An inexpensively made high-concept thriller, P2 offers a rare starring role for Wes Bentley, who impressed critics and moviegoers as a troubled youth in American Beauty but has since failed to capitalize on his breakout role. Here he plays a psychopathic parking-garage attendant who kidnaps a young businesswoman (Rachel Nichols) on Christmas Eve and holds her prisoner underground (the title refers to the floor of the parking garage) in anticipation of some holiday fun. Director and co-writer Franck Khalfoun does a tolerably good job of maintaining suspense in what is essentially a two-character piece that unfolds in a cramped setting, but P2 never really transcends the limitations of the woman-in-peril formula, and viewers familiar with the genre will always be one jump ahead of the filmmakers. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Franck Khalfoun. “A New Level of Fear” making-of featurette (12 min.), a “Designing Terror” production featurette (5 min.), “Tension Nouveau: Presenting Franck Khalfoun” segment on the director (3 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a so-so thriller.] (E. Hulse)
P2
Summit, 98 min., R, DVD: $26.99, Apr. 8 Volume 23, Issue 2
P2
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