Paranormal Activity 2 gave me a cramp in my ass. Literally, I jerked my leg so violently out of shock at one point that I injured myself. I also screamed. More than once. And laughed a few times. In my opinion that makes for the perfect Halloween movie that will put your nerves on a state of alert.
I know what you’re thinking. The first Paranormal Activity (2009) was kind of boring, cool ending but didn’t live up to the hype. That movie was marketed as a true story along the lines of "The Blair Witch Project." Young couple Micah and Katie believed their house to be haunted and set up surveillance cameras to record the demonic bumps in the night. The entire film was shot via home video and surveillance camera footage and included disclaimers such as “The filmmakers would like to thank the families of Micah and Katie” to make it appear more realistic. The movie was a huge viral marketing success and ended up being one of the most financially profitable films of the year. It also ended with Katie becoming possessed by the demon force and killing Micah. What room does that leave for the sequel? Prequel!
This time it’s better. I’m sure the budget gifted by Paramount Pictures didn’t hurt. Oren Peli, writer-director of the original has stepped into a producer’s role with Tod "Kip" Williams directing. Paranormal Activity 2 centers around Katie’s sister, Kristi, her husband, Dan and teenage step-daughter, Ali. Kristi has just had a baby boy (read: first born son, demons like those). Like the first movie, all the action takes place in the family home. After what they believe to be a human break-in, the family installs surveillance cameras to record any nefarious nighttime activity. This time, there are more surveillance cameras, which lessens the shaky handheld footage that annoyed me during the first film and generally makes the movie easier to watch.
There are also more characters this time around. The family employs a housekeeper/nanny, Martine, who tries to ward off the evil spirits in Spanish. She might be a bit of a stereotype but it was funny when she got fired, then rehired for her brujeria. Ali occupies the role of the almost gothy kid into looking up demons on the Internet. There’s a family dog, who of course can see spirits and a one year-old baby boy that does a damn good scary face. All these character additions make the movie more well rounded and interesting than the first one.
I will warn you that it starts out slow. But think of it as a mounting anticipation of the scariness you know will come. Because when it starts, you will be on the edge of your seat. This isn’t a bloody slasher movie. It has minimal special effects and almost no gore. Where it succeeds is in the anticipation factor. It’s what you don’t see that scares you the most.
The surveillance footage makes good use of white noise from TV signals and baby monitors, which is almost as scary as the taught, breathless silence. Especially when it’s interrupted by demonic crashes and thumps. For maximum effect, make sure to go at a time when the theatre will be crowded. Dozens of screaming audience members add to the ambience.
The ending is somewhat subdued compared to the big jump moment at the end of the first one. But the door was definitely left open for Paranormal Activity 3. When the movie ends, you will be left in a state of suspense. Even waiting for the credits (which they delay on purpose). And, in my case, on the dark, silent walk home from the movie theatre. Someone stepped on a grate across the street from me and I jumped. So all in all, the movie was a success.
