Paranormal Activity 2

Stay Out Of The Basement

I'm currently writing this because I'm a bit frightened to shut my laptop down and turn my light off, as that would leave me in the dark. And in the dark is where the bad things get you.

I have just returned from a preview of Paranormal Activity 2, and I'm happy to say that the creators didn't see much that needed changing from the first film, and continued to give more frightening results.

Despite Paranormal Activity 2 being a sequel, it acts as a prequel to Paranormal Activty, showing the pesky demon causing havoc in the house/mansion of Katie's sister Kristi, with it's focus mainly on her ironicly-named baby, Hunter.

The events of the film take place 60 or so days before the events of Paranormal Activity and the film compliments the earlier installment well. Questions about the storyline and the characters are answered well, if a little convieniently. We see the origins of Micah's obsession with his video camera and learn more about Katie and Kristi's history with the demon. The characters are fleshed out more than the first Paranormal Activity plus the inclusion of younger potential victims in the teenage daughter and the baby, give an added threat that was missing in the first film.

A film like this is only as good as it's scary moments, and there are many in this film. Carrying on the tradition, anytime nighttime comes around, a wave of dread washes over you, knowing something bad's going to happen to these innocent people. However, action begins to take place in the daytime, leading you to expect ghostly goings-on all the way through the film. There is no safety in the daylight.

Whilst this does add to the tension, it also leads to different plotholes concerning the other film. If the demon is so used to possession and acting out in the daytime, why does it bother going through 20-odd nights of apparent experiments in Katie and Micah's house? Why doesn't it start by terrorising Katie in the daytime like in Kristi's home?

Despite these little plotholes and slight lack of sequel-development that is expected, Paranormal Activity 2 is an exceptional scary film this Hallowe'en. My hope still lies with Let Me In, as we all know a disappointing installment into the Saw franchise is as customary as "Trick or Treat?!" this time of year.

Wish me luck in sleeping.

Rating - 8/10