“Paranormal Activity 2”

By: Mila Pantovich

Dir: Tod Williams

Writers: Oren Peli (characters), Michael R. Perry (screenplay)

Rating: R

Runtime: 91 min.

Acting as more of a prequel of the 2007 film of the same name, “Paranormal Activity 2” follows a family that has a deep connection to the characters of the first film. While the film delivers plenty of surprises that will have you jumping out of your seat, the overall experience will leave you feeling just as empty and shortchanged as the first film.

Without spoiling the film’s events, “Paranormal Activity 2” tells the story of the Rey family. With their one year old son Hunter and teenage daughter Ali (Molly Ephraim), Daniel (Brian Boland) and Kristi (Sprague Grayden) find their lavish home being quite literally shaken from a mysterious supernatural force. Each reacting to the unnerving events differently, the family is slowly terrorized by doors slamming, eerie footsteps resounding upstairs, pans falling, and a myriad of creaking sounds. It isn’t until things get out of control that Daniel makes a dangerous decision that gives way to the 2007 film.

Like the first film, “Paranormal Activity 2” is told through a hand-held camera and various security cameras placed throughout the house. With the security cameras cutting from one dark room to the next, the audience is meant to be kept tense, waiting anxiously for something to happen. Director Tod Williams (“Door in the Floor”) knows exactly how to make you wary of even the most innocent looking of baby toys and keeps you questioning just what may come out of the shadows. However, the buildup is slow and for a while the only scares you get are from subtle noises and pans falling. Once things start really going wrong for the family though, the scares come quicker and with more intensity. Unlike the first film, the prequel makes good use of what you cannot see. Using the baby staring at thin air and the family dog barking and growling at an unknown threat, the audience is constantly aware that there is something evil in the house that they just cannot see. However, each scare within the film has a short lifespan and the moment the scene is over, so is the scare. This film is certainly not the type that will haunt you long after it’s over.

With a new writer (Michael R. Perry) and director, “Paranormal Activity 2” functions in exactly the same way as the first. You may jump from a few scenes that are designed to garner that exact reaction, but by the time the film is over, you will feel just as disappointed as you did upon leaving the first film. The film succeeds in making you tense and nervous and as long as you can get past the complete failure of the sudden ending, you will have a great time being creeped out by basement doors and dark staircases, making “Paranormal Activity 2” a great film to see for Halloween.