Editorial
Front Page - Friday, October 29, 2010
The Critic's Corner
David Laprad
Several years ago, my dad emailed me a link to a video for a car ad. He said the company had made the commercial in New Zealand, where the “Lord of the Rings” movies had been produced, and accidentally captured the film crew in action.
I loaded the footage, leaned forward in my chair and peered closely at the screen, looking for signs of the “Rings” crew as a shiny vehicle rolled past lush New Zealand scenery. Suddenly, a zombie popped into view, screaming bloody murder. As I involuntarily lifted several inches off my chair, a sound came out of my mouth that would’ve secured me a spot as an alto in a boy’s choir.
It was a crude but effective joke. Emboldened by his success, my dad tried to get me again, but I was on to him. As I watched security camera footage he claimed showed a ghost walking through a house, I waited for the other shoe to drop. The screen eventually switched to a horribly scarred woman, screaming bloody murder. I alt-tabbed over to my email program and informed my dad of his failure.
Watching “Paranormal Act-
ivity 2” is like watching the second video: the makers of the first movie try to scare audiences with the same spooky hijinks, but fail miserably. If you’ve seen “Paranormal Activity,” watching the sequel will be a waste of your time and money.
If you haven’t seen the original film, some explanation is in order. Made for less than $15,000, the movie purportedly contains footage of a haunting a young couple, Micah and Katie, recorded in their home. At first, a shadow passes by a bedroom door; later, something unseen slips the sheets off their bed while they’re sleeping. The manifestations worsened until ... Well, I don’t want to ruin the ending.
Although there were problems with the story (uh, leave the house?) and the characters were paper thin (uh, stop being an egotistical jerk and get your girlfriend out of the house?), “Paranormal Activity” was genuinely creepy and packed with great scares. It also ended on a chillingly ambiguous note, which I loved.
“Paranormal Activity 2” expands on the story to show what takes place in the household of Katie’s sister before and after the events in the original film. The movie opens with casually shot video that introduces viewers to an upscale family consisting of a father, his teenage daughter, his new wife and their new baby. Viewers learn the wife is Katie’s sister while viewing footage the dad shot of Katie by their pool.
When Micah pops up in a later scene, it becomes evident we’re watching footage that takes place before the start of the
first film.
The connections grow from there. In “Paranormal Activity,” Katie revealed that she and her sister were haunted as girls, and that at some point, the visitations had stopped.
But when Katie’s sister and the rest of her family return home one day, they find the place ransacked. (I think the supernatural entity that terrorized them heard the first filmed grossed over $193 million worldwide and returned for its cut.) To protect his family from intruders, the dad installs security cameras throughout the house.
Like watching the second video my dad sent, much of what happens next has a “been there, done that” feel to it. A pool light blinks out. The carousel above the baby’s bed turns on its own. The family dog barks at something invisible. I shifted in my seat as scene after agonizing scene passed by without a scare.
About halfway through the movie, the filmmakers finally pull off a really good jolt. But then they allow things to get out of hand, and “Paranormal Activity 2” becomes just another special effects show, devoid of substance. The director especially botches a climactic scene in the basement of the house. What could’ve saved the movie from being a complete wash ends up being a confusing jumble of shaky video and over-the-top sound effects.
That said, fans of the first film will probably love what comes next. If you saw the original and wondered what happened afterward, “Paranormal Activity 2” will answer your questions, for better or for worse.
I could’ve done without the sequel. While the way in which the story ties the two films together is rather ingenious, the movie is as exciting as watching paint dry.
Plus, I spent long stretches of the film wondering why anyone would be videotaping certain scenes. When your sister is recalling the horrors of her childhood, you put down the camera and give her a hug!
Audiences have already embraced “Paranormal Activity 2,” which grossed over $41 million its opening weekend. I guess that means we can expect “Paranormal Activity 3” this time next year. Hopefully, the filmmakers will show more creativity their third time through.
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