Paranormal Activity 2
| release date | October 21 2010 |
| studio | Paramount Pictures |
| director | Kip Williams (Tod Williams) |
| writer | Christopher B. Landon, Michael R. Perry |
| starring | Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Sprague Grayden, Brian Boland, Molly Ephraim, Vivis |
| rating | R |
| site | paranormalmovie.com |
| trailer 1 | Trailer #1 |
20 Comments
Just got out of the Atlanta premiere screening for Paranormal Activity 2, and I have to say, I really enjoyed this one. I have to echo Mr. Disgusting’s sentiments on seeing this in a theater. I watched the first film at home and felt it to be very middle of the road. Seeing PA2 in theaters provided all the ambiance needed to really make the film work.
The movie is 90% prequel, with the final bit being a follow up on the original. But the family in this one is related to Katie, and thus it all ties together quite nicely.
PA2 uses the whole slow build technique again, and does it to perfection. In my theater, people were groaning every time it switched to night, anticipating the scares to come. For every night and morning that went without a major incident, the edginess for the next night was heightened. When things finally started happening, they never really let up, and daytime became a target as well.
Just like the first movie, things start going nuts and full throttle in the final 20 minutes or so. But in this one, just when you think it’s over, they deliver an ending that you have to see.
Overall, Paranormal 2 was a great flick. If you’re looking for gore, violence, and crazy killers, this one isn’t for you. But for those who looked to be creeped out by their own psyche and truly spooked, then I highly recommend PA2.
This movie is a must see. If you liked the first one you will love the second one. I can’t think of a movie that scares me, I’m just not that guy. I love scary movies but they just don’t scare me. Well that has officially changed after tonight, this movie had me screaming like a teenage girl in a Justin Bieber concert, it is 3:30am and I am terrified to go to sleep. GO WATCH THIS MOVIE!!!!!!
It was neat! Go see it…
I went to see this at the Austin,Texas premiere. This movie is insanely good. I was worried that the sequel would be a huge dissapointment. I mean this movie couldn’t be as freakyas the first right? I was wrong!! This movie exceeded the first. You have to see this movie. It will leave you scared even as you leave the theatre and drive home.
SPOILER ALERT!!! DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO KNOW MAJOR PLOT POINTS!!!
Everyone strives for the American dream. A new home in suburbia, a happy marriage, two kids and the prerequisite German Shepherd. That little perfect life can be turned on its head when someone invades your space and ransacks the place. The only comfort and peace of mind you could have at this point would be to install a home-security system. If only the intruders were of the human kind………….
The sequel begins 60 days before the death of Micah Sloat, and centers on Kristy, Katie’s sister, her husband, a teenage daughter, a toddler named Hunter, the loyal pooch, and the elderly Hispanic nanny.
Of course things start going bump in the night. From the beginning the nanny senses something is wrong and she starts burning sage and voicing her concerns, to the dissatisfaction of Dad. He lets her go, with a reference.
Katie and Micah come over to visit a few times, in which Kristy brings up their sordid past. Kristy recalls strange visitors, crying all of the time, the death of their mother. Katie refuses to allow Kristy to continue, as it is obviously very upsetting for her.
Things get a lot worse. The dread comes each night,the low bass, footsteps, then days too. The entity starts slamming doors, opening cupboards, knocking down pots, playing with lights, alwsys with its focus on Hunter, the innocent little baby boy. The teen daughter does her online research, finding a tidbit about making a deal with the devil. Apparently if someone in your family does so, they owe their first-born male son. Its been all girls till now.
At this point things get terribly worse. We all know from the first Paranormal Activity that the demon likes to drag things, mainly people, around, and it wastes no time in doing so here. Hunter is lifted up the side of the crib, seemingly floating in mid-air. The dog, well, lets just say the demon got sick of its barking. Poor Poochie. And then mom is drug from the nursery not once, but twice, finally bringing her against her will to the cellar. They eventually find her in a stupor, seemingly possessed. Dad calls the nanny, who had tried to warn them in the first place, and the contrive a plan. They plan to exorcise her, unfortunately a blood relative needed to pass the curse, or possession. The father demands the go forth with the plan. The whole house shakes violently and the power goes off, Hunter no where to be found. The demon makes a lot of noise and seems pretty pissed, but then the lights come on, and Hunter is found, and while everyone is freaked out, they hope this will finally solve their “problem.”
If only. “Normal” Katie visits one more time, and lets them know she and Micah are having some problems at their home. We all know what happens there, with the demon possession and Micah being tossed around like a rag-doll.
Fast forward. The date tells us it is the day after Micah Sloats’ demise. The teenage daughter is off at camp. Dad is watching TV, Mom upstairs with Hunter. Unfortunatley Katie decides to stop by for a visit. She breaks the fathers neck in one disturbing otherworldy twist, goes upstairs and attacks her sister tossing her at the camera.
The update at the end informs us that the daughter returns from camp and discovers her parents bodies. Neither Katie nor Hunter anywhere to be found.
I just want to say that this movie exceeded my expectations, and is a terrific sequel. Someone said it was the “Godfather 2″ of the found footage genre. This is not far off. The movie scared the bejesus at me, and the scares kept coming. I would highly recommend seeing at the theater, where the whole audience is scared shitless, and everyone rooting for poor Hunter to make it out alive! I will see it again this week for sure, as I was watching through my fingers, and I want to make sure I did not miss anything. But again, great movie, great sequel, scary as hell and a wonderful companion to the first film.
I saw the Hollywood screening…. it was awesome… i got to meet katie, mikah, and peli its was nice to know i was sitting in the same theater as them
this movie acually doesnt build up… it keeps on delivering the scares….
Very rarely can I say a sequel is better than the first and this is. Now I loved the first one and it takes all that I loved about the first one and expanded upon it. Such an awesome movie and I loved every minute of it.
To sum up: epic. I really didn’t think they would be able to make this sequel more terrifying than the first, but they sure did. I also loved the way it tied in with the first movie, and I can’t wait to see Paranormal Activity 3 next October (assuming, of course, they continue the series…which they obviously should). Seeing this at midnight in a sold out theater with a big group of friends was one of the most memorable theater experiences I’ve ever had. I screamed, I jumped…I was a complete wreck by the end of it. It was the most fun I’ve had at the movies in a long time, and I highly recommend it.
I loved it! It was so much better then the first. The first one didn’t scare me a bit and this didn’t either but it was very well done. It was very intense but I will say that the ending was stupid! Highly recommended though!
Someone in the same theater as me literally peed themselves during the movie. ‘Nuff said.
Paranormal Activity 2 is one of the rare sequels that may be better than the original. Its more scarier, more smarter, plus it flows better. It also has some great laughts. I have always loved a good slow burner and that what this is but it does not feel like it drags or gets boring. The scares are bigger and better. This film had my shacking before the movie was over. This is one terrific movie. If you did not like the first then don’t see this but if you did love it than this is a must see. I would so rather see more Paranormal Activity than other sequels. We enter movie sleepless nights with the lights on.
Caught this at the midnight showing and I agree I could use a couple of more of these in the future. Well worth the time and how many time can you actually get freaked out with a movie with no gore just great scares!
During my theater screening of the first film, the man next to me started crying about 15 minutes before the end.
During my midnight screening last night of the sequel, a woman behind me started crying at around the half way point and didn’t stop until she was in the parking lot after the film had ended.
I think that’s a fair judge of this film’s abilities.
Also… The Silence of the lambsesque basement scene along with the Kitchen incident are now classic horror scenes in my mind. The movie can go screw itself for doing that to me, but yeah, job well done.
Despite a slow start, once PA 2 gets going it becomes one of the more scarier films of the year. Relaying on dread and suspense and not graphic violence and gore, PA 2 delivers.
Dude, this movie fucking ROCKED. Skeptics, please do yourself a favor, put all biases aside and go see this film. You won’t be disappointed.
I really wanted to love this movie. I Loved the first film and half way through this one I felt like ,”Wow” this might be the best horror movie i have seen since the Descent, but unfortunately once the Dad goes to check out the basement it all went down hill. I mean come on look at films like REC, thats how to do that scene, i could not even see what was going on. Than they slow down the movie and the ending without giving anything away is so fast and lacking the tension of the earlier portions of the movie I felt jipped. Some might like it, but honestly it was not done well after the basement scene and on……How awesome would it have been if the kid became possessed and went all pet semetary style on the family ( I know it would not correlate with the first film but they could of somehow made it work) Sorry but like the Last Exorcism ending, it left me sitting there unsatisfied when the lights come one, and thats the worst way to leave a horror movie, I forgot the great moments it had in the middle of the movie. Maybe next time?
Let me start off by saying, I loved the first one and was thrilled to hear a sequel was being made. What made the original so good was Katie and Micah and the way they acted to the events unfolding around them.
