Weekly Review -- The different meanings of horror

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) -- One of the hotly anticipated sequels of 2010, this Tod Williams film expands the novelty act that was Oren Peli's original, but does not bring anything new to the table. A family that has just moved into an upscale neighborhood starts experiencing strange occurrences that initially only take place at night -- the yard lights are mysteriously switched off, the pool cleaning device is moved by an invisible force, and so on and so forth. When they decide to record the goings-on, numerous secrets start surfacing as the doings of the ghastly entity become increasingly disquieting... What I like the most about Paranormal Activity 2 is the structure. It links the narrative to the first tale and its characters in rather imaginative ways and, even though the ending is slightly over the top with the convenient violence, brings the characters and events from both movies together in a plausible fashion. The ambiance itself was more effective in Peli's film, due to the fresh anticipation factor; here we get more of the same exact thing, although some of the scares are truly chilling. The film fares much less successfully when veering into [REC] territory, with the entire night vision part being a brazen rip-off of the 2007 shocker and a cheap attempt at suspense. Another unnecessary part of the screenplay is the father's skepticism, persisting even after all evidence points to something unexplainable, but obviously possible. Still, the depth of story and character development is not the main attraction of this franchise; the shadows, slamming doors and omnipotent sounds are, and there is plenty of that to keep the viewer's attention. If you liked Paranormal Activity, you are going to love the sequel.

6/10


My Soul to Take (2010) -- After giving us one of the best films of the last five years and the best remake I have ever seen -- 2009's The Last House on the Left -- Wes Craven's production company inexplicably turns to the opposite side of the spectrum and gives us a movie that is not only nonsensical, but also cliched and hurried in the execution of its relatively original idea. Sixteen years after a serial killer known as the Riverton Ripper died in a police sting, seven teenagers that were born on that fateful night believe that the killer is returning to claim their lives. The problem is, he may either still be alive or reincarnated as a member of their group, and the time to learn the truth is running out... I do not know which element this film does not lack, but the main aspect is any semblance of a cohesive plot. I suspect that the screenplay may have been one of those scripts that get butchered by a mass of writers, thereby ruining the original vision. The story could have been intriguing, but that is where the appeal ends. The characters are stereotypical whiners who make inane decisions and talk in some sort of bad cinema code; there is mumbo jumbo about birds and a revolution starting, and no one can guess what it all means, but you should not try too hard to figure it out. The acting is panicked and unconvincing throughout, while the screenplay offers some truly bizarre sequences. There is the entire voice-changing, personality-shifting mode that most of the characters find themselves in, and then there is that classroom presentation scene, which can perhaps be digested if viewed as a quasi-Lynchian effort... oh, forget it, I am incapable of extolling any virtue here. My Soul to Take is more than unmemorable; it is practically unnoticeable. Do not under any circumstances bother with it.

2/10