Return of the paranormal
By Selina Pinto November 4, 2010
Paranormal Activity 2 Starring Katie Featherson, Micah Sloat, Brian Boland, Sprague Grayden, Molly Ephriam, and Tim Clemens. Paramount Pictures. 91 mins. Rated R.
One year after Paranormal Activity was demanded by audiences, the sequel is scaring more movie goers than the original. Breaking box office records this time around, the film also doubles as a prequel.
With the handy, do-it-yourself cam style that is used in the first film, the plot begins with Kristi Rey (Sprague Grayden) returning from the hospital with her newborn son Hunter, her happy family documenting the first few months of Hunter’s life in their high-end household. Life is going exceptionally well for the family, especially when Kristi’s sister, Katie (Katie Featherson), and her boyfriend, Micah (Micah Sloat), tell Kristi of their plans to move in together in a house down the block. Those familiar with the first movie will know how that works out.
One morning, the family awakes to a messy household, immediately suspecting a burglary. After searching for some time, Kristi discovers the only object taken in a house full of valuable, material objects is a necklace given to her by Katie. To protect his family from another intrusion, Dan installs a video surveillance system in the house. This filming style, displaying entire rooms, makes certain scenes in Paranormal Activity 2 easier to watch than those from its predecessor.
The family continues with everyday life until their Hispanic maid Martine suspects evil and is let go because of her religious exorcism of the house. Similar to the first movie, small, odd things happen around the house at first, like the pool cleaner being taken out of the water every night and heavy noises coming from upstairs. However, the suspense this time is higher, and the amount of activity occurring in the house is more drastic.
Daughter Ali (Molly Ephriam) begins recording the behavior in the house on her camera and researching possible demon stories to determine the cause of the family’s curse. The activity in the house gets worse as people are terrorized, and even attacked, during all hours of the day.
Using footage shot by the family, the film displays a firsthand look into the lives of each family member. Video surveillance of every room, and surveillance outside the house, catches the activity taunting the family, as well as the personal attacks on its various members.
While explaining why Katie and Micah are terrorized in the first movie, this film also strives for more plot and character development. The reasoning for the sister’s curse is unexpected, and the tension, especially at night in the basement, is intense. The film also follows what happens the day after the first film ends and, as expected, it ain’t pretty.
I don’t care what anyone says or how much you thought the first one was bullshit—if you see this film in a crowded theatre at night, you will be scared. This film is proof that, like The Blair Witch Project, you don’t need a lot of gore and special effects to make a great horror movie. The build-up of tension and suspense, causing paranoia among audience members, is more terrifying than murderers or ghouls popping out of nowhere. The minimal effects are adequate because, used only when absolutely necessary, they play off of the building suspense. Unlike Blair Witch, this sequel is actually good.
If you’re looking for a good scare this Hallowe’en season, instead of seeing the same crap that has been recycled for the past seven years, go see this movie. If you do, I dare you not to check the room before you go to sleep at night.
3.5 out of 4.0 Stars
