1:24 AM
Jessica
Sometimes there really can be too much of a good thing. This can be seen by the existence of “Saw” 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and now 6. Enough is enough, people. Can’t we just let it go?
My hatred for sequels goes way back, and that’s probably why you won’t see me in line for the Hangover 2. But this past weekend, even I broke my own rule by watching “Paranormal Activity 2.” What’s life without a little risk right?
Jim Schembri, a movie critic from “The Age,” believes that “Paranormal Activity 2” once again, like all sequels, falls victim to what I like to call the bad sequel curse.
“The biggest fear one has heading into this ultra-quickie sequel to last year’s surprise horror hit is whether it could possibly be as bad as the first film,” Schembri said in his review. “Brace yourselves, for ‘Paranormal Activity 2’ achieves something all genuine horror movie buffs thought impossible: it’s worse.”
I disagree. After I watched the film, I was regretfully unable to find solace in my dreams, often succumbing to paranoia and mistaking the hum from my refrigerator as the ominous presence of a supernatural being, and that’s when it hit me: maybe this sequel wasn’t so bad.
Michael Phillips, of the “Chicago Tribune,” echoes this sentiment.
“Demons of mediocrity be gone!” He writes. “Here we have a shrewd sequel a touch better than the original.”
I found that "Paranormal Activity 2" is much of the same. It builds off both the success and storyline of the original film by rewinding to the past, often explaining the demon’s motives and origin during daylight scenes and off-handed banter. A low budget production that is overseen by new director Tod Williams, it still relies on the concept of found footage to illustrate supernatural happenings and instill a sense of dread in its audience by exploiting devices, such as mirrors, shadows and silence, rather than portray pointless gore for shock value, which is something I vehemently prefer.
In the original, viewers met the young, bickering couple Katie (Katie Featherson) and Micah (Micah Sloat), who set up a camera in their bedroom to record the strange doings that are supposedly occurring while they sleep. Convinced that what they are observing through the lens is not normal, Micah pursues what is believed to be a ghost despite the warnings of his girlfriend, and chaos gradually ensues.
This time; however, viewers have a host of characters to surreptitiously watch. The premise of the film focuses on Katie’s sister Kristi (Sprague Grayden), who has just returned home from the hospital with newborn Hunter. We find out through Katie’s frequent visits that the pair has experienced traumatic hauntings throughout their childhood, but this fact is quickly dismissed by Kristi’s skeptical husband (Brian Boland) much to the dismay of the audience.
There is also a likeable nanny, who uses suspicious rituals to ward off evil spirits, the family dog, Abby, and a teenage daughter (Molly Ephraim) from a previous marriage, all of whom fall victim to the demon’s antics throughout the 90-minute film.
Also significantly different, is the amount of vantages in which the family may be viewed. After their California home is supposedly “burglarized” while they are away on vacation, the father decides to invest in video surveillance, installing six cameras around the house. There is also one hand-held camera, which is used effectively during moments of extreme tension.
Furthermore, the characters in "Paranormal Activity 2" don’t fall victim to the clichés of most scary movie cinema, like choosing to investigate a funny thump in the night or venture down a ominous stairway. (Okay, I may have lied about the last part.) Overall, their reactions to the frightening situations in which they find themselves are very realistic. At one point, Kristi, who is assaulted by a flying pan, screams, “Leave me alone!” and flees to her room. As amusing as her outburst was, wouldn’t we all do the same? I applaud the actors for not succumbing to the temptation to be stupid and ignorant to the threats of a violent, albeit fictional, supernatural being.
The success of both "Paranormal Activity 2" and "Paranormal Activity" hinges on the fact that it allows viewers to insert themselves into a seemingly realistic scenario. Terrifying things are occurring in the present day to an ordinary family, and that seems far more realistic than a masked man with a rusty chainsaw chasing one into a deserted mansion.
Audiences leave the theater asking the question, “What if that were me?” and the answer boggles the mind for hours on end.
Perhaps the success and money the "Paranormal Activity" movies and their inevitable spin offs garner will prompt the birth of a new franchise. Let us hope won’t be executed like the "Saw" movies…I still think that’d be overkill.
Related articles:
'Paranormal Activity 2' an almost flawless sequel
Movie Review: 'Paranormal Activity 2'
Paranormal Activity 2 improves original idea
The Found Footage Phenomenon
Ever since the success of “The Blair With Project” in 1999, film makers have employed the use of the found footage to insert audiences into a fictional story that feels more believable or realistic. The first horror film to utilize the technique was “Cannibal Holocaust” in 1980, according to the Scene Starter’s ‘Top 10 Found-Footage Horror Movies’ article.
Posted in: Halloween,Horror,Movies,Paranormal Activity 2,Reviews,Scary
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