By Ashley Neff

Impact Staff

I completely believe in the paranormal and ghosts and whatnot, but when it comes to using your imagination, and you have to base your thoughts on the fear of what you can’t see, it scares the life out of me.

That’s why I dreaded reviewing Paranormal Activity 2.

When Paranormal Activity came out in 2007, I refused to see it. I didn’t want to think of demons pulling people out of their beds in the middle of the night. So when Paranormal Activity 2 came out in October, and there was a huge rave about it, I decided to suck it up and watch both movies to see what this phenomenon was all about.

Everyone raved about how scary and realistic it was. How great could these movies be? In reality, absolutely atrocious.

Paranormal 2 was no better. This overrated horror film is just an updated version of the 1999 Blair Witch Project. Even that scared me a little bit.

The second movie introduces us to the sister and brother-in-law of the first film’s female character, Katie. It re-introduces us to a contemporary house, strange noises, and a constant surveillance camera capturing it all. It was the same rendition of the first film; victims dragged out of their rooms by invisible hands, ridiculously loud noises coming from nowhere, and doors opening and closing randomly. The beginning of the film was so dragged on that I considered taking a nap. It took about 45 minutes for even a loud noise to appear. I understand that they have to explain the situation, but it was too exaggerated.

The only time I was scared was when the first bang occurred, and the reason I jumped was because I was shocked that something finally happened.

After watching the first one, and realizing how ridiculous it was, I was hoping the second one would actually scare me. I jump at every loud noise and at every scary person who jumps out behind a door, but I did not flinch once at the first Paranormal. Every time the door slammed shut behind a character in the movie, I kept thinking of those clear strings they attach to the doors and a person in a black jumpsuit on the other side.

Paranormal 2, surprisingly enough, scared up enough box office interest to hold its spot at number one in its opening weekend. Even though I can’t imagine how, PA 2 received $41,500,00 its first weekend.

If this director decides to throw a third movie into the mix, let’s hope he brings some realistic demons or evil spirits to attempt to make me shiver in my skin, because these “faux documentaries” are fooling no one.