Wednesday 3 November 2010

FILM: PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

Elliot Hyams gets ready to be spooked by the follow up to Paranormal Activity


To say that Paranormal Activity did quite well for itself would be a bit like saying Elvis Presley sold a couple of records. The film telling the story of a young couple named Micah and Katie and their horrific experiences at the mercy of a demonic presence didn't just do well, it broke records. Like the other big indie/horror success story of recent times The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity was shot entirely in first person perspective on a camcorder, featured unknown actors, and was marketed as genuine footage of spooky events, it was also slow moving and full of gaping wide plot holes. However, Micah and Katie were likable well portrayed characters, whose reactions seemed entirely believable and as such the viewer felt for them in the face of impending doom. Costing a mere $15,000 to make it would go on to gross $196,681,656 globally, this level of success made it almost inevitable that there would be a sequel.

So as the hype machine began to warm up those amongst us who remembered the shambles that was Blair Witch 2 began to grow increasingly more sceptical. But the good news for fans of the original is that Paranormal Activity 2 delivers on its promise. A prequel, rather than a sequel, Micah and Katie return in this film set a few weeks before the events of the first. However this time the story centres on Katie’s sister Kristi and her family, husband Dan, stepdaughter Ali, and baby Hunter. After what they assume is a break in leaves their home vandalised the family fits security cameras around the house to monitor the situation, but as their Mexican housekeeper tries to warn them, it’s not vandals that they need to fear. As with the last film things start off innocently enough with a few loud bangs and opening and closing doors, but it’s not long before the baby is levitating and unseen assailants are dragging people around the house.

As a sequel the film plays on the expectations of those who have seen the first one, often the greatest moments of tension occur when nothing is happening but the viewer feels that at any moment it could. Unlike the in your face gore of this month’s other big horror release Saw 3D, Paranormal Activity 2 is subtle and builds slowly towards an explosive climax. The acting, as with the last film, is great, but an hour and a half of watching security camera and camcorder footage makes you long for the days of Italian cinematography. Also there is one plot hole so wide that you feel like phoning up the makers of the film and demanding that they explain it to you immediately. Ultimately Paranormal Activity 2 is more of the same and if you didn’t enjoy its predecessor then there is little chance you will enjoy this one. But it’s a film worth seeing once, if for no other reason than so you can make up your own mind without the coercion of hype.

Review by Elliot Hyams


1 comment:

  1. hmmm, well recent times have proven that its always best to avoid anything with either the words 'exorcism' or 'possession' in the title. But I always have had a soft spot in my heart for indie/horror, and am always happy to support a home grown product, so you can expect to see a review of this when it comes out.

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