Mixed thoughts about this movie. First of all, I was scared that it was going to suck and even nervous when I started watching it because 1) I thought the first film was one of the best thrillers I have ever seen, 2) Isabelle Fuhrman is 13 years older and her character is somehow meant to be younger than 9 years old, and 3) it's from the same director who directed The Boy movies and The Devil Inside.
So let's start with this, did I have a good experience? Sadly, no. I had mixed thoughts about this movie.
I thought the storytelling was actually quite impressive, and I don't blame Isabelle Fuhrman for reprising the role. It's just that it was poorly directed, and the scenario could have been better. Anyway, the plot twist is honestly one of the best things about the movie; it's really nice and unexpected. The storytelling and plot twist worked well and connected so well with the first film.
The movie is too short and feels rushed. There was not enough time to develop the tension, the thrills, and the chemistry between the characters. There was also very little action. It was one of my main problems with the movie. The first film had a perfect runtime.
I honestly wasn't a fan of the visuals. It was dark at times and had some weird smoke and blurs. Why is that? It didn't have the same atmosphere and vibes as the first film, which really sucks.
I found the techniques used to make Isabelle Fuhrman appear younger surprisingly convincing. She still looked old in some scenes, especially if you saw the side view of her face. But then she looked like a child in some scenes, which surprised me a bit. I was surprised by how well they did the makeup.
Isabelle Fuhrman was excellent and creepy in it, just as she was in the first film, and even saved the movie. Her performance was quite the highlight of the movie. I just wished she had more roles; she proved once again how she's a really good actress. Other than that, I wasn't a fan of the entire cast, to be honest, except for Julia Stiles. I thought she did a good job.
The kills/gore are okay, and I don't find it really violent. The first film had way more violent kills. The ending was okay but felt a bit predictable and rushed again.
Final thoughts: I think the biggest downfall is that it was poorly directed, had a weak scenario, and didn't have the same vibes as the first film. The only good things are Isabelle Fuhrman's performance, the makeups they did, and the plot twist.
It could have been much, much better, though. If they had done it better, I believe it would have been almost as good as the first film. But it failed, and I'm kinda sad about that.
6.5 out of 10.