I recently bought 8MM 1&2 together as a bundle. I felt like the first movie was an okay thriller, with some stellar performances by the accompanying cast. After watching the second movie, I was dazed as to the connection between parts 1 and 2: there is none. In the first movie, the protagonist goes looking for the fate of a young girl who ended up starring in a snuff film. His investigation finally leads to Dino Velvet, a deranged porn producer. The full title of the second part implies ("The Velvet Side of Hell")that we will be diving into Dino's debauched world a bit further, but that is not the case. In fact, there is not a single connection between this film and the first. As an explanation, I believe the production company wanted to make a few extra bucks and decided to give the film a more recognizable title.When I checked the extras, the director seemed like an artistic person, but he was too gratuitous about his actors, to say the least. He kept going on about how they 'understood the script'. If that was the case, the two protagonists reflected it poorly. In scenes where they get a dramatic close-up, they lack depth and conviction. And instead of building character persona, their characters just seem to make random statements, having no real perspective or opinion of their own. For instance, when Tish is shown the photo's in the diner, she reacts with "we look seriously hot in these". Scenes later, she sees the photo's as a matter of life and death, stopping at nothing to keep them from the media. The concluding scene tries to combine elements of Fincher's The Game with elements of Singer's The Usual Suspects, but comes off as a cheap imitation (how can Risa or the cop be alive?).Nonetheless, it is an intriguing film to watch. The morbid underworld of the Hungarian porn industry is depicted goth-like with an ominous feel to it. As a shooting location, the Alhambra baths are amazing. This location is highlighted by the introduction of the scantily clad character Risa, portrayed by Zita Gorog. Watch this movie when you have already had desert, you are still full of the main course but you could go for a late night snack.

I believe the production value is OK..probably deserves a 4/10 or 5/10.it's traditionally filmed,featuring good looking people with model quality and a little class..but the premise let me annoyed..a decent woman would do such dirt? I mean she is gonna marry a man who would have sex with another woman? and what's more serious she is also active in the behavior...... only in de Laclos's mind....the film also have many aspects that makes Eastern Europeans seem immoralafter all, it's just movie, if it doesn't intend to degrade women in general, I will give one more point..but obviously, it doesconclusion: a nasty piece of crap with a little taste

I have to admit that I'm a huge fan of the original "8 MM". I didn't expect this sequel to be equally good or even half as decent as the original, but I decided to give it a chance because I read it's plot here in IMDb.The truth is that I ended up liking it big time mainly because it deals with topics that are very interesting for me: politics, sex, promiscuity, threesomes, Europe, guns, and mobs.Everything gets screwed up for a couple that travels to Europe and after having a steamy visit to a night club and participate in a threesome with a super hot European beauty; they're taped during their threesome and later getting blackmailed by unknown criminals. This leads to a very interesting and bloody investigation.Some situations include murders, visiting dark places that include prostitution, drugs, and more.The political point of view is pretty interesting mainly because it deals with labor aspirations, laws, and we can see how corruption works at all levels.Lori Heuring is extremely sexy and I enjoyed her sex scene. I mean, I enjoyed every single moment she was on screen. ;) The direction is just regular and the cinematography does it's work pretty well. I mean, I always cheer up for the combination of darkness used in colorful settings.After the ending I thought to myself: "Man, this was a solid entertaining, dark and violent flick, I enjoyed it".Give it a chance but don't think about the dark masterpiece from 1999.

J.S. Cardone has been putting out little gems like this one for years now. I think he has a great story sense and a great eye as a director. He always manages to make these lower budget movies look very classy and this one is no exception.Was the plot predictable and sometimes improbable? To some degree, yes. But ultimately it doesn't matter, because you have a good time following these two as they take their journey through the dark side of Budapest. The sex and nudity may be a bit too much for some, but I found it tasteful and artistically managed.I think it's a shame this thing was tagged 8mm2. It would likely have been treated better by the reviewers here if it had been called something else, since it obviously has no relationship to 8mm, which, I think, is an inferior movie.I've tried to make it a point to find as many Cardone films (either written or directed) as I can. Frankly, being a novelist myself, I would love one day to see Cardone adapt one of my books. Unfortunately, that's not something I have control over...