14 Cameras (2018) Review – A Cluttered and Cliched Voyeuristic Slasher
14 Cameras: Quick Verdict
The Verdict: A cluttered and uninspired sequel that abandons its predecessor’s unique voyeuristic hook in favour of generic slasher cliches and a messy, multi-threaded plot. 14 Cameras (2018) succeeds only in providing a more plausible setting for its surveillance premise, utilising the transient nature of a holiday rental to mask Gerald’s intrusions. Neville Archambault remains the film’s most effective asset. The inclusion of numerous underdeveloped sub-plots – ranging from kidnapping to cyber-crime – results in a chaotic narrative that fails to generate genuine suspense. While a young Amber Midthunder provides a hint of the talent she would later become known for, the script leaves the cast with little more than annoying teen archetypes to play. This 2 star effort is a watchable, yet ultimately redundant, follow-up that trades psychological discomfort for routine violence. It is a technical step backward for the series. It is for completionists only.
Details: Directors: Seth Fuller, Scott Hussion | Cast: Neville Archambault, Amber Midthunder, Brytnee Ratledge | Runtime: 1h 29m | Release Date: 2018
Best for: Viewers looking for a mindless “background” horror movie or those who enjoyed Neville Archambault’s performance in the original.
Worth noting: Neville Archambault’s performance in the series became so iconic that he frequently interacted with fans online, embracing the meme-worthy nature of Gerald’s facial expressions.
Where to Watch: VOD, Amazon🛒
Rating: 2/5 Stars
(A masterfully acted but narratively messy sequel that trades the unique voyeuristic tension of its predecessor for a cluttered, formulaic slasher approach that fails to leave a lasting impact.)
Welcome to Knockout Horror and for our review today, we are spending some time with Gerald the slumlord in 14 Cameras.
Table of Contents
Holiday home voyeuristic horror
In our review of 13 Cameras we spoke about the very real threat of voyeurism via surveillance in the modern age. We’ve actually put together a list on the subject — 25 Stalking and Voyeuristic Horror Movies Ranked. Why not check it out?
“14 Cameras uses a potentially more believable scenario for Gerald’s adventures. Set in a holiday home, the idea that someone would accept things as they are is much more believable.”
The story is very much more of the same. A couple wants to get away for a few weeks with the family. They find a gorgeous home online that appears to be cheap for what they want and so they book it and pack their stuff. When the family arrives they begin to enjoy their vacation. They don’t notice anything amiss until the daughter’s friend has intimate items vanish. Little do they realise that, all the while, Gerald the Slumlord is watching and sharing their every move with the world.
14 Cameras uses a potentially more believable scenario for Gerald’s voyeuristic adventures. Whereas 13 Cameras was set in a rental house, 14 Cameras is set in a rented holiday home. You no longer have to wonder how the people that live in the home permanently have not spotted the badly hidden cameras. The idea that someone would accept things as they are in a place they will only be staying in for a week is much more believable.
An interesting gimmick: spoiled!
What 14 Cameras lacks, however, is the interesting hidden camera gimmick from the original. The new directors, Scott Hussion and Seth Fuller, seem to have taken a completely different approach with 14 Cameras. We have far less of the interesting, voyeuristic shots from the hidden cameras, far less emphasis on the spying, and more of a slasher approach. This takes the things that made the original at least a little novel and makes them far more ordinary.
We no longer see things through Gerald’s eyes and with his motivation. With the exception of a pointless shot of a woman in the shower, there is no perverse focus on the intimate moments of the characters. Gerald is a moneymaking dynamo now who barely cares for temptations of the flesh. Gerald has more pressing concerns. In fact, he is now the star of the show, not the cameras. we follow Gerald to different venues to commit his crimes and watch him attack people. We rarely dip into what made 13 Cameras relatively unique.
Too many plot lines
With that shift comes a movie that’s more interested in plot. There is similar focus on drama to the original but there appears to be far more of it now. There is actually so much going on in 14 Cameras that it begins to feel messy almost right away.
