Mirror Mirror 2: Raven Dance is a supernatural horror film from 1994 that serves as a sequel to the original movie, Mirror Mirror. The movie stars Tracy Wells, Roddy McDowall, and Sally Kellerman, among others. Set in a mental institution, the film follows the story of a psychiatric patient who possesses supernatural abilities and a mirror that imbues its user with unimaginable power.
The movie begins with a young girl named Marlee (Sara Suzanne Brown) being admitted to a psychiatric hospital after attempting to kill herself. Here, she meets a group of patients, including the eccentric and enigmatic Detective Sam Newfield (Roddy McDowall), who seems to know more about the institution than anyone else there. Meanwhile, the hospital administration, led by the sinister and mysterious Dr. Lasky (Sally Kellerman), is experimenting with a mirror that has strange supernatural powers. The mirror has the ability to make the user's desires come true, but at a terrible cost.
As Marlee struggles to come to terms with her mental illness, she begins to experience strange visions that seem to be connected to the mirror. She soon realizes that the mirror is connected to the mysterious death of a patient and that Dr. Lasky is hiding a terrible secret. With Sam's help, Marlee sets out to uncover the truth about the mirror and its connection to the hospital's dark past.
The film is full of eerie and suspenseful moments, with a lot of emphasis on atmosphere and tension-building. The psychiatric hospital setting adds an extra layer of unease, with the patients' erratic behavior and the institution's oppressive atmosphere heightening the tension. The film also has some well-executed horror sequences, with the mirror's supernatural powers leading to some disturbing and gruesome deaths.
Tracy Wells, who plays Marlee, delivers a convincing performance as the troubled young patient. Her character is sympathetic, and the movie does a good job of exploring the emotional turmoil that comes with mental illness. Roddy McDowall is excellent as the detective, bringing a sense of quirkiness and humor to the role. Sally Kellerman is appropriately creepy as the sinister Dr. Lasky, and Mark Ruffalo makes an early appearance in the film as a minor character.
One of the film's strengths is its use of symbolism and imagery to convey psychological themes. The mirror is an obvious symbol for self-reflection and introspection, but it also represents the danger of unchecked ego and desire. The film also explores the concept of identity by portraying the patients as individuals struggling to find their place in the world. This existential theme adds another layer of depth to the film, elevating it above a typical horror movie.
Overall, Mirror Mirror 2: Raven Dance is an effective horror movie that delivers a solid mix of scares and psychological exploration. While it lacks the originality of the first film, it is still an engaging and well-made sequel that fans of the genre should enjoy. The performances are strong, and the story is well-paced and suspenseful, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience guessing. If you're a fan of horror movies or psychological thrillers, Mirror Mirror 2: Raven Dance is definitely worth a watch.
Mirror Mirror 2: Raven Dance is a 1994 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.7.
