The shadowy demon is back in Paranormal Activity 2, and this time, IT WANTS THE BABY! Unfortunately, the good ol’ child-in-peril gimmick is the only new thing offered by Tod Williams’ follow-up to Oren Peli’s 2007 hit. Primarily taking place in the two months prior to the first film’s events, this sequel charts the supernatural goings-on at the home of Kristi (Sprague Grayden) – sister of the original’s protagonist Katie (Katie Featherston) – whose young son Hunter is stalked by an invisible specter. Kristi’s husband Daniel (Brian Boland) doesn’t believe in ghosts, her teenage stepdaughter Ali (Molly Ephraim) does, and so too does the stereotypical Hispanic maid who gets herself fired by Daniel after one too many incense-burning rituals to ward off evil spirits. Bumps in the night give way to motorized pool cleaners mysteriously exiting the water and cabinets blowing wide open – otherworldly spookiness shot with a familiar blend of static security cameras and bumpy handheld first-person POV cinematography. Because of its alternating fixed/frantic perspectives on household areas infested with unseen forces, this aesthetic template does result in a few well-timed jump scares. Otherwise, though, Paranormal Activity 2 is lame through and through, from its stagnant pacing and random, laughably tossed-off explanation of the demon’s motivation, to its story’s clunky dovetailing with the first film’s timeline and a finale content to merely regurgitate its precursor’s dénouement while also portending, alas, a part 3 to come.
Okay, I won't bother then. I trust you on this one :)
Posted by: hoganbcmj | April 20, 2011 at 08:58 PM