The characters in this film are very frustrating to deal with because they act like cardboard cutouts instead of humans thriving off an emotional roller-coaster. They install security cameras, but yet when events happen, they rarely look back to analyze the videos or claims that some of the members were having.
I felt that the interluding story lines between the first and second one felt forced and unnatural and it gave Tod Williams a reason to have Katie and Micah back in the film just to pay tribute to them.
There was one payoff scare scene in the whole entire film that actually transpires during the day-time which gave it a unique feel to it. The rest of the jumps and scares you can somewhat witness through the trailer which makes it predictable and dull.
The worst part of the film is the ending. I won’t ruin too much, but it was way too rushed and forced. It’s kind of the “now you see me, now you don’t” game you played as a child. The movie tried to build, build, build then when you got to a Climax, it just seems like it ends before you blink an eyelash and it enters the cliched horror film where it leaves you with a little rope with no knots or ties to it.
So overall, the film is a lot more slow than P.A. and the characters in this film are very robotic, unbelievable and cliched. You can also catch very easily made mistakes such as mail being on the table then gone in the next shot ect throughout the film.
So take it for what’s it is worth. But be careful when watching this film.
I absolutely love the first film and of course going in to this one I had my hopes up so high. Then my disappointment came when the ending was terrible. The movie as a whole is almost like a copycat just so they could make a sequel, and honestly the only thing maybe thats really good about the film is the slight twist to make the stories go together.
There were a few things I caught during the movie that would make me think they could do one more film and it actually be a prequel of the first two films due to some things that were said but then again who knows. I honestly though do not want another sequel.
part re hash of the first, then it gets way better
Katie so HOT She Kills!
thought the 1st one was really good, LOVED the 2nd one! the acting is way better in this one and the tuff that happens is sick! plus i loved the familys daughter, she was CUTE! lol
very VERY pleased with PA2.. while there was a couple of corny parts and the ending could have been a tad better (still good ending though) it definetely delivers on creeping the fuck out of the viewer.. I had a great time watching this and I did like how clever it was and how it tied into the first one.. good stuff
I just back from seeing this movie and I have to say, overall it was alot better than the first movie. One reason is better acting. I personally had more in common with the family this time around because I have two kids and a dog as well. The first half of the movie is all psychological and it just goes bat shit crazy in the second half. I recommend it to fans of the first movie, but if you hated the first movie you will most likely hate this one.
pretty fucking awesome, worthy sequel….. i am a little scared …. scared me pretty fucking good
just returned from Paranormal Activity 2, simply put best horror movie I have ever seen, if you dont like this you dont like true horror. kind of a reality horror, something like this can really happen
Not at all the scariest movie ever made (there was way too much lull for the first hour to truly say that about the film), but damn, was it effective. More unsettling than the original, to be sure, and I love how they tied everything together in a nice neat little bookended way. And when everything finally (finally!) got going… yeah, creepy as hell. The final 20-30 minutes made the slow burn of the first hour SO worth it, lol. But of course… having seen the first one (and you really WANT to have seen it to put the entire story together… it’s not exactly the work of rocket scientists, but some good stuff here, nonetheless), you pretty much know the routine, right down to the rumbling noise that signals something freaky is about to happen. There was, in fact, an exact moment that I knew that the ride had reached the part when the chain lets go and the coaster is really headed into that loop-de-loop. Good movie, good scares, good boobs (I think you know whose boobs I’m talking about), go see this movie and hold your head high for an honest to god good sequel.
I enjoyed this movie very much. My only issues are that the explanation that it’s a demon seemed a bit like a cheat. The young girl said that it was “pretty much persistant,” when it had only been a couple of incidents. Also, when Katie’s sister was drug down the stairs, it was almost slapstick the second time down. But, it was cool that she got away from it, running to Hunter’s room only to be captured again. All-in-all, it was pretty good.
corny and none of the sinister feelings I got from the first one. It reminded me of a movie like Paranormal Entity that was just trying to copy what Paranormal Activity is. Oh wellllllll. Really dissapointed.
The original Paranormal Activity was a phenomenon. Partly helped by an innovative marketing campaign, the efficient, highly effective low budget horror film scared the living daylights out of millions.
Paranormal Activity 2 releases today, and Paramount is hoping those millions want more. Judging by my local Bow Tie cinema, and it’s midnight screening on Thursday, audiences most definitely do want more.
If you enjoyed the first film, the chances are very good that you’ll enjoy the second film. I enjoyed the first film, and I can say without any hint of hyperbole that I think the second film may be the best horror sequel to be released in the last ten years (though I have to qualify that by saying that I haven’t seen the sequel to the original [Rec.] which horror fans have unanimously applauded). There’s nothing here that re-invents the wheel here, but the film does take the elements of the original that worked, does them at least as well, sometimes better, and it dispenses with some of the elements of the original film which didn’t work so well and adds to the story in an inventive way that actually adds to the first film.
The other reason I’d go so far as to say this is one of the best horror sequels in the last ten years (and is destined to find it’s way onto the list of greatest horror sequels of all time) is that it adds a new dimension to the story of the original. This isn’t just a rehashing of the original film with a new set of characters. It’s taking the story and mythology set up in the original film, and adding depth and breadth to it. Anyone coming to this film having not seen the first, is not going to be lost (though it would spoil the originals ending), they’d be going into the original with more information about the characters and essentially be given a deeper understanding of the over all story. Somehow screen writer Micheal Perry and director Tod Williams have pulled off the rather amazing feat of making these films co-exist as completely separate works that stand on their own, but also making each more rich due to the others existence. The entirety of the Hollywood studio system could learn something from the group of people who were responsible for the creative decisions behind this film. THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD BE APPROACHING SEQUELS, NO MATTER WHAT GENRE.
I saw the original film in a theater full of college students in Georgetown a few weeks before it was finally given a nationwide release. It is one of the most memorable theater going experiences I’ve ever had. That audience completely bought it, and was being wildly, gleefully terrified. I saw almost exactly the same reaction during the sequel. People were screaming, jumping, covering their faces, yelling at the screen, and just about losing it as the film and it’s creators cranked up the tension. The suspenseful elements that worked in the first film are here, and played perfectly. As in the first film, everything begins innocuously and becomes increasingly sinister, unsettling and heart stopping as the film progresses. As I said, they didn’t reinvent the wheel here, but they use the elements established in the original film so well, I can’t fault them for it in any way. In a crowd full of people, at midnight, veteran film fanatic and horror film aficionado that I am, my heart was pounding, I was jumping and exclaiming “AAAHH”. It scared the hell out of me, and I loved every second of it. Three quarters of the way through, I had to put my drink down to make sure the person sitting next to me wasn’t going to end up wearing it.
Jump scares like those, which were used to such good effect in both films, are usually just a cheap device in most horror films. In this film, they’re used to establish the fact that these characters are in actual peril. It’s not some fake out moment or quick shot of a blunt or bladed object moving at the screen and audience with great speed. They are used to specifically to increase the suspense, and the third act of the film is almost nothing but nail biting, hair pulling, fist squeezing suspense.
On the level of pure film enthusiast, setting aside my own personal affection for horror films, when I look at this film in the context of story, performances, etc., this is definitely a better film than the first. I wouldn’t necessarily have thought this after seeing the first film, but now that I’ve seen the second, I can see that the concentration on and the amount of time spent only with two characters wasn’t the best possible use of the story and the basic conceit and purpose of the film. Paranormal Activity 2 succeeds where it’s predecessor failed by giving the audience six speaking roles total, and four central characters (five if you include the dog). It seems to move much more smoothly because no character or plot point is too belabored, and just the additional number of characters creates a different dynamic which is probably inherently more interesting. As much as I enjoyed the fact that the original did focus on just two characters, and was very much about the toll the events were taking on their relationship, the additional family members in this film gives rise to the ability of the story and the film makers to explore a bit more territory. And the actors in this film do a really great job. This kind of “found footage” film depends to such a great extent on the ability of the actors to convince you that they aren’t actually acting and that what you are watching is just regular people, addressing whatever situation the film happens to put them in, this cast has done a great job. The only new cast member I know is Sprague Grayden. She’s had a number of roles in some of the more popular television shows in the last ten years, and I’ve seen her in a few small roles in other films, but she does a damn good job of selling her role in this film. I’d give more praise to the other actors in the film, but none of them are listed on IMDB. The only reason I’m able to identify Grayden is because I recognized her from her television work.
