[7.00/10] Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

This sequel (or more a prequel) to last fall's box office sensation, "Paranormal Activity", takes place a few months before the events of the first film, where relatives of Katie Featherston are violently haunted when an evil spirit arrives to wreak havoc in the dead of night and terrorize the family, including Katie's baby nephew, Hunter. "Paranormal Activity 2" is almost on par with its predecessor, and although the first part is repetitive and mildly interesting, as the film progresses the tension and suspense slowly build up, and it culminates in its final part, as it turns into a nightmarishly spooky fright-fest - just like in the original, the last fifteen minutes of this film are absolutely terrifying and the ending is way more satisfying than the one in the first. Well, at least for me. The scariest thing about this franchise is that everything feels so believable and seems so realistic, it makes you think that all this could happen in real life. But, after all, that's the main strength of moc-doc horror flims, right? "Paranormal Activity 2"'s bigger budget is obvious, as it's more slickly-made than its predecessor, it's technically better overall, and it has a bigger cast. The actors perform their parts admirably and the characters in the film are well-developed and genuinely believable, especially Molly Ephraim, who deserves a big credit for her performance as Ali Rey - she's terrified by what is happening in her home, and yet she seems strong and courageous in her actions. Sprague Grayden and Brian Boland as the other two lead characters, also do a fantastic job. Effective, believable and at times brilliantly terrifying, "Paranormal Activity 2" is a rare sequel that not only complements the original, but also works on its own. It successfully feeds your fear, leaving almost everything to the imagination.