Paranormal Activity 2

**1/2 stars

When the first Paranormal Activity came out last year, there was a sense that we were watching a movie of some importance. After all, it is the most profitable film of all time. Made for only $15,000, and grossing over $100 domestically, the now classic horror movie showed audiences that you don't need big splashy effects to make something scary. Due to its enormous success, it wasn't long before a sequel was greenlit. Here it is, Paranormal Activity 2, a prequel, but a sequel, and soon to be a threequel semi-scary exercise in fear. I found it scary and disturbing, only to be let down by a rushed and lazy ending.

The sequel does make some interesting choices that allows the viewer a more widescreen look at the action. The story is about Katie Featherson's (the character from the first flick) sister and her family. The story begins with them having a break-in. Or what they think is a break in, because they soon realize that nothing is stolen. So the family sets up security camera, which lets scenes unfold more organically, instead of just a video camera point-of-view.

Then again, that is what made the first one rather scary. Then again, the security cameras gives the director the whole room to play with. I still can't decide, but I will say that the original still stands tall. The sequel is on a bigger scale, but the first kept a lasting impression. This is more of a rekindling of old magic rather than creating something new. In this day and age, I guess that's all you can ask for.