Another really strong aspect of this film, and why I believe this is one of the best models for a sequel that I’ve ever seen, is that when it does call back to some moment or piece of information in the first film, it doesn’t just do so in order to say to the audience, “Hey, remember how much you liked that movie, well don’t forget this is the sequel to that movie you liked so much (wink, wink).” When there are call backs to the first film, they actually provide some kind of information that strengthens the first films narrative structure, give it more meaning and explain some pieces of information that were missing. It’s in this way that the film not only stands on it’s own, but adds new realism and relevance to the mythology of both films. In that regard, it’s actually an imaginative and pretty amazing piece of writing. It intertwines both stories in a way that is organic, sensible, surprising and believable (as believable as any narrative dealing with the super natural can be anyway). It’s a really great thing to see a film, so much at home with itself in being a horror film isn’t necessarily trying to make it’s innovations in the scare department (although there actually are one or two of those), but more so in the story and writing.
This does seem to be the end of the story. There wasn’t anything in the film or the ending of the film that gave it the same kind of “wide open” ending that is so often the case when a studio or film maker is specifically making a film with a sequel in mind. In fact, it seems to wrap up both films pretty well. There could conceivably be a sequel in developing a narrative for what you don’t know when the film ends, what exactly happens to two of the characters or where it is they go at the end of the film, but it would be more of a stretch than even developing a sequel from the ending of the first film. Given what the film makers were able to come up with and were able to do with this film, I wouldn’t completely put it past them, but I can say it did seem like this was supposed to be the end of the story. There were no major plot elements left open, no real mysteries to be solved, or answers to be discovered that would change or add anything to the first and second films. I can’t conceive of a better way to end the Paranormal Activity saga. Of course, if the film pulls in a huge profit, another sequel will quickly be on track, but it’s not something this film seems to suggest or guarantee. This should be the end for the franchise as far as I’m concerned, but if the film makers were able to create another sequel which actually does succeed in broadening the story and mythology as well as this one has, I’d go see it.
Whether or not there will be a third film doesn’t change the fact that if you enjoyed the first film, at all, you should go and see the second film in as crowded a theater as you can find, as soon as possible.
I loved the first immensely, so I was incredibly hesitant. The Theater though won me over, and over again. Intense I liked that it intertwined the two stories together so we didn’t have to deal with some random family with no connection to the demon of the first film. Scares were good and suspense was excellent (all helped by the best packed theater crowd i’ve ever been in, everyone was going through the same scares so it just helped amp everything up a notch more than usual).
For those interested in the first go see it! for those who dont like this type of “Horror, why are you watching it?
Can’t wait to see if they take another step back and show that the mother died because of the demon and the fire in the 3rd…. you can only hope.
I really enjoyed this prequel slash sequel. It made me jumped even more than the original. My heart pounded out of my chest a couple a times. The only downfall to this movie were the people in the audience. There were these two jerkoffs competing over the other to see who was louder. Then they had the gull to get mad at me when I told them to shut up. I paid to see the movie. I don’t remember paying them to narrate it for me. Sorry, I kind of got off topic. But anyways, if you enjoyed the first one, you will enjoy this one. Highly recommended.
Awesome follow-up to the first one. If you enjoyed PA, there’s no reason you shouldn’t enjoy PA2. It followed a similar formula, but was justified by the story. Were elements somewhat corny? Sure. Did parts seem a little ‘forced’? A bit. But everything in the story fit and extended the mythos created by the original. And the creepiness and scares were even better this time around.
Less a sequel than a superfluous remake, Paranormal Activity 2 takes everything that was unique about last year’s original and simply tries to do it again.
and its only scary because your in the dark and its very loud..
A great sequel and a great movie. It was distinct enough from the first movie, but still tied everything together.
I loved the first and i oved this one. I just want to say thank you for not fucking this one up and thanks for actually scaring me, that doesnt happen enough in horror movies these days.
I cant wait till i try to sleep tonight.
Umm whoa. I don’t say this often, I LOVED the first one.. The idea, concept and everything made the first what it was, with that being said it wasn’t scary. This one that’s that concept and makes it extremely scary, watching this movie in the theater is the most fun I have EVER had in a movie theater. Paranormal Activity 2 WILL give you chills, WILL make you jump, and shockingly, you will find yourself gasping at some parts. Great sequel, I liked it as much as the original. One hell of an intense ride.
Enjoyed it just as much as I enjoyed the first one. Creepy goodness with some great jump scares.
Fantastic!! One of the best sequels I’ve seen in ages. It’s creepy as hell, all the characters were great, and the ending is excellent, it ties the two films in together perfectly. I loved it! 10/10
Horror movies don’t really scare me. I’ve seen so many that there are only a select few that have shaken me. Paranormal Activity and its sequel are two that have truly frightened me and made me nervous to go to sleep. I absolutely LOVED this film and highly recommend it to any fan of the first film. If you didn’t like the first I’m sure you won’t care for this one either, but I do believe it’s scarier.
An very superior sequel that had a handful of jump scares that will keep you up at night, if not you have no soul. To visual style, acting, pace, suspense and ending it does it better than the original to shocking results, this is the best haunted house flick in years! This series got me again because when it starts it starts out pretty normally like you were watching some strangers home videos then strange things start to happen and gets creepy and escalates the terror and somewhat raises the bar for the haunted house genre, believe me you will see nothing as scary this year alone or maybe even for the next couple of years because for me I left the theater shaken with goosebumps and breathless! Don’t listen to the haters like Roger Ebert because this is good rare horror that you don’t see much at all at the theaters these days and I can’t freaking wait for the third movie which they better make because this is now my favorite horror series. The other thing that was clever is how they tied their story with the original and the twist was messed up and disturbing, this is a must see for every halloween! GO SEE IT NOW! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
’Paranormal Activity 2′ Kick Major A** i give this film 10/10 It’s Has Good Like The 1ST Films i Really Enjoy It This More On My Level Katie Give Me A Turns Me On LOL ! Thats My Type Of Girl Just Kidding !
got to say that this probably better then the 1st one. The first one was great, dont get me wrong, but this one is a little more in your face. I love how they tied in everything, from the first film, into this one perfectly. there were a few of scenes from the trailers that were not in the “final cut” of the movie. The best scene is “the exploding kitchen” by far. If they go to make a 3rd, to try and keep the franchise going, i dont know how they will go from where they put the ending at.
Sigh. I will start off by saying that i did not like the first movie at all. Why did i go see this movie then? Because i give every movie a fair chance. I avoided going in with a hate-filled mentality. As the movie started, me and my girlfriend sat back and got ready for the scares and suspense. After a while i told her to tell me what time it was… 45 minutes or more into the movie and NOTHING HAPPENS! I understand people trying to build suspense, but there’s always a line one should not cross. Is this really what horror has become? The jump scares are just as bad a gimmick like 3D. Seriously, this movie is beyond monotonous and is by far worse than the first one (and i HATED the first one. Yet, next to this movie, you can almost see some good in the adventures of katie and miccah).
I won’t judge the people who DID like it. If you did like it, good for you. Everybody has different tastes and that’s ok. As for me and my girlfriend, we just did not feel uneasy or scared. We were hoping for a good scary movie but this just didn’t do it at all for us.
Only one jump scare was effective and it was the one done in daylight (kitchen cabinets and all). The rest was WAY too predictable and it’s too bad that the movie did not have more surprises like that one good “BOO!”.
Poor pacing issues, uninteresting characters, lack of any real scare and repetitiveness makes this a must miss in my list. But like i said, it’s just my opinion.
Sweet Screams everyone!
Oh no, a pool light goes out. A door slams shut. A noise in the background. How will I ever sleep knowing I just got duped again thinking this is horror.
I feel like this one missed the mark the first one hit. The first movie allowed the audience to expierance the happenings along with the actors while we were more of voyuers this time. There were great scenes of high tension but overall I was disappointed ( the actors maybe could have been more convincing?!) The story fit really well with the first but shoudnt the second elaborate on the first, more background knowledge would have helped besides knowing it was a demon specially if the mother was involved. The ending was really lackluster. Hoping there is a directors cut!
Rating this in the middle…Im still on the fence, It was better then most but I wanted a little more
I loved it. Thought it was almost as good as the first. And the first was one of my fav horror movies of all time.
Though I did have to put a couple of noisy ass bitches in their place sitting a row behind my girlfriend and me.
First off, let it be known that Paranormal Activity 2 is a prequel to the first film, so if anyone is confused how the girl from the original has made it into the second film, that’s how. Secondly, if you didn’t like the first film, then you won’t like the second. It’s a lot of the same things that the first brought to the table, except with less going on, it was in fact a little slower than the first one. It seemed to focus more on the “jumpy” scare tactic even more than the first. The creepy atmosphere didn’t seem to be there as prominently as it was in the first. There were some big jumps/scares and very small ones in between, which is what separated this film apart from the first for me. Which isn’t a good thing. It seems they took the part from the first film which scared me (and most everyone I know) the most. The girl being dragged. They took that element and did it around 3 more times, which after the 1st time is just overkill. I don;t think they focuses on the same things they focuses on for the first film. However, I still enjoyed the movie. All-in-all it’s a good sequel. If you enjoyed the first Paranormal Activity you’ll definitely have a good time at Paranormal Activity 2.
