P2

NEW YORK (CNS) -- As almost every driver will admit, a parking garage is a legitimate locus of terror. But the pedestrian horror movie "P2" (Summit) only manages to transform a subterranean Manhattan structure into a setting for monotonous, dispiriting violence with few frights and myriad predictable turns.

Working late on Christmas Eve, Angela (Rachel Nichols) is in a hurry to join her sister and other family members for a celebration in New Jersey. Parking attendant Thomas (Wes Bentley) has other ideas -- all of which he cribbed from an outdated edition of a psycho-villain manual.

Chaining her to a table so they can enjoy the trappings of a Christmas dinner, he asks her to believe he's just a lonely fellow seeking companionship and innocent holiday cheer.

Tortured by the sadistic vehicular murder Thomas commits, not to mention his Elvis impression, the audience is in the same quandary as Angela. What's the best strategy for extricating oneself -- playing along or fighting back? Some resistance is called for, yet her ultimate response is excessively cruel (even under the circumstances).

Franck Khalfoun, who co-wrote the generic script, has only managed to serve up an offensive, dull and distasteful Christmas pudding.

The film contains significant violence and gore including the killing of a dog, frequent rough language and profanity, and two scenes of brief groping. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is O -- morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops