I just returned from a much needed week long vacation in LA where on my first night I went to check out Paranormal Activity 2 at the Arclight theater in Hollywood (which was an awesome theater but I will get to in later post). PA1 was a horror flick that was high on my wishlist of movies that in my opinion needed to come to New York so I would be able to see it, word had been floating around for a good amount of time (possibly a year or so) that this movie was great but was only doing limited showings in tours around the country. Eventually it became popular enough that they film website put up a "Demand It" program giving movie goers the opportunity to vote for it to come to their city. I finally saw PA at a 1am showing in times square (it was only showing after midnight in this godforsaken location) on the first night sleeping in my new apartment. Mostly I loved it, the acting was not the best thing on the planet but it was entertaining, suspenseful and definitely had me looking over my shoulder all night once I made it to bed. The most successful thing about this series is that it stays with you in the way a scary movie should, every now and then I think about it and still get a little nervous thinking about what could maybe be happening around me while I am asleep.
Once the trailer appeared for the sequel I was skeptical. They made a hit once and it was everything I wanted it to be, but a sequel could sink very quickly and to my surprise it didnt. I may have enjoyed Paranormal Activity 2 more than the first, I was glad to see more characters involved and that the scares made their way out of just the bedroom and hallways and into more areas of the house. It took less time for things to start happening as well luckily so there wasnt as much time to lose interest. My favorite sorts of scary movies are ones where not much is seen; for example, M.Night's "Signs" is one of my top suspense films, the imagination is far scarier than anything you see or hear. Unfortunately his reveal at the end puts a damper on things but if you stop before the last 10 minutes you can save yourself. PA doesnt use music the way Signs does but it does use sound or the lack thereof to create tension before all hell breaks loose.
Im still not sure how I feel about the ending and I dont know how I'll feel if a third is made either, there are still a few unanswered questions which leaves room for another film. Knowing me I will see it but the stakes are high for failure if they continue, then again I was proven wrong on the sequel...
Paranormal Activity 2
Released 2010
Directed By Tod Williams