*note- please keep in mind I had a negative biased opinion towards this movie because the theater (or people in the theater) ruined my Midnight showing for me. A lot of talking, and yelling, and speaking in other languages. It really, really took away from the film for me.
This is how you make a horror movie sequel. What a great movie. no 3D to cash in on people, just straight horror. Paranormal Activity 2 is just as scary as the first one. Great stryline, I loved how it tied in with the first one. I saw this movie in a sold out theater and had the best theater experience since the first one. These movies are the only ones I have seen where the audience interacts with it so much. There is so much unnerving suspense and dread. There are pop outs. Everything you want in a horror movie sequel is here. I am so happy it did amazing at the box office and I cannot wait until Paranormal Activity 3!
I really liked this movie. It wasn’t as scary as the first but it is more exiting. The ending is so cool.
Paranormal activity 2 is a fine example of a sequel done right. It fleshes out the Paranormal mythos, and gives the viewer just enough to beg for more. I loved the audience reaction that went along with viewing this in a theater. Anyone who liked the first should qwell their doubts and rush to the theater to see this film. Completely non superflous and necessary, it sets up the need for another sequel if you are concerned about the storyline..which I definately am now after viewing this film.
I am on the fence with PA2. I did not really care for the first. I like it but it was so overhyped I was disappointed. That being said I didnt go into this one wanting to hate or love it. I wanted to watch it then decide. I concluded that I liked this one better but hated that it was made second. I feel if it was done first it would have been great. I like the story better, the acting better, loved the baby interacting felt that it was way underused though because when the baby had incounters I was creeped out but it was only a few times, also it made since as to why everything was happening. I hated the ending it was awful nothing effin happened we were only told, stuff from the previews and clips online were not in it and they were creepy, the door opening is getting old they were not creative with stuff happening same as first mostly, and the tie in was not very good I had to many questions such as why did the sister not tell Katie about the picture from the first one and others. If this one was done first 8/10 instead 5/10 cause new what to expect and ending sucked ass.
if you loved the first one you’ll really love this, if you hated it than you’ll despise this. they tried new things that went over really well in this one like switching some of the actual activity scenes were shot hand held instead of just fixed camera. personally loved it, but nothing iconic
i thought this movie had some scary parts and some good acting. but i didn’t really like the entire movie. i mean its called ( spoilers ahead ) Paranormal activity 2 but its not a sequel but a prequel.. i dont know i found it kinda meh…
Was anyone else extremely disappointed in the amount of footage/imagery from the marketing campaign that didn’t make it to the final film? I hate to be picky, but there were at least 4 or 5 very cool scenes missing. Since I was waiting for some of that stuff to happen, I felt let down.They promised me a frightening mirror baby dammit.
I am a big fan of the first one. I didn’t hate this, but I didn’t love it. The ties to the other film with Katie and Micah were very cool and I liked the characters. A lot of retreading old ground, but 2 or 3 very solid new scares. (Kitchen scene holy crap)
pretty good! I loved how it ties into the first one. I’m intrigued as to where the series will go from here. I hope they flesh out more of the origins of the demon but then again I’m interested to see what happens after this movie.
I thought it was a brilliant film! The way it was tied in with the original blew me away. It was better than the original also. It had more scares, more surprises and really had you scared for the characters.Awesome awesome film! I could see it again easily!
Loved this one. I was expecting it to be scary, but not that scary. The official review was right. Not better than, nor worse than the original. Great way to kill 90 minutes.
Your first thought at the words “horror sequel” should probably be “No”. Well I’m happy to say that in the case of Paranormal Activity, the answer is a resounding “Yes!!” A solid sequel that does everything the first one did right as well as correcting a few of the originals missteps. It also ties into the first entry very well. If you loved the first one you will love the second. Now the question is… Can lightning strike three times?
P.A. is STRICTLY for fans of the first Paranormal Activity. And i didn’t like the first. I thought that the problem in the first was that they gave away all the best scenes in the trailers. This time you won’t even see what you saw in the first ttrailer (the best) but there’s one thing that remain in common: it’s slow slow slow pace.
And believe me you go through the first half and nothing happens.
Tension is built well, but is then deflated through the day sequences. Som you can feel it and then you find yourself holding your breath for nothing.
The “twist” is good but one thing come to my mind: blend the 2 movies in one, cut the unnecessary scenes and you would have a hell of a experience.
Only for the first P.A. fans.
I never jump for horror movies, but I did for this one. There are at least 3-4 scenes that made me legit jump to the point where I jumped at an angle and my side hurt. Although I have seen a lot of the viral videos that many here have seen, the scare scenes were still scary because of the audience I watched it with. They were so into the film that after the “kitchen” scene, they amplified the scares on the screen.
Everyone has seen the “drag” scene in the trailers/previews and it still scared me because of how they did it. After that scene, I thought to myself, “What’s next?” The movie’s unpredictable from then on and the ending is so creepy and disturbing. The audience was on the edge of their seats for it hoping that the family would make it out that it made the ending that much more satisfying for me.
**Spoiler**
Possessed Katie is now my favorite horror figure because her appearence is what makes me think that this whole paranormal thing could be real. Everytime I think of her moving and standing, I begin to tense up and look out of the corner of my eye to see if the door beside me will open slowly and she’ll be standing there. Her actions in the end of the film are what takes this film to another level and makes it surpass the original for me. The audience felt so uneasy when they saw her in the background and her walking behind the couch, that they didn’t know what to do with themselves. Everyone yelled “Ohhhhh” to what she does and it doesn’t stop there when the camera shows her walking up the stairs in search of her target. The one-two punch sequence with Katie is what scared me and they weren’t even jump scares. I saw them coming, but Katie is so believable in her movement that the ending is must-see.
** End Spoilers**
See this movie. I disagree with most people in saying that this is for those that enjoyed the first one. If you know anyone that saw the first one and didn’t enjoy it, convince them to give this one a chance because it is scarier and creepier than the first. The “boring” parts keep you entertained with some humorous moments before they decide to just scare the piss out if you, even during the daytime scenes. It has more of a story too by incorporating the first if that has any affect on those that didn’t enjoy the first.
Watch this and hope for a third film because this movie seems like the type that would need a trilogy. I just want three movies with their own personalities and another movie where I know to expect scares and not know what will happen next.
Kinda disappointed in this one after loving the first. It just wasn’t as effective this time around. There wasn’t enough excitement to counter the boring parts. I felt like the ending was just the directors way of being like “Well…we’ve run out of ideas, so let’s just skip to the money shot.”
It had a few scary moments, but nothing to write home about.
Fun, but not nearly as terrifying as the first one. In all honesty, I was tense just walking in the theater because i did not sleep well for several days after the first film… and I was nervous that it WOULD be as scary as the first and I was kind of dreading it… but nope. Some good jumps but that’s it. Doesn’t touch the original.
*SPOILER*
I liked the back story but wasn’t convinced that the dad would pretty much set his wife’s sister up for hell on earth so easily.
*END SPOILER*
They certainly could have amped it up a bit. I think they were afraid to really go for it with the baby angle. Mainstream audiences can’t handle a baby being hurt. I think we were scared for the baby but if he had scratched or fucked with the baby we would have been really scared.
All in all a good movie for the 5 bucks I spent on it. Would be fun to play the 2 back to back.
i loved it it came around full circle from the first . you learn alot about the demon haunting this new family ! even some huge surprises that filled in plot gaps from the first one!
I LOVED this movie so much. After watching the first Paranormal Activity, I left the theater asking myself, “That was what all the hype was about?” I left thinking it was a decent film. Not great, not bad. My friends loved it, but I think it’s because I’m such a huge horror fan and keep an eye on horror movies religiously that the reviews for the film just hyped me up so much that I got disappointed with the film. Now onto reviewing Paranormal Activity 2: I was a little hesitant in watching this at first, but my friends wanted to see it so I went. I’m so glad I did. This tops the original in every way possible. It improves on scares, suspense, atmosphere (more locations for the camera so you’re more on edge than ever), sound, characters (there’s a whole family this time so you feel a much deeper sense of dread when you realize how much this demon will do to keep the people out of the house to get to its target), acting (everybody, including Katie and Micah, did a fantastic job), and just overall quality. The “downtime” moments didn’t feel like such a drag like the first film because there were some funny lines coming from the characters. The comedy of the downtime moments made the scary moments that much more terrifying. You feel safe and secure and all of a sudden it goes back to nightfall and you’re thinking, “Oh shit.” The kitchen scene was the most unexpected scene in the movie. The lead woman makes a cup of coffee and brings it to the counter. I was thinking that the cup would just fly off of the counter and that would be the scare. Oh no, that’s what they want you to think. All of a sudden, every cabinet in the kitchen opens simultaneously and makes a huge noise. That got me good. The basement scene also got me. The suspense in that scene got my heart racing like crazy. It’s been a while since I’ve been that freaked out by a movie. They did such an amazing job with this movie with such little time they had to write and film it. I can’t wait to own this movie. Awesome film.
