By Tony Johnson, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Do not fret. I am not giving away any spoilers in this review. If you saw the original (a horror movie cult classic at this point) you will not be disappointed by the follow up. It brings new things to the table, but at the same time stays true to what made the original so special.
For those let down by the recent attempt of The Last Exorcism to improve the filming style created by The Blair Witch Project, expanded by Quarantine and Cloverfield, and mastered by Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2 will make you a believer in extremely low budget horror films again.
Without giving anything away, the film begins with a black screen with white text saying Paramount Pictures would like to thank the families of the deceased…and then everything from the first one comes sinking back in and within the first 5 minutes you feel like you’re watching a home video, which was the exact same feeling the first one so brilliantly conveyed. This time we are greeted by a suburban family coming home with a new addition to their household, baby Hunter. These moments of a cute little toddler ensue plenty of “awes” and “how cutes” from the audience, but later we’re reminded we are in fact watching a horror movie when the footage fast forwards a year later with the family coming home to their house broken into. Or so they thought. Nothing was stolen, except for one thing. This brings paranoia to the family, and they decide to install cameras all around the house.
That is the big game changer. With multiple cameras now strewn throughout different areas of the house, we get a bigger look at what’s going on. Sometimes the quietness and emptiness from these rooms are scarier than the booms and bangs, but not always. However, this change also has a down side. This installment does not feel as intimate or creative as the first. The first only had one camera, but also only two characters. There was more of a connection with Katie and Micah, and the private setting of the bedroom made us feel like we were intruding and watching something we weren’t supposed to, which made it all the more fun. With more than one area to see in the second one, it feels more open and inviting, creating a rise in predictability.
While it may not be as good or unique as its predecessor, it is definitely much more frightening. With more surroundings, come more surprises and scares, even during the day time. The conclusion does feel a little too rushed, but gets the job done by answering lingering questions and will leave you with even more questions and eagerness for another one. You will not be let down by this terrifying chapter from what looks to be a promising horror saga. Let’s just hope it doesn’t go over three entries. Scare Factor: A- Movie: B
