Paranormal Activity 2 2010

Jake Coyle, Associated Press: Paranormal Activity 2 is better made and not quite as paper thin as the original, but by replicating the bare-bones B-film, the sequel sacrifices any chance for distinction. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: The movie's shortcomings are the Hollywood literalism in the third act, the need to show us things and connect dots that we don't need to connect. Read more

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times: Cannily marketed as a collective experience, the Paranormal franchise works best in midnight screenings. The hunger for cold, dead chills is usually best indulged in the company of warm, living bodies. Read more

Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out: Less scary than a toaster. Read more

Scott Tobias, AV Club: What was scary once is scary twice, like a carnival funhouse remodeled with a few new mirrors and spring-loaded spooks. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: What's unusual about these movies is that we know those scares are coming, and the filmmakers' drawn-out approach makes them even more effective when they finally arrive. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Read more

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: Like Oren Peli, who created the first film, director Tod Williams keeps the dialogue So-Cal dumb and colorless, which must be part of the scare plan but makes both these movies hard to sit through. Read more

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: Demons of mediocrity, be gone! Here we have a shrewd sequel a touch better than the original. Read more

Tom Charity, CNN.com: Even if it's never quite as chillingly, insidiously real, the sequel -- if that's the right word -- intersects with the first film in a pleasingly malevolent fashion that creeps up on you as the time-code ticks by. Read more

Joy Tipping, Dallas Morning News: The filmmakers up the ante here with the addition of a smart teenage girl, an adorable toddler and a protective (but freaked-out) German shepherd named Abby. Read more

Adam Graham, Detroit News: This is a date-night fright fest that delivers the goods, and will have you checking behind the door when you go to bed at night all over again. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Even when nothing is happening, the often dead-silent shots tend to grow scarier the more you look at them. Read more

Eric D. Snider, Film.com: Succeeds by giving us another dose of what worked the first time. Read more

Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter: Technically accomplished in its fake video-verite style but artistically bankrupt. Read more

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times: As any patient, malevolent spirit would tell you, if it ain't broke, break it at just the right moment. Read more

Nick Pinkerton, L.A. Weekly: A nullity of a ghost story, whose idea of creating atmosphere is preparing a blank surface for soundtrack bumps-in-the-night to resound off. Read more

Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: Eagle-eyed audiences watching every corner of the screen are rewarded with spooky "did-you-see-that?" moments. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The clumsy and obvious byproduct of the financial success of its predecessor last Halloween, this movie has no reason for existing except to provide Paramount Pictures with a few extra shekels. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The movie numbers the days as they tick away, and along about Day #12 I'm thinking, why are these people still here? Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: If you're looking for wicked fun this Halloween, Paranormal Activity 2 is the best goosebump game in town. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: It's simultaneously a lot more expensive and a lot cheaper. Read more

Dana Stevens, Slate: Even knowing what's likely to come -- the doors opening on their own, the skeptical characters scoffing at metaphysical explanations, the unheeded warnings from paranormally gifted guests -- doesn't make it any less nailbiting to watch. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: The best sequences are too familiar from the first movie, leaving a disappointing sense of deja boo. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: As frightening as a bedsheet flapping on a clothesline. Read more

Mary F. Pols, TIME Magazine: He jolts, when they come, are bigger, causing actual physical thrills and chills, at least for me. Read more

Claudia Puig, USA Today: Rarely is the second film in a horror franchise more frightening than the original, but Paranormal Activity 2 has more innocent victims and more scares than its predecessor. Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: It's the screenplay that ultimately demonstrates too little imagination, beyond the manner in which it bookends its predecessor. Read more