Probably just as good as the first one (as long as you don’t watch the theatrical ending). There are far less scares in this one and all but 2 of them make you laugh. They really dropped the ball with the scary scenes. The few that do work,… work extremely well. I almost felt bad for all the flopped scares because they were supposed to be terrifying but they ended up just being stupidly comical. What I like and hate at the same time is they tell you exactly what it is that’s haunting them in both movies and why. With the way they let you know, if you’re not paying attention and just waiting for the scares, you may miss it. I really liked how they mingled both movies together. The ending of this movie has pretty much the same ending as the first one. (I mean literally, just at a different angle and with one different person.) With all these things wrong, it still had the atmosphere to make up for it. Not only that, Katie, the gorgeous woman from the first movie is in this one and she has got to have the most beautiful set of breasts in a horror movie, and that’s a tough feat to achieve. You don’t see them uncovered but they are in a bathing suit and some skimpy clothes. If you liked the first one, you’ll like this one too.
This film absolutely terrified me. Although the acting is lacking to some degree, the frights are non-stop. I definitely recommend it!!
OKAY, so this IS the superior film. Like others are saying, I walked out of the theater with the first one wondering where the hell all the scares were, it just did not do it for me and I didn’t get the hype. I saw this about an hour ago during the dare and it scared the shit out of me. I usually sneak in some beers for a movie and chill and get through a 6 pack but this had me sipping on one beer throughout I was so immersed. I doubt I’ll have nightmares from it but this is a CREEPY fucking movie. See it in theaters, go to a matinee at a less popular theater and see it alone like I did.
After the first film I was expecting nothing short of a fantastic film, despite this, after seeing this film and seeing the revenue it is bringing in I am guessing we have the start of yet another Saw or Friday 13th franchise film series. It has all the trademarks of a franchise series and the fact that it is set to be before the initial film is a dead giveaway. If you came to see anything completly different from the first then you will leave severly dissapointed, however, to be fair, it does pack a couple extra punches not seen before. Most of the audience including myself found a couple of the scenes just plain laughable, most notably, the ghost of Michael Jackson trying to steal a child from its cot. In short, if you want a few new jumpy moments and you cannot find a single element of this film amusing, then you will most likely love it.
Last year in 2009 a little unknown movie took the nation by storm and become one of the most profitable of the year ending 2009. That movie was yes Paranormal Activity , a film that was not suppose to get the status it has today , making people afraid to go home to an empty house , and never turn off the lights the film started a generation of actually bringing back true horror to the cinema without all the unnecessary blood and guts , this is a true horror film, and now one year later , after the huge success of the 1st that would only leave more and more room for a sequel and i must say , i was scared and my bones were tingling the whole film , from the 1st night to the very stunning , dramatic , and frighting conclusion. You will be begging the movie to be over when it gets over , So for the i must say i feel this film is better then its predecessor. Mainly because this film , they maintain a better budget but you really can’t tell because they are using all the same camera angles and techniques they used before. But when a movie can make me jump and cover my eyes , is a true genuine horror flick , which is sad because most horror movies these days tend to suck , but i was actually pleasantly surprised with the whole outcome of the films final product.
The story is before should go into this movie you need to know this film plays more of a prequel then anything , but in the end the film ties in with the first film and when you see it (you will no what i am talking about) But we see Katie’s Sister with her husband and her teenage daughter , and there new born son Hunter , after Hunter is born , merely years , strange things start to happen @ the family’s resident. After returning home one day they find there house completely trashed and rummaged through , with nothing taken , this leads them to install cameras all over there house so next time they can hopefully catch them in the act next time , but instead after watching the DVRS and cameras they get more then they bargen for when see things moving around there house , and stuff being misplaced. Night after night things get worse , and worse until finally … well i do not want to give much away. But things happen that well you really can’t explain. But so one in seems ever since the cameras have been installed well .. you get the idea.
The film has more production value then the first which was only $3000 and this was $3million , which is still a low cost considering how much most movies cost to make. The main problem with the film is the build up on some nights things do not even occur and leaves us to wonders whats happening , and at some points that can be a drag, But that is just a minor flaw , its always fun being in a packed theater with everyone around you , just as scared as you are. With each coming night , everyone in the theater would have to embrace it , and prepare themselves for what happens next , is the “being” gonna show itself or is going to make us the audience suffer in suspense not knowing when something might pop-out and happen , the screen and theater get’s so quiet you could hear a pin-drop , and pretty much anything that shows up on the screen , anything , will scare you , this movie will scare most people mainly for the fact that it could happen in real life – mainly because of all the evidence that is proven that ghosts exist , this movie will redefine fear … well until maybe next year.
Overall this movie is the best film this Halloween i can really say scared me , which is saying alot. But in the meantime , tho some things can be misleading , and you will be held in suspense for a good portion of the film , when we reach the movies final moments , and then some , i can almost guarantee that you will be scared for your life. I enjoyed this film , is a genuine authentic , horror film with out the blood , guts and the excessive use of the F word. There are some mild moments of comedic humor in the film that is more of a relieve from anything , it takes you to reality world , then it takes you out of it , when the screams and thrills and chills come towards the middle , please please be aware that well there is more to come , your in for in , and when you sit down and the movie is starting all you can do is just sit back relax and enjoy the ride because this will be the funniest time you will have at the movies this year , this movie is a BLAST!.
A-
ReviewdByNate
RatedR
RunTime91mins
Thanks For Stoppin Buy….
Paranormal Activity 2, in some ways, was better than the first one. Paranormal Activity 2 was so terryfying sometimes. It was so intense throughout the whole movie. I was caught squeezing my sisters arm so hard. I jumped out of my seat, i’m guessing maybe ten times. It was bat shit insane the last 20 minutes. I love, LOVE, how it all ties in with the first Paranormal Activity. It was original and makes the first movie a little more understandable. All In All, Paranormal Activity 2 was so scary and it needs to be experienced in a movie theater. That’s the only way you’ll feel the full experience. I highly recommend it.
why do people find these movies scary? seriously, why?
I wasn’t Impressed. First. Paranormal Activity was a DECENT movie. if you like a cheesy thrill. if it were based on actual events.. yea most awesome. but i doubt it was. second. a friend had told me that she had trouble sleeping because of PA2.. It was THAT scary.. imagine my disappointment in learning my friend was just a chickenshit and would probably wet herself to almost anything. the first one was MUCH better. but still not even that good.
Decent film, a few flaws, but overall if your into it. It’s quite enjoyable.
filme de 5
The first 1 bored and annoyed me. It wasn’t even horror lite, it was main streamed over hyped crap (Blair Witch can’t be topped and if you were 2 young to see it when it came out in the theater, you probably don’t really appreciate how ground breaking it was). I went into this film trying to be openminded. As soon as I saw Katie I puked in my mouth a little. This one is better than the first but a haunting in a cracker jack house in the San Diego suburbs just doesn’t scare me.
Very good seguel to the first paranormal activity,delivers scares and thrills!
I walked into this movie ready to be disappointed because sequels of horror movies are good like 1 out of every 5 or six times they come out. But this movie surprised the hell out of me, not to mention scared the shit out of me. The first one freaked me out, but I wasn’t traumatized or anything. This one delivers much better scares than the first one, not to mention that it’s a prequel, and therefor explains the first one better. Loved it! I’d see it again in a heart beat
A reasonably good prequel but not on par with the magnificent first. The anticipation was probably more delightfully agonising with No. 2 but the scares once delivered didn’t quite have the same pizazz. One excellent element was the backstory plausibly explaining the circumstances leading up to the first film.
I invited a female friend with me when I went to see this, but she groaned and scoffed at the idea. Too mainstream for her, too tame. I can’t stand that “too cool for school” attitude people get. I mean, you can be a fan of popular box office blockbuster horror AND the harsh underground stuff. I’m pretty sure it’s legal.
Anyway, I loved PA2. I didn’t think it was perefct, but I had a great time nonetheless. I like this whole “reality/found footage” horror subgenre. It brings a very naturalistic mood to everything.
(
minor spoilers)
A few observations and complaints:
1. Yes I understand the whole “caught on security cam” thing, but what about the rest of the movie? Do familites really carry around camcorders and record THAT MUCH of their daily lives?
2. I didn’t like the fact that the “man/patriarch” character in this movie was a non-believeing arrogant macho dick like the guy in the first one was.
3. The jump-scares were outstanding, but their impact and element of surprise was weakened a bit by the tension-building sound effects. Whenever a fright was on the horizon, there was a very low, rumbling ambient sound. Almost like a warning. Maybe this was intended to portray the sound of demons moving around within the foundations of the house (that would’ve been cool). But still, the low quake sound gave a little too much of a heads-up for the scares.
