'Paranormal Activity 2'

'Paranormal Activity 2' (R) (3 stars)

Writers: Oren Peli and Michael R. Perry
Director: Tod Williams
Starring: Katie Featherstone

Usually when a surprise horror film sensation comes out and a sequel follows the year after it is probably a rush job. Just to cash in on the surprise success of the first movie the sequel turns out really bad. It happened with the last sensation, "The Blair Witch Project" which had a terrible sequel but it surprisingly doesn't happen with "Paranormal Activity 2". This sequel was as fun as the first movie and maybe better directed. The original had a couple who lived together deciding to film with a video camera their house. They heard disturbances and strange noises and wanted to catch on camera what was really happening. What the sequel does is happen about the same time as the first one but in a different house. The house this time belongs to the sister of the original female character and her boyfriend and two children. When the family is away one day they come back home to find the place ransacked. They assume it was a break in and burglary but strangely nothing is missing. Then after a few noises, pots and pans moving and doors slamming shut they start to think something strange is going on. Is the house haunted or is this just the usual wind blowing doors shut and the house creaking?

The first "Paranormal Activity" was an effective and fun horror movie. It relied on surprise shocks, minimal blood and it tried to set a tone and build suspense. It was well done and was much more effective then the bloody torture porn movies that came out about that time like the "Saw" movies. I sensed that a lot of movie goers were satisfied with it and found it scary. I have seen a lot of scarier movies but I liked how the movie worked. I was cynical about there being a sequel but like the first one this movie works also. It does the same effective job of building suspense and keeping our attention during the whole movie. It is funny in spots, relatively well acted and there are some fun jolts and shocks. There might be more scenes to make you jump then the first one, I jumped a couple of times. All I know is the movie worked for me. There is one issue that I must address that might spook some especially parents. There is a child about three years old that is part of the family in this house. Many of the scares involve the kid even though he is never in danger and nothing really happens to him. I understand this might make some people angry or upset but this kind of thing has been happening in movies for ages. This is a goofy but sometimes scary horror movie that just wants to make us jump and feel uneasy. Like the first we all have been alone in a house and have experienced strange stuff. These movies work on our fears and does it successfully. I wouldn't even mind seeing them attempt a third one.