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- Wes Bentley Is Delightfully Chilling as a Homicidal Maniac in ‘P2’
- ‘P2’ Deserves to Be a Christmas (And Non-Christmas) Horror Staple
- Roger Ebert Was Right (And Many Other Critics Were Wrong) About ‘P2’
As a horror enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that “P2” is one of those hidden gems that deserves more recognition than it currently receives. Having spent countless nights huddled in the dark watching every creepy corner of the screen, I can attest to the fact that this film delivers an exceptional level of tension and suspense.
Wes Bentley consistently showcases a remarkable talent for expressing deep emotions through his eyes, as demonstrated in the premiere of Yellowstone‘s fifth and final season Part 2. The haunting gaze of Bentley’s character, Jamie Dutton, poignantly conveys the turmoil and shock of a prodigal son who has betrayed his father, John Dutton, by ordering a hit on him – a powerful portrayal that speaks volumes more than any spoken words could.
The piercing, unforgiving gaze of actor Bentley has allowed him to excel in numerous iconic villain characters, such as his portrayals as the demon Blackheart in “Ghost Rider”, Seneca Crane the ruthless game-maker in “The Hunger Games”, and Adleman Lusk the corrupt politician in “Jonah Hex”. One of Bentley’s standout yet often underestimated performances can be found in the 2007 psychological horror film “P2“, where he plays Thomas, a mentally unstable security guard who torments a young woman, portrayed by Rachel Nichols, inside an underground parking garage on Christmas Eve.
Despite appearing as a typical, run-of-the-mill slasher movie from its plot description, P2 manages to elevate the genre with its eerie ambiance, creative approach, and standout performance by Bentley, which mirrors his deliriously insane character that shares similarities with Norman Bates in Psycho. Similar to Norman, Thomas’s homicidal tendencies stem from his deep-seated isolation from the external world. Much like Norman, it is Thomas’s longing to avoid spending Christmas solitarily that fuels his murderous instincts, rooted in relatable human emotions.
Wes Bentley Is Delightfully Chilling as a Homicidal Maniac in ‘P2’
In the same vein as captivating film antagonists, Wes Bentley’s character Thomas, in P2, presents as a chilling yet understandable figure due to his portrayal of a man driven to extremes by the isolating nature of his job as a security guard in an empty underground parking garage. With access to advanced technology, Thomas has devised ways to monitor the office block and its workers, particularly Angela, whom he finds intriguing. Thomas’s fixation on her is unhealthy, but all he yearns for is to share a festive meal with her – Christmas dinner filled with mashed potatoes, turkey, and holiday decorations in his office, which he has meticulously prepared for the occasion.
At the start of the movie, Angela spends Christmas Eve working alone in her midtown Manhattan office as everyone else goes home. Later, she finds herself on the second subterranean parking level when her car fails to start. It’s here that she meets Thomas for the first time. Appearing kind and helpful at first, Thomas is a stalker-type character who believes he’s rescuing Angela rather than harming her. This misconception persists even after he knocks her unconscious with chloroform and binds her to a table in his office, where he confesses his affection for her.
Instead of the common trope in slasher movies where the heroine often acts imprudently, P2 showcases Angela making thoughtful and strategic decisions throughout the movie’s challenging scenarios. The shrewd approach of P2 involves consistently placing Angela in situations where she must make the wisest choices amid progressively limited options, all while being tormented by Thomas, a cunning antagonist who amplifies the tension by broadcasting Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” through the garage intercom as part of his terror tactics.
‘P2’ Deserves to Be a Christmas (And Non-Christmas) Horror Staple
During discussions about the top Christmas horror movies, the 1974 film Black Christmas often stands out as a classic, and the more recent 2015 movie Krampus is also recognized as a modern Christmas horror classic. However, unlike these two films, P2 has been largely overlooked in its post-theatrical existence, particularly during the Christmas season. While Black Christmas and Krampus have found their place on streaming platforms and television during Christmas, P2 hasn’t managed to build a significant audience over the past 15 years.
One reason why the film P2 hasn’t become widely popular as a Christmas horror classic is that its connection to Christmas is not immediately apparent due to its simple setting. Despite its potential to rank higher among Christmas horror movies, P2 stands out as an exceptional case of a horror movie set in a single location. The grim, dimly lit, and surprisingly spacious underground parking garage setting of P2 successfully creates an atmosphere of unease and familiarity – while almost everyone has been inside a parking garage at some point, few would want to linger there for too long.
Roger Ebert Was Right (And Many Other Critics Were Wrong) About ‘P2’
In November 2007, during the start of the 2007 holiday movie season, the film “P2” was released. With a production budget of $3.5 million, it earned around $2 million in its initial weekend at over 2,100 cinemas across the U.S., which was one of the poorest openings for a movie screened at more than 2,000 theaters. The film eventually made about $4 million domestically and roughly $7.7 million globally in its entire run.
Upon its debut, the movie titled P2, currently boasting a 35% Rotten Tomatoes rating from critics and 36% approval from audiences, was generally panned by reviewers as a rehash of existing horror films with an overemphasis on gory scenes to create impact. One of the rare critics who appreciated it was the esteemed Roger Ebert, who aptly recognized its originality and acting prowess. Ebert commended the film in his writing:
The film is well-executed by sticking close to its script, considering the storyline. Rachel Nichols portrays Angela, the heroine in peril, who avoids making reckless decisions or blunders, and Wes Bentley plays the solitary guard, devoid of maniacal outbursts and excessive enthusiasm. Yes, he’s insane, but his character is the type of lonely guy who doesn’t understand why Angela refuses his Christmas dinner invitation (turkey, trimmings, and even corn muffins!), despite stripping her to her undergarments, chaining her to furniture, and having a vicious dog threatening her. He simply sees himself as a friend trying to bond.
P2 is now streaming for free, just in time for Christmas on Tubi.
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2024-12-16 02:01