4. Yes, the daughter was absolutely adorable, and I feel like a dirty old man for saying so lol. I hope she gets more acting work now, because until then she’ll mainly be known as “the teen hottie from PA2″. I also would’ve loved to have seen her actually discover the bodies…that screamy freakout could have stolen the show.
5. The should have been more of Katie in that bikini. Much much more.
Surprisingly an absolutely top notch sequel that totally lives up to Part 1. If it wasn’t for a disappointing ending and a couple of unnecessary scenes, I’d even give it a 9/10.
It’s packed with loads of heartstoppingly scary and extremely horrifying scenes. I don’t know how often I nearly jumped out of my seat (beware of the outstanding kitchen scene!). It’s as tense, suspenseful and atmospheric as the original. The acting is great (most notably the beautiful Molly Ephraim), the story is highly interesting and the whole security camera footage is very effective and cool-looking.
If you like PA1, you sure as hell will like PA2 too!
Monster/Alien/Ghost Movie Marathon- Day 120
So there are some pretty ghoulish films that make us go bump in the night. But there are sequals to those films that go can go straight to hell because they are pure crap. So yesterday I reviewed the first Paranormal Activity, and I liked it alot, it was suspense, it was very entertaining, and it is very original. So today I went to go watch the sequal, Paranormal Activity 2, and I was suprised how entertained and quite frightened I was.
Plot- The film is basically a look into the past onto what happened before the first film presented to us. It is 60 days before Micahs death, and Katies sister,Kristi, just had her son Hunter. Kristi is living with her husband Dan and her step daughter Ali. They have a Dog named Abby, and a very religious Latin nanny named Martine live together in the same roof. So the first night nothing happens because nothing has happened to the family that attracts the demon. But one day the family come back to their home, only to discover that someone(or something) has broken in, and destroyed the inside of their home. They start putting Video cameras in their home so they can assure themselves that no one will enter their home. Soon after something starts making noise, but the noise isnt strong enough to scare anybody. Until Ali & her boyfriend do the unthinkable, and (im not spoiling onto what happens that attracts the demon,sorry) the entity becomes stronger, and more violent. Soon after, the demon is attracted to something to the family care about deeply. But the family wont stop protecting what the demon wants, without a fight.
Problems- The sequal is gonna have the same problem as the first one did, audience displacement. I went to take my brother to go watch this movie, I jumped(I admit it!) several times, but my brother stayed in the same position like a chunk of wood(or as we commonly prefer it as “all of Robert Pattinsons performances”!). Also you have to watch it in a theater with a Large Screen and Strong audio, becuase like the first Paranormal, it wont have any effect.
Direction- Ok this movie had a larger budget, it was made at 3 million dollars, they swithced the director, it was no longer Oren Peli, the new director’s name is Tod Williams. He did a good job at directing this film because he added the house moniter cameras, which video tape everything that goes around the house, its effective because its not a shaky camera, that way we have multiple views of whats happening and we can see it clearly.
I like that it continues to be a Suspense Thriller, but soon after it becomes a shock Horror film. What tries to scare us works. It builds this tension that makes you try to guess onto what will possibly happen. One scene that I can clearly remember that built great tension was when Kristi was making tea. And the ending is clearly unforgettable.
Overall Paranormal Activity 2 is a solid sequal that works at attempting to scare you, though it will suffer audience displacement.
I give it 3.5/5 stars
To be honest, I HATED Paranormal Activity. I hate it with a passion, it is the worst horror movie I’ve ever seen in my entire life. It is pointless. . .yet, I am tempted to watch the second one, but I’m gonna wait until it’s out of theaters to watch it so I wouldn’t be waisting my money.
Good, but it took too long to build up and get intense. I felt like I was watching some kind of Brady Bunch family home video for the first half of the movie.
A surprisingly solid sequel. Builds on the mythology well and one of the best “shit ur pants moments” in recent memory. PA2 delivers and then some. If you liked the original then you’re gonna love this.
If it wasn’t for 2 quite disappointing scenes, which I wont spoil I would have given this 5 skulls. If anyone would like to discuss then feel free to drop me a line.
many documentary movies came out in 2010(fake/real).catfish,jackass 3d,last exorcisim,& PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 2.scaryest film of the year!i about peed my self
fucking boring.im mad that i wasted my time.
I was quite scared.
A rare horror sequel that’s every bit as terrifying as the original. The film had me leaping ten feet in the air and instilled a palpable sense of dread throughout. Surprisingly commendable in its ability to up the ante and build on the mythos from the first, without becoming cluttered or ridiculous.
I finally got my lazy ass to the cinema last night to see this and I’m fucking glad I did. I loved the first film immensely. I even jumped twice during the film – something that’s rare (and that I love) after watching horror films for as many years as I have. It had an ever impending sense of dread and I liked how it tied into the first film. I highly recommend it.
About as sublte as a brick to the head. Inferior sequel…but who the Hell am I to judge? I still had a blast. Mimicing the subtle and terrifying nature of the first film was a task the film knew it wasn’t up to, so it just took the easy route. And I’m glad it did. If Paranormal Activity were Ridley Scott’s Alein, then this is Jame Cameron’s Aleins. Big, loud and stupid but undenyable enjoyable. 7/10.
More of the same, more of the same, more of the same. Isn’t the Saw franchise shitty enough? Do we really need to add another Halloween based release date film? Granted, the original is a fun little ride, and this film does have its moments, but ultimately doesn’t impress. A few interesting gags gives this film a slightly positive edge, but nothing to write home about. More information here:
http://thewolfmancometh.com/2010/11/16/paranormal-activity-2-2010/
I did enjoy this film more than the first one. More cameras are used, more cast is in the film, and they connect this one to the original film. The scares are portray a little better in my opinion and the concept of having a baby and a dog in the house def bumped up the scary factor. Loved it and am gonna buy this one for sure.
Wow… where to begin….
Ok I saw the first craptivity in theaters back when in it came out cause the commercials all said it’s the scariest movie ever, terrifying, etc. They even show clips of people “jumping from their seats in fear” Yeah ok!!! At what point in this movie were there any substantial creepy or haunting moments? The first movie is the same as the second movie, but no, wait, the second movie had a dog, my bad.. These movies are so boring. We get these people talking, then we get like a “Night #1 2006″, then “Night #2 2006″ yadadaydayada gimme a break!!! The entire movie is just them talking to eachother!!! No wait, I’m wrong, there is an intense scene that had me on the edge of my seat, remember it? the part where the door closed by itself. How do they make such shocking scary movies!?!??! the talent of these people is off the ricter scale, and it saddens me that people buy into this garbage. I hate these movies so much. I watched the second one on DVD because I figured since the first movie raped me of like two hours that I will never get back, maybe they will come up with something clever for the sequel?? Nope! We got the same sh!t, but now theres a dog and a kid- to add to the highly thick plot elements.
I hate anyone who supports this garbage. This is NOT a horror movie.
It shouldn’t even be called a movie because of blatant disrespect of the thing we call films.
The first Paranormal was a tiny, cheaply made film featuring all unknowns, that in true Blair Witch fashion made far more money that it cost. The film benefited greatly from strong word of mouth and an even stronger advertising campaign that really made the viewers flock in. With such a strong premise, it was only a matter of time before a sequel was made.
What is strange about PA2, is that the movie is nearly identical in terms of set-up and pacing. This time it involves a husband, his wife, a daughter and a young baby son. The wife, portrayed by the lovely Sprague Grayden (Jericho) is actually the sister of Katie, possessed killer from the first movie. This film actually serves as a prequel of sorts and helps to lay out the foundation and mythology for this series.
The camera work this time is shown mainly through the use of close circuit surveillance cameras, put in to watch for burglars. This actually is a great way to tell the story in the proper fashion, while lending a slightly more cinematic feel. It also helps to keep the characters from resorting to holding a camera for no reason the entire movie.
The scares are ratcheted up a little bit for this sequel, featuring more days and nights with strange activity occurring. The sound work remains the single most important element to refer to, as it also serves to deliver on the scares we are presented with.
I am not sure that I necessarily needed the connection to the first movie, nor the explanation of the mythology or the convenient way in which we learn what is occurring and possibly how to prevent it from continuing. I did appreciate the ending though, which certainly presents us with a solid basis for a third entry in the franchise.
Ultimately PA2 is nearly identical to the first film, merely featuring more actors and a few more scenes of activity. The jumps are fun and this is a definitely a suitable date movie for us guys. If you enjoyed the first, then this is thankfully not even a tough decision.
