Steve the Homicidal Maniac (SteveHorrorFan)

Review:
Yes, Paranormal Activity managed to do something that almost no other ghost movie in the past 25 years has managed to do: actually be scary. Like Blair Witch, it's presented entirely through self-shot footage (or from a fixed tripod in their bedroom), and ramps up from simple noises to truly freaky violent acts. The increasingly terrifying nature of the scares is what really makes the film work. Not trying to be a tough guy by saying movies don't scare me, but movies don't scare me. Maybe once in a while, when all the lights are dim and I'm all alone - and this is only under certain surcumstances - if I'm in the right mood I'll get a little freaked out, and I still don't recall the last time this occurred. Well, if I had the opportunity to watch this film in said environment, it has the potential to be truly frightening. I'll admit, it's not a perfect film but any movie that prevents me from taking that dark and lonely walk down the hall from bedroom to bathroom to take a leak is more than worth all of my praise. So congratulations go to you, Paranormal Activity, for making me look over my shoulder if I happen to hear a creak in the floor boards or some other unexplained, unexpected noise.


But how scary is it, really? Is it like everyone says, the scariest movie ever? I'll have to say no, it's not. Although some parts are terrifying in their own right, the movie itself could have been better. Much like Blair Witch, this movie could come off as extremely terrifying to some people, yet terrible to others. You either get it or you don't. If you got Blair Witch and understood what was going on there, if you put yourself in their place, it's a truly horrifying experience. But, if your one of the people who either wasn't paying attention or just didn't get what was going on, it'll just be a nauseating movie going experience. The same applies here, but while I think Blair Witch is the stronger film by far, I think it's easier to follow along with Paranormal Activity. It plays off all your contemporary fears: fear of the dark, fear of being watched, fear of the unexplained, and of course fear of the supernatural. Noises play a key role here, but there not found in cheap jump scares. You can almost follow this entity (you never truly discover what it is) about the house by hearing loud thuds and strange sounds. It seems very real, and seeing the actual monster is not the scary part, but just knowing it's there but not seeing it is the scary part.


Sure, you could walk out of the theater with your head held high without flinching the whole film, but once you get home, no matter how brave you are, once you hear a door slam or a board creak somewhere in your house your head will be peering over your shoulder examining everything in sight. And that's the scary part, after the movie when your laying in your bed and you hear that sound, but don't know where it came from, or what caused it.

"I am not responsible for you. That's it, I've had enough. I can't take it anymore mom. He's dead. Michael Myers is dead. "

Review
This is the best Halloween sequel besides the second movie. I just wanted to get that out of the way. If you were to watch any Myers movies other than the first two, follow this films intentions and forget all the lousy installments in between. Because you have to admit, it was getting to the point of self parody (although it achieved that title in Resurrection), you couldn't take Michael seriously any more. The stories suffered the sequel curse, they just went downhill into absurdity, adding new characters to the family and unneeded plot twists. But, lucky for the fans a director with a little bit of slasher background stepped up to the plate to take a swing at the series.


Directed by Steve Miner (Friday the 13th parts 2 & 3), and written by Kevin Williamson (Scream), H20 was really a breath of fresh air not only for Michael Myers, but for horror movies in general in this period. One of the best things about this film is it's a return to form. Michael Myers was intended to be the shape. The boogeyman lurking in the shadows. This is how he appeared in the first two films, but then transformed into a hulking Jason clone from parts 4 and on. Sure, he's not the same dark figure as in the first, but he's still an anomaly and not supporting a pair shoulder pads (more on that later). This movie isn't about relentless blood shed like the latter sequels in slasher franchises, but aims for suspense. This is perhaps why it has one of the better plots since the first, the screenplay is gold compared to earlier installments. Although it has some impressive kills, it doesn't rely of that alone. For once you root for the victims, maybe it's just jamie lee Curtis's character of Laurie Strode, but you actually want to see them prevail and beat Myers and escape. Oh, and does Michael ever take the beating here. He's constantly being knocked down and out - just enough for the victims to escape his grasp, but how often do you see the killer being knocked around? But there's enough scenes that retain Myers strength. He's not completely unstoppable, just pure and simply evil remember?


Once again, Michael Myers is at his best here. You delve deeper into his psyche, but don't learn to much about him. He still remains the mysterious figure he as ment to be, but you learn about what he thinks. He's smart. He knows what he wants and how to get just that. Not only that, but his appearance is for once truly frightening. This has been an issue through out the series. It seems as if Michael's visage has become worse, cheeper and less terrifying as they went. I understand that after films become huge successes that people manufacture costume pieces so little boys and girls can walk around pretending to be Michael Myers and the like...but that doesn't mean the film sequels should use those costume pieces. Here, Michael's mask is great. A return to the original style. I liked the more open eye holes they did for this mask, as it plays up the more human side of Myers this entry went for.


H20, which is short for Halloween: 20 years later is defiantly one of the strongest sequels to date. It doesn't hold up as good as Halloween 2 (well, I guess I gotta say the original Halloween 2 now), but besides that this is the one to watch. Do like they tell you, skip out on all that about Laurie's daughter and that nonsense about the Mark of Thorn cult, the real story lies on Halloween day 1978, and Halloween day 1998. I'm saying this as a huge fan of the series and of Michael Myers (been sporting the mask and overalls every halloween).