The document summarizes the key plot elements and character roles in the film Paranormal Activity 2. It establishes that the lead character Daniel Rey moves his family to an affluent California neighborhood. Strange incidents begin occurring in their home, which their Spanish-speaking nanny believes is possessed by a demonic entity. Daniel fires the nanny but comes to regret this decision as more unexplained events happen and his daughter concludes the house is haunted.

1. Souder, a homicide detective in a small Texan town , and his partner, transplanted New York City cop Detective Heigh , track a sadistic serial killer dumping his victims' mutilated bodies in a nearby marsh locals call 'The Killing Fields' . Though the swampland crime scenes are outside their jurisdiction, Detective Heigh is unable to turn his back on solving the gruesome murders. Despite his partner's warnings, he sets out to investigate the crimes. Before long, the killer changes the