For what its worth I thought this was a really well done sequel. As far as staying true to the style of the first one with out doing an exact copy I think this was good. The idea of the security system being installed and basically the movie following the footage of that was a smart idea along with the handheld camera as well. I don’t think this was better than the first. The only reason I rated it a little higher is because when shit started going down we saw a little bit more but that was in like the last 20 minutes of the movie. But the build up really took forever. I was like if I see this damn pool one more time and this baby sleeping i’m going to snap. With the first one there just seemed to be something going on even if it wasn’t much. This one really dragged for a long time. I did like how they tied it into the first one. As far as the ending goes leaving it open for another one ehhh I don’t think thats a such a good idea. But one thing more shocking than anything was a HUGE fricken spoiler on the back of the dvd cover. When I saw it I could basically figure out the end so a big warning if you buy it on dvd don’t look at the back cover.
This movie sucks. it’s slightly better then the first but thats not saying much. its not scary, neither is the first. its cool how they set it up. It is creepy both of them are but thats all. The ending to this was just as lame. they need to get some violence in these films. or something. there both dried. Fourth kind much scarier film.
It was a good film. I’ll give it that but it wasn’t entirely what I was hoping for. It did offer the same feeling of anticipation that the first gave but it seemed to be very structured and clean. It didn’t have the same raw touch as the first.
Also to point out that I really didn’t care for the ending. It was a nice twist to the story but it doesn’t support the original ending that the first had. The original one before it was founded my Paramount. It can be vied online somewhere. I prefer that one. But I have to still give some congrats to this one since it did a great job of what it was suppose to do. It had it’s moments…
It was an okay movie, it didnt have that feel andscary atmosphere like the first film. It did have its moments though.It just didnt have that feel to it.Overall it was decent.
This is a true horror experience. If you want to be scared by a film, this is one of the best movies in years to do it. The poster doesn’t lie. Be set to go in to this film, because althought the footage will eventually stop at the end of it’s running time, it’s effect will follow you. Prepare to loose some sleep.
I Thought It Was Pretty Cool.I Liked It Alot Better Than The First One.
Scary-4
Gore-1
Strangness-3
Action-3
Drama-2
I really like how this one answered some questions I had about the first movie. Its basically a prequel to the events leading up to the goings on in Katie and Micahs house. I was afraid when i first saw the preview that it would be a stupid sequel that had absolutely nothing to do with the first, but was very happy to see that Katie and Micah reprise their roles in a few sccenes and that it was portrayed wonderfully. Spoiler Alert: Tells what happens after Katie kills Micah. I love Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat and think they are two great actors and am so glad an indie film did so well at the box office.
OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!
This movie is absolutely nuts….
“Paranormal Activity 2″ falls right in line with the first. With some additional storyline and plenty of new camera angles, it only adds to the creepiness.
just like the first one. talk about ruining the moment with a bunch of noise that gives the “scary” parts away. it’s basically watching some VH1 show about a month in the life of some rich, snotty white people. a complete waste of time.
I really enjoyed it. I liked the first one, but this sequel was much scarier and more intense. The ending is as haunting as the first. I recommend both films. I give them both an 8 out of 10.
Part 2 is actually a prequel to the events of part 1.
This movie is slooooowwwwwww. The teenage girl is the easiest character to like. The ‘dad’ is a dick. I think he’s supposed to be, but I still hated him. The ‘mom’ is just there. You get the couple from Part 1 again, and they are great in the limited screen time they’re allotted. Shit, even the baby is convincing and so is the dog. The couple in ’2′ spoil the whole damn film because I don’t care what happens to them.
As I said before, pacing is abysmal. If you can last to about the last 15 minutes, the movie does get better. All the ‘paranormal activity’ is too staged. You know when something is about to happen when you get a character sitting in a wide open shot. I found myself looking beyond the character, trying to find the money-shot.
If you haven’t seen original Paranormal Activity, I would suggest skip it and watch this instead. If you couldn’t get enough of the original, you’ll probably like this one as well. If you thought the original was shitty, this one is no better.
‘murdermakesmecum’ review is pretty much spot-on.
Paranormal Activity 2 is the story of one family who decide to get some security cameras installed in their home after they suspected they were robbed. What the cameras find is something more paranormal.
The first film was made for next to nothing in one guys house with some friends. It had good special effects that seemed more realistic because of the simplicity of everything. It was a huge success based on word of mouth. Ca-ching. Now we have a sequel. In sequels usually the filmmakers will go bigger and better. Paranormal Activity 2 still has the same low key feel to it but at the same time it does feel grander.
I was bored to death with the first half of this film. The building of the tension was a bit slower for me than I would have liked. Paranormal Activity, if I remember correctly, did not take as long to get to where it wanted to go. The building of suspense here is too mundane. Luckily for this film, the second half woke me up and it was some pretty exciting stuff. Let me get this out of the way though, it does not have the same affect as the first one. The atmosphere that was in the air with the theatre from the original was gone with this one. We knew what to expect. We knew what the scares were going to be. “Okay, this is where the door closes. This is where she gets dragged on the floor. This is where we hear noises.”
With that being sad, this film did do a few things differently than the first. The original film relied on visuals to scare the audience. Shadows, hooves imprints, flaming Ouija board, blankets, possession, etc. The sequel however relies more on sound. The sudden loud moments are what make you jump, not the visuals. The jump scares are in this one where the uneasy tension of fear was in the first.
The sequel also tries to up the ante by introducing a baby in danger. Babies are defenseless after all. Let’s not forget animal endangerment as well. All aspects that overall did nothing for me, but it was a nice addition to change it up a little bit. The film also has some sort of story that goes with it. It gives a little bit of information on why these things are happening and I was surprised that they decided to go this route.
I give them credit for making it connect to the first one more than I thought it would. It doesn’t come off as a sequel with no purpose (even though it actually is). The story it dives into gives more background to the first events and connects the dots. I must say that the last 5 or so minutes were the best part of this film.
Paranormal Activity 2 gets a thumbs up from me, even if it does lack the charm, fear and respect of the first one.
ehhh the first one was way better :/
Whilst i thought the first PA was ok, I must admit i enjoyed this one much more. PA2 has an interesting plot and continues the mythology in a very surehanded way. I actually jumped quite a few times during this movie, but the highlight for me was the sense of dread that the film contained, i even had “goosebumps” a couple of times.
All in all, a very worthy sequel indeed.
The first Paranormal Activity ran off of more of a “makes you think later at night” kind of way more than an actual scare factor. Sure, it had a couple parts that were jumpers, but in the end, it was all psychological.
I feel like the sequel is kinda the same thing. While this one does up the psychological level a lot more, it also has a few more jumpers than the first one really did.
I really like how they tied in the first movie at the end of this one to make it a prequel of sorts.
Overall, I cant say that I didnt enjoy this film. I just wish that these movies tried a bit harder to scare people. (And I dont buy all the ‘scariest movie on the face of the earth’ stuff. It really isnt close to be honest).
Nothing but an over hyped pile of shit.
It’s a bit slow but very well done and of course it has some decent jump scares. I also like that its a prequel to the 1st movie that involves the priginal characters instead of an unrelated paranormal event.
Hobo Approved(TM)
@bloodnguts313 iTotally Aqree. This One Was Decent But Not As Good Or As Scary As The First Film.
A great companion to the first film.The added element of the dog,baby,and teen daughter gave this film more emotion.Like you didn’t want them to get hurt.This a slow burn like the first film.So if you hated part 1 then don’t bother with 2.I like the originality of the first film better but I like the prequel story better.I thought this was going to be weak but I enjoyed this allot more than I thought.I might have to see part 3 in the theater to get the crowd experience.If you like the first than you’ll dig this!
The first one is better with the story and acting, but the seconded one is much more scarier and the slight and noise effect is undoutbable creepy, brilliant sequel let’s hope the third is just as good as the first two.
While I thought this movie did a good job of explaining why Katie was haunted in the first film, I didn’t really feel like they really explored any new ground in this film. The set up was very similar, but it seemed to me that there was a far lot less suspense or scares going on. I felt like I spent more time waiting for anything to happen – its nice to get some background on the family, but it seemed like 3/4 of the film was exposition. I loved the sped up camera in the first film and would have liked seeing more in this movie. Not a bad movie, but too slow and predictable to leave an impression on me.
ok why did I watch this movie it was lame I was going to stop watching it in the middle I said no give it a chance. Ok first of all how long was that family in the house??? then all of sudden you have video monitors then the demon thing happen yes it had some scary bumps but it was still lame movie….why didn’t they show when the daughter came home to see the parents dead I mean that would of been a real catch to end the movie on. I promise I will not watch the next one at all.
To be honest I found Paranormal Activity 2 much better than the first one, although you would have to watch the first one to understand the second one. It’s definitely one of those films that will make you think about it long after you’ve finished watching the film, a very psychological effect. I watched it in the middle of the day with other people and it still got a few scares out of me (I don’t scare easy), I dread to think what it would be like watching this alone at night. So it is definitely worth a watch.
