Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night

This film effectively builds tension and utilizes its cultural setting to deliver scares, drawing upon Japanese folklore and urban legends to enhance the horror experience. The found-footage format adds to the film's realism and immersion, maintaining a steady pace as the supernatural events unfold. The siblings and their relationships with other characters feel so authentic that you can't help but believe they are indeed related even outside the confines of the film. Although the sequel may suffer from a lack of originality, while potentially perpetuating cultural stereotypes, it remains a decent add-on to the franchise, with chilling moments and a unique cultural perspective on the horror genre.

When I first heard about a Japanese take on Paranormal Activity, I thought it was a joke. Then I saw the trailer for it and thought it looked horrible. Being a big fan of Paranormal Activity films, I really wanted to see it. Unfortunately, they didn't release it here in America, and I'm still waiting. However, I managed to get that chance to watch it but I couldn't understand a word they were saying since there was no subtitles on the transfer I saw.

To be honest, this film feels just like the first Paranormal Activity. It begins with the guy in front of the mirror adjusting his camera, a lot like Micah's opening scene on the first one. Then he goes out to his driveway to a car where some girl is..... hmmm... feels like the first Paranormal Activity again. But unlike the first Paranormal Activity, it begins with something happening early on in the film. He puts a mound of sugar on the door and finds out that it mysteriously gets wiped all over the floor.

I also like that they kept the whole Night #1 title card that the Paranormal Activity films have. The unfortunate thing is that the first half of the film just feels like a rehash of the first one. Doors opening and closing, the girl screams out of her sleep, sometimes just going nuts for some reason. As I'm watching, I'm waiting for something different to happen. It has to offer something new eventually.

It does.

For the last thirty minutes or so of the film, things get a little crazy. There's a moment in the film that is creepier than any of the American Paranormal Activity films never achieved. I won't spoil it, but let's just say you will know when you see it. There's also a little twist in the end, where you think it's going to end the same way as the first film.... but it doesn't.

Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night is a worthy entry in the Paranormal Activity series. It does tie into the franchise and worth a watch if you like these films. Next time I see it, I'm watching it with subtitles so I know what they're talking about. There's a lot of slow parts, though. Then again, so did the American versions.

Tokyo Night is... strange. It was released right when the actual Paranormal Activity 2 came out and is supposed to be a forgotten side-quel(?) which is not even canon anymore. This is a shame because I enjoyed it way more than most of the actual sequels that came out in this franchise. That's not to say that Tokyo Night is some misunderstood gem. It's mostly just a retread of the first film, but this time in Japan. I was expecting it to put a J-horror flair on the Western Paranormal Activity formula but it didn't do anything to carve out its own identity. Although it did manage to somehow terrify me during its last 20 minutes but I do think that it needed a bit more ambitious approach. Unfortunately, Tokyo Night is a strange anomaly that has been forgotten in time because it couldn't be bold and just did more of what already became tired after the first Paranormal Activity.

I enjoyed this sequel more than American Paranormal Activity 2. The pace is much faster and the characters are more likeable. The movie is nicely connected to the other Activities and doesn't feel out of place. Still not a thrilling movie, but, in my opinion, none of the PA movies are. I liked the ending - whenever you think everything is over, you get something more. The movie does mirror the first PA a lot (some scenes are very similar), but still felt different enough and wasn't boring to watch. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece of the horror genre, but comparing to the other Paranormal Activities this is one of the best.

Toshikazu Nagae, the director already made a horror in 2002, Gosuto shisutemu. 8 years later he picked in on the success of Paranormal Activity. It is said that it was a sequel to the original one but I guess that it was said for promotional reasons only. This is just a remake from the original one. Funny, we are used to see it go otherwise. Normally Japanese flicks are remade by Hollywood.

You love or hate the Paranormal franchise. I like them but with this one I missed something. For me the best part were the last 20 minutes. The movie starts with the telling of a girl coming back from the states after a carcrash. Almost after 5 minutes in this flick things go wrong but what I didn't like was that her brother already guessed that an entity was in the house. And from there on it's a pure rip-off of the original. Of course the ghost is being cast out by a priest in Japanese rituals, that's the only difference but towards the end we get that typical The Grudge or Ringu girls, you know the face when you see it.

I never really jumped while watching or ever got a creepy feeling because I have seen it all before. And don't get me wrong, PA3 did give me some goosebumps. But then again I wouldn't recommend it for those who are easily afraid because it all happens at home.

It fits perfectly in the franchise (as did Paranormal Entity)but yes, I think most geeks will hate it.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 1/5 Story 2/5 Comedy 0/5