“What 14 Cameras lacks is the interesting hidden camera gimmick from the original. The directors take a slasher approach, taking things that were novel and making them ordinary.”
From the start of the movie we have to follow about six different plot lines. We’ve got the family stuff, the kids acting like prats, Gerald being disgusting, a pair of kidnapped women, and a whole bunch of Dark Web nonsense. There’s a lot going on here and, needless to say, each arc is very diluted.
Most of them intersect at the end of the movie in an explosion of chaos that comes, pretty much, out of nowhere. While some just fizzle off into the ether. It’s just horribly untidy and the 90 minute run time feels chaotic.
Not another teen horror
Unfortunately, we spend a lot of our time in 14 Cameras with Molly (Brytnee Ratledge) and her friend Danielle (Amber Midthunder) who are both just obnoxious. They are cliched, typical teen girls with no personality. Amber Midthunder, in particular, shows very little hint here of the fantastic actor she would go on to become. Given how talented she is, I am sure she was probably just bored with the role. The writers certainly didn’t give them anything to work with.
Molly’s brother Kyle (John Paul-Howard who would go on to star in The Wretched) has even less to work with as he is really only there to give potheads someone to relate to. He isn’t even comic relief, something this movie could definitely use. The only laughs come from how bad some of the scenes are. I’m happy to say that Gerald is still creepy, though.
The late Neville Archambault knows how to act unsettling. He has a lot more charisma in this movie and speaks a lot more than he did in 13 Cameras. He actually has a few snappy lines that make you giggle. You can’t help but feel sorry for him having to watch those annoying girls for so long just to catch site of a nipple or a naked bum. At least he is making good money from it thanks to his Dark Web venture.
“Neville Archambault was allowed to work with Gerald a lot more in this movie. He is a slightly more developed character, still mainly moaning and groaning while gurning hilariously.”
Neville Archambault was allowed to work with Gerald a lot more in this movie. He is a slightly more developed character and he has multiple ventures. He still mainly moans and groans while gurning hilariously but there is a bit more depth there.
It’s still fairly watchable for fans of this type of thing
Look, you know what to expect with these films. They are fairly watchable if you are in the mood for that type of thing. It’s a basic slasher with some voyeurism thrown in for good measure. The antagonist is creepy and there are a few moments that will make you laugh.
Sure the script is bad, the plot lines are messy, and the acting is sub-par. But for a quick horror movie to throw on while you are playing a video game or browsing the web, 14 Cameras is fine. You just have to align your expectations.
Cinematography is okay, it has a few suspenseful moments towards the middle and end, and there is a likable character or two buried in there somewhere. It’s just not the type of film you want to grab a bucket of popcorn and watch intently, though.
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
The Good
- Neville Archambault: Remains genuinely creepy and carries the film with his unique, unsettling physical performance and increased charisma.
- Better Concept: Moving the action to a holiday rental is a much more logical and believable scenario for hidden surveillance than a permanent residence.
- Amber Midthunder: Despite the weak script, she provides a professional anchor for the teen cast before her eventual breakout in films like Prey.
The Bad
- Messy Plotlines: The film attempts to juggle too many stories at once, leading to a disjointed narrative that lacks focus and impact.
- Loss of Identity: By abandoning the voyeuristic POV shots of the first film, the sequel feels like just another generic and forgettable slasher.
- Annoying Characters: The teen protagonists are written as obnoxious cliches, making it difficult for the audience to invest in their survival.
The Ugly: The Dark Web Expansion. A narrative pivot that turns Gerald into a business mogul, stripping away the simple, personal perversion that made him scary.
Should You Watch 14 Cameras?
Probably not. It is a 2 star film that fails to live up to the minor cult success of its predecessor. If you are a fan of Neville Archambault or just need something mindless to throw on in the background, it’s watchable, but for those seeking a tight, effective horror movie, it’s a disappointment. The shift to standard slasher tropes and the cluttered multi-plot approach makes the 89-minute runtime feel far more chaotic than tense. It is an intelligent, technical failure that proves more isn’t always better.
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