They did an AMAZING job tying this movie’s plot with the plot of the first one. And it still kept me on the edge of my seat! Great scares, and great special effects Can’t wait for the 3rd one!!!
Starring : Katie Featherston (Katie), Brian Boland (Daniel), Sprague Grayden (Kristi), Molly Ephraim (Ali)
Directed by: Tod Williams
Written By: Michael Perry, Christopher Landon, Tom Pabst and Oren Peli
The much anticipated follow up to the 2009 Indy mega hit, landed in theaters this past October with much more fan fare then its predecessor, but did it deserve it? Yes and No. Spoiled by many years of watching many sequels – the rule is the second film needs to be more – more everything- scares, blood, death…but PA2 avoids all of these cliches.
Following the exact same template as the first film we meet a nice family who begin to be haunted by some sort of demon – as the hauntings escalate, the family begins infighting amongst themselves and the tension increases. Much like the first film the scares begin with shadows and subtle noises before escalating to the inevitable physical confrontation.
Director Tod Williams gets very good performances out of Boland and Grayden as the set upon couple and a tremendous performance out of Ephraim as Daniels older daughter, Ali. The script is tight, but eerily similar to the first film, which is not necessarily a bad thing, after all the first one was extremely well written. There is a satisfying twist at the end but, unfortunately, it feels like the only truly original part of the film.
Bottom line – if you liked the first film – you will most likely like this film. If you didn’t and thought the first film dragged and was “boring” then definitely avoid this one. Much like the first film, enjoy this one alone, with the lights out and in complete silence.
http://riotonsunset.blogspot.com/2011/02/syversinema-review-parnormal-activiy-2.html
Not bad!! I’m glad they decided to keep it in the family and opted for a prequel to expand on the mythology. The scenes involving the dog and the baby were especially effective.
no bueno a little less boring than the first one but still not impressed.
Am I completely missing something. This movie was HORRENDOUS. A complete waste of time that did nothing, NOTHING, as far as atmosphere, creeps or frights. Wow! What the hell were people watching? This was a pathetic piece of blech that wasted 90 minutes of my life that I will never get back. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!
Better than the first one in nearly every way. Bigger scale, better fx, MUCH better acting (which wasn’t a stretch since the acting in the first one was horrible…unfortunately Katie is in this one as well and is still actor of the lot) but it is held back by their loose attempt to tie it to the first film. With just a little bit more work this could have been a truly brilliant sequel.
I don’t blame director Tod Williams for the failure of “Paranormal Activity 2″. I blame the studio for wanting to expand on a premise that seemed just about worn out by the time the original film ended. I also blame the studio for wanting to cash-in on America’s arrogance; they know most of us are idiots, and that we will pay to see disposable garbage such as this, and they exploit the fact. Simply put, this movie is a product of greed. Why so many horror fans and movie-goers both passionate and casual are oblivious to all this is beyond me; worse, it freaking worries me. People defend the film by saying that whether we like it or not, it makes us jump: but those same people are forgetting that if we lived by that philosophy, just about every horror flick released would be good, so to speak.
The first film, if you missed it, involved a couple (Micah and Katie) who invested in a hand-held video camera that they placed in their bedroom in order to record some paranormal activity that Katie was suspicious of. If you did see the film, then you’ll know that they ultimately got more than they bargained for. To review “Paranormal Activity 2″, I feel it almost absolutely necessary to reference the original film as much as possible; because in a film as disappointing and flat-out indulgent as this, the least I can do is compare.
OK, so the film acts as more of a prequel rather than a sequel (for reasons genuinely unspecified); focusing on Katie’s sister and her family this time around. Coincidentally, they too are disturbed by some strange going-ons in their household; prompting them to purchase hand-held digital cameras of their own (this investment inspired that of Micah). However, the cameras are placed in different places. See here: there’s a camera by the family pool and the patio, one mounted in the new baby’s room, and a few more all around the house (ranging from the front entrance to the kitchen). It’s clear that these people really want to know the truth about what’s going on; and whether it was wise to force their former maid to vacate the premises due to her strange behavior regarding the titular activity.
I guess the film might have worked had it been particularly skilled in the art of recycling. Too bad it’s not. “Paranormal Activity 2″ doesn’t work for me because it takes the style from the original film and makes a considerable effort to do bigger, more extreme things with the concept. Stylistically, it feels entirely the same; with few surprises worth writing home about, save for a few good moments. Quite frankly, I was kind of bored by the familiarity in the situation presented.
So here I am; trapped with these hideously uninteresting people for just a little less than 90 minutes. Some will be willing to trudge through the muck and find something worth talking about “Paranormal Activity 2″, but in my honest opinion, it doesn’t even come close to truly earning my praise. Yeah, loud noises make the audience jump; that’s natural, but I’m not really frightened by all that. In my opinion, fear only comes full circle when more thought-provoking issues are present, and “PA2″ gives you absolutely none of those.
I’m not enthusiastic about this movie. I honestly don’t want to be writing this review right now; but I’m doing it anyways, regardless of my personal feelings. I can’t tell you whether “Paranormal Activity 2″ is worth a gander or not; I say go your own way, and respect my opinions regardless of your own. Chances are you will enjoy the movie, to a degree. Just go in knowing that this prequel has no intentions to build up suspense the correct way; like a civilized horror film. It intends to scare you with loud noises, jump scares, and abrupt violence. If you’re under eighteen years of age, that should be perfectly fine. You’ll most likely have a pretty good time. I just wish I could share those sympathies; but I don’t. Instead, I think “Paranormal Activity 2″ sucks, and that’s that.
This parallel Prequel to the first Paranormal Activity fails miserably and it instantly tried it’s best to be better than the first movie but it miserably failed and it wasn’t scary at all. This movie mainly takes place at the exact same time as the first movie. This movie really had so many problems from the start until the end. Although there are some great moments with this film and there are some scenes that freaked me out but the rest really went down the hill after a couple of successful genuine scares and spooks. This movie seriously tried to beat the first Paranormal Activity but it falls short and it became lazy. The movie is seriously lazier than the original Paranormal Activity so far. When I watched this film I wasn’t expecting to watch another Paranormal Activity film after the first movie disappointed me a lot and now this film seriously disappointed me more than the first movie. At least the original Paranormal Activity had better moments than this movie. This film seriously had so many problems and the time the scares was about to start took like 48 hours until it starts and it was seriously a waste of time. What I personally like about Paranormal Activity 2 is that the film has a really well paced plot that takes place at the same time as the first movie and I personally enjoy some good spooks and scares until the movie loses the scares because of how many hours the scares will start it was too long and boring so far. This movie really fails to live up on its successful roots to beat the first movie. This film is not scary at all it’s not as scary as the third Paranormal Activity film so far and it was too lazy. Although there are some thrills and suspenceful scenes in the movie so far and beware they could probably scare you in your seat and make you jump higher than the previous scares in the film(Beware the kitchen scene that is the scariest part of Paranormal Activity 2 along with Hunter being dragged up and off the crib and he walks around the house plus beware the scene where Kristi gets dragged all the way down from upstairs until the basement) and I personally liked it so far. What I also like about this film is that the acting from the casts seriously did a great job with their performances in the movie so far. Director Kip Williams or Tod Williams would have tried his best in directing this movie if he along writer Christopher Landon would have come up with so many ideas with the scares and here they instantly ruined the film with a lot of lazy hours until the scares start it wasn’t right at all and this movie seriously failed to live up to it’s successful roots so far. Overall Paranormal Activity 2 gets a 5/10. The first Paranormal Activity movie was better than this lazy parallel prequel but this movie along with the original can’t beat the suspenceful Paranormal Activity 3 and the third Paranormal Activity film will always be better than the first two Paranormal Activity films and I think when this movie along with Saw 3D showed in theaters I think that Saw 3D did a better job than this movie so far. Even when the original Paranormal Activity film showed in cinemas along with Saw VI and Saw VI seriously did a better job than the first Paranormal Activity film. If your not a fan of Paranormal Activity you’ll be disappointed with this film just go for the third Paranormal Activity film but if your a fan of the Paranormal Activity franchise than the Saw franchise then you’ll like this film along with the first movie and the third movie.
Paranormal activity 2, for me it’s the best movie in the trilogy, It has more history and facts to make sense with the first movie. This movie was better than the first, because it’s more elaborated and have more kind of action.
This one sucked.
For a title like Paranormal Activity 2, it’s not the most original, and you’ll forget about it in T-minus 30 seconds, but it’s alright. Taking place a movie before the first, you get a few scares thrown around here and there, but the effectiveness isn’t as strong. It’s a decent sequel that’s fun for a first watch, but it’ll eventually wear off.
Comment
The Ultimate Movie Review! – http://tss5078.blogspot.com – @tss5078 – I don’t have much to say about this one. It wasn’t bad, A little more hokier than the first, definatly not as scary, but still pretty entertaining for what it was.