I just returned home from watching PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2 and I have to say that the follow-up to last year's hit holds up well, if not surpasses the original film. While not without it's flaws, it still manages to be one of the best Horror films of the year, hands down.I wont go into to much about how this film is related to the first, but the filmmakers did a remarkable job tying the two films together. One of the greatest aspects of both the first film and this film is the acting. The people you see on screen don't seem like actors. They seem like real people that you are watching horrible events happen to, and their distress and concern looks absolutely genuine.
While not as "fresh" feeling as the first film, I think part 2 was scarier overall with more "jump scares" than the original. While we had seen a lot of the activity before (doors slamming, random objects moving by themselves), it was still creepy to see these things happening again to a new couple. The demon seems to be up to his old tricks again and shows off some new things we haven't seen before. One of the scariest and unnerving scenes is when the unseen demon is keeping the young mother from reaching her child who is crying in his crib. I wont say more than that, as I don't want to ruin this for anyone who hasn't seen it, but it will grab you with intense fear, as you can see that this demon is totally in control.
As you can see from the trailer, a young baby is involved, which adds to the creepiness of the film. Those of us with kids will be especially unnerved at the scenes involving the young child, chilled with thoughts of anything like this ever happening to our own children.
If I had to find fault with the film, it would be with the ending. While the ending was good and fit well with the film, I still find it lacking and somewhat anti-climatic. This was probably due to the fact that the biggest scare from the first film came in the final seconds of the film as the body of Micah is instantly thrown directly into the camera. I guess I was expecting something even bigger at the end of this one but it actually ended somewhat quietly.
Don't let that take away from the fact that this was still a remarkable film that every Horror fan should check out before it leaves the theaters. Not many sequels are as good as the originals and certainly aren't any better, but this is not your ordinary sequel. The filmmakers have a couple of great films under their belt so far, and I can see this becoming a franchise with at least a few more stories to tell. Check this one out asap!
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for PA2
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer for PA2
Really? I guess you have to have loved the first one to really like the second one. I should have listened to my gut and saved my money, but curiosity got the better of me. I looked at my watch 30 minutes into it and couldn't believe it had only been 30 minutes. This movie left me hungry for the exciting parts and almost falling asleep on the slow parts (most of the movie) if I didn't have some popcorn to munch on. The funnest part about my experience was the girl in the audience that acted like it was her first horror movie and was jumping and screaming at everything remotely scary, even a door slamming. It was so funny I tried not to laugh at her. At the end, not one person said anything about anything as everyone walked out of the theater. Granted there were only about 20 of us in there, but for NO ONE to talk? I think it spoke volumes about the quality of this movie. Yes the stunts were good when they happened, but they are so far and few that you are left dissapointed. I think this type of movie is for someone that is new to this genre. I would let my 10 y.o. daughter watch this one, the only reason not the first one is because of all the porn reference. I can only fast forward so many times. Its easier to not let her watch some things. Thanks for your opinion and for allowing me to share mine. I love your blog! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteCool to see a positive review for this one, Im going to be watching it tonite! So Im happy to see you enjoyed it. I enjoyed the first one a lot, my only negative point with it is that it feels like the kind of film that you cant watch more then once. Once you see it, thats it, it has no re-watchability value to it.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to see this one! Thanks for that review.
Awesome comments guys!! Debbie, thanks for a different sided opinion of the film! It is good that people read varying oppinions of the film, then they can decide if they want to go watch it themselves. These PA movies can be slow at times, there is no denying that, but I feel that makes it even worse when the stuff happens, as it is a complete contrast to each other. You should write some reviews on my website!! Great comment! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteAnd to The Film Connoisseur, come back and let us know what you thought of this one! I totally agree about the re-watchability factor though. As much as I enjoyed the first one, I have yet to buy it on DVD, and have no plans to for that exact reason. When you know when and where things are going to happen, it doesn't have the same effect on you as when you watch it for the first time.
Great discussion here folks! Does anyone else have any comments about PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2?