared and Tessa.
Their situation escalates as they become trapped within the hospital's shifting walls and endless corridors. Desperate, they are terrorized by demonic entities and witness the electrocution of the security guard. Their only glimmer of hope comes from a chance encounter with Lance Preston, now a deranged, lobotomized shell of his former self, who has survived in the hospital for over nine years.
_Red_Door.jpg){kind=link}
Lance attempting to leave through the red door.
Lance, manipulated by the sadistic Dr. Arthur Friedkin and the hospital's dark forces, leads them to a mysterious red door - the supposed exit. However, it proves to be another deceit. Lance's instructions to "finish the film" as a means of escape drive the narrative to its grim conclusion.
_Tunnel.jpg){kind=link}
A portal opening up in the wall.
In the hospital's sinister tunnels, Alex and Jennifer witness Friedkin's satanic rituals, including a lobotomy and an infant sacrifice. The horror peaks when Lance, intent on fulfilling the entities' demands, turns violent. After murdering Trevor, Lance then focuses on claiming the lives of Alex and Jennifer, before a portal opens up, swallowing Lance whole. In a twisted bid for freedom, Alex brutally kills Jennifer, completing the film and allowing him to escape through the red door.
Alex's harrowing journey ends on the streets of Los Angeles, where he is arrested, and the footage is exploited as another installment of the "Grave Encounters" series. The producer, Jerry, praises Alex's filmmaking while declaring that the film they just watched is completely fake. Alex then warns the public to stay away from the hospital. In a haunting post-credits scene, a camera captures a candid moment between Jennifer and Tessa, revealing unspoken feelings, adding a poignant touch to the chilling tale.