Paranormal Activity 2

Note: Due to attending this years Dublin Horrorthon, I needed to knock this review out very quickly, so it isn't the most polished one you'll read. Hopefully it's decent enough.

Paranormal Activity 2

Starring: Brian Boland, Sprague Grayden, Molly Ephraim

Directed by: Tod Williams

Reviewed by: Conor Flynn






Paranormal Activity 2 is a superior piece of entertainment, but whether or not it is a decent film is debatable. What do I mean? Some of it is frightening while other parts of it are downright funny, in the latter case, a scene early on which involves a robotic swimming pool cleaner. Suffice to say, you'll know when it happens, it’s like a scene out of Evil Dead II and it left people at the screening I saw, howling with laughter. I will avoid a proper plot description, simply because it will ruin some of the surprises along the way. That said; your prior knowledge of the first movie is essential.


Again, like the first film, there is A LOT of questionable set-up. If you start thinking about the logic of the film, you're pretty much on a losing streak from the beginning, namely; why is it necessary to film the setting up of the security cameras. Of course, it's to forward the plot, but who in their right mind would film such a scene in a real world situation, unless you want to bore your relatives to death. The opening fifteen minutes are just as laboured as the original, with the exception of one major character development which is a very nice surprise.

After this we get down to the brass tactics of spoooooky stuff. Essentially, if you liked the first film in this department, you get more of the same here. That’s a problem with this, or any other, sequel; the producers pretty much repeat the frights of the first film. This hinders the picture somewhat; we get doors closing by themselves (again), loud banging noises out of nowhere (again) and people being dragged away (again), but as it’s a sequel it’s all amped up a few notches from last time. And don’t forget the Oujia board (again). Wackiness, of course, ensues. Although it does recycle a lot of these elements, there are a few new inventive scares along the way. Some work better than others, unfortunately, some are just plain laughable; one of which will evoke the ghost of Michael Jackson and, as one tabloid headline pricelessly put it “, baby dangling madness...” Thankfully when the film does hit, it hits hard. One scene inside the Kitchen had everyone in the cinema jumping and it is little nuggets like these which keep both the film and, more importantly, the tension going. Another improvement is that the film has something of a proper back-story this time round, though it is still underdeveloped, vague and poses way too many unanswered at the films closure.

Another plus is that you care slightly more this time around for the people involved, particularly the father, who comes out with some particularly off the cuff remarks, especially about “…the terrorists winning”. Trust me; it’ll make sense when you see it. This all culminates in a terrific twist towards the end of the film. Sadly the payoff for this twist is a little flat. Clearly, after considering the multiple endings of the first film, and thus the fan reaction (some preferred the original 2007 ending while others preferred the wider theatrical ending shown in 2009), the makers went for something in between for PA2’s ending this time around. Again, like last time, the ending is an abrupt letdown which doesn’t frighten despite its admittedly great set-up. Despite all these problems, I still feel I got my monies worth. Like the first Paranormal Activity, it’s all a bit of a novelty, but a very enjoyable one.