Feng Shui 2 (2014) Review: A Filipino Horror Sequel About Greed, Luck, and the Bagua Curse

 

Feng Shui 2 | 2014 | 1h 40m
Genre: Horror / Mystery / Thriller | Country: Philippines
Director: Chito S. Roño | Writers: Chito S. Roño, Roy Iglesias
Cast: Kris Aquino, Coco Martin, Cherry Pie Picache
IMDb: 5.3
My Rate: 7/10

Lester accidentally sees his own reflection in the Bagua he steals, unaware that the good fortune entering his life—and the misfortune affecting those around him—is caused by the cursed object. Joy eventually appears to reveal its hidden secret.

Warning

Contains scenes of violence and murder.

 
Synopsis of Feng Shui 2

The twin family who previously found the Bagua meets a tragic fate.

Lester (Coco Martin) is tasked with taking the Bagua and delivering it to a relative of Lotus Feet, the ghost believed to possess the cursed object. However, another man takes the Bagua first and brings it to a temple.

Determined to complete his task, Lester follows the man and steals the Bagua. Unaware of its curse, he opens the package to see what is inside and accidentally sees his own reflection in the Bagua mirror.

Soon afterward, Lester begins experiencing unexpected good fortune. Even the loan shark who had taken his motorcycle suddenly decides to let him keep it. Lester discovers that the Bagua has been placed above the entrance of his house, although he does not know who put it there.

While initially planning to return it, Lester gradually gives in to his greed and decides to keep the Bagua for himself.

The good fortune continues, but it comes with a terrible price. Lester's mother becomes the next victim and dies tragically.

Lester finally realizes that the Bagua has brought a curse into his life, especially after Joy appears and notices the Bagua inside his home. Joy becomes frightened because good fortune has begun returning to her own life as well.

Joy tries to help Lester and asks Lily, the Bagua's original owner, to help them destroy it once and for all.

Will they succeed in breaking the curse?

 
Review of Feng Shui 2

Feng Shui 2 was developed from an idea by Coco Martin, who was a fan of the original Feng Shui (2004). For viewers who want to understand the story fully, I recommend watching the first film before this sequel because the two stories are directly connected. Although the sequel introduces new ideas, it does not completely stand on its own.

The film opens with an interesting sequence summarizing events from the first film in black and white. Color gradually appears, creating a visual transition that connects the previous story to the present. This is an effective way to establish the relationship between the two films.

Compared with the first film, the story is not simply repeated. Several new elements are introduced, including the idea that the number of supernatural victims continues to increase.

However, the horror feels less intense than in the first film. Individual deaths are not given as much emphasis, so the sense of dread is weaker. As a result, parts of the story can feel less exciting, and the foundation of the horror does not feel as strong.

Another weakness is Lester's character. Since he should be the main protagonist of this sequel, his background and personal story could have been explored more deeply. Instead, his character begins to lose importance once Joy returns.

This is unfortunate because so much of the film initially focuses on Lester. Strengthening his character could have made the second half more emotionally impactful.

The performances are generally good. The lighting, camera movement, and editing are also handled well, while the music and soundtrack help build tension in several scenes.

Unfortunately, the resolution is less satisfying than the first film.

Spoiler alert.

The first Feng Shui ends with Joy's disappearance after the Bagua is discovered by her new neighbor. Her fate is left unexplained, creating an effective open ending and leaving viewers curious about what might happen next.

Interestingly, after watching the sequel, that ending feels connected to the larger story. Even without a second film, the ending of the original could still have worked as a satisfying conclusion because it leaves the supernatural story open while maintaining the mystery.

The sequel, however, feels less complete. Joy's reaction when she suddenly hears the voice of her lover raises another question about what happened to him. It may have been more satisfying if the story had ended when Joy found Lester's body.

The post-credits scene involving Lester's lover also adds another layer that makes the conclusion feel even less satisfying.

Despite these weaknesses, the story remains enjoyable and reasonably systematic. The film also carries a simple message that greed does not necessarily bring happiness or good fortune. What initially looks like a blessing can become the source of our downfall when we allow greed to control our decisions.

Overall, Feng Shui 2 is still an entertaining supernatural horror sequel, although it does not reach the impact of the original.

 

Memorable Scene

Lester's father, who has been absent for years, suddenly returns with good news. He wants to take Lester and his mother to live in a better house.

Lester sees this as an incredible stroke of luck.

At first, Lester is angry and resentful toward his father for disappearing and failing to contact them for so long, especially because his absence contributed to his mother's depression. Yet his father's return still brings him happiness, particularly when he sees how happy his mother is.

This scene captures the complicated emotions that can exist within a family. Even when someone has hurt us deeply, their return can still bring feelings of happiness, hope, and longing.

 

Memorable Dialogue

"You lived because you fought."

 

Ending

Cliffhanger

 

Recommendation

Worth Watching

(Aluna Uwie)