Paranormal Activity 2 is essentially more of the same.
Whether that bodes well for you or not is entirely dependent upon whether or not you like the first movie.
I realize the movies aren't everyone's cup of tea, but personally I thoroughly enjoyed the first Paranormal Activity.
The second was no different.
While it wasn't quite up to par with the first, in my eyes, the sequel still delivered.
Paranormal Activity 2 is a parallel prequel to the first film.
In the first film, we saw the story of Micah and Katie.
In part 2, we watch related events unfold as we follow Kristi (Katie's sister), her husband Dan and her step-daughter Ali.
The family has just had an addition as well in little baby Hunter.
After what appears to be a break-in (their home is trashed), Dan decides to have an elaborate surveillance system installed in the house.
Through these cameras we watch as strange happenings begin to unfold in the household.
Paranormal Activity 2, thankfully, refrains from falling to the influence of Hollywood and avoids turning the film into some sensational movie.
It remains true to the minimalistic nature and formula that was the essence of the first movie.
Part of the beauty of the franchise is it's ability to be mundane in its presentation while still remaining captivating.
This is accomplished by being so simple that the movie remains eerily realistic.
And instead of sensationalizing the horror of the film, the creators of Paranormal Activity 2 opt to remain true to its roots by leaving some things mysterious.
This has been a wonderful aspect to the films in my opinion.
Through this method, Paranormal Activity 2 delivers just enough to instill that horror in the minds of the audience, but leaves enough 'out of sight' to allow the true terror to be realized through that of the audience's imagination seeking to fill in the blanks.
All while your imagination runs wild wondering what's going to happen next or what lurks around the corner, the film drags it all on by slowly building the suspense and encouraging that racing mind.
The movie does a good job of answering many of the questions presented by the first.
Where did this demon come from? Why is he after Katie's family? How does he come to be attached to Katie? What is he really after? What happens with Katie after she offs Micah? All this and more is answered as Paranormal Activity 2 serves as a great prequel and wrap-up to the first film.
Starting off before events of the first film and eventually ending with events after the first film (hence the "parallel-prequel"), it wraps the story up fairly nicely.
The essence of the franchise, I think, is beautifully captured in the last 30-45 seconds before the final credits roll on Paranormal Activity 2.
The screen fades to black.
You sit there waiting for those tell-tale credits to roll and usher the crowd out, only they don't come.
At that moment the tension begins to build again slightly.
Then you hear the murmurs of the audience as everybody waits in anticipation.
You know it's coming.
They're inevitably going to do something to scare you one last time.
So you wait..
..
still black.
Then, after several more tense seconds, the credits roll.
At that point, you can pretty much hear the collective sigh of relief from the entire audience.
It says a lot when a film can have that type of control over an audience.
Dragging them along on a string.
This command of tension and suspense has defined the Paranormal Activity franchise for me.
In an age where gore and violence dominate the genre, Paranormal Activity proves that there is still a suspenseful art to horror.
Overall, Paranormal Activity 2 is a wonderful genre film.
While it may not appeal to all due to its low-budget nature/characteristics and its simplistic approach/technique, it proves to be a worthy successor to the first film.
Staying true to the formula set forth by the first movie, Paranormal Activity 2 delivers a wonderfully suspenseful experience, despite a somewhat slow start.
For fans of the first movie, Paranormal Activity 2 is a must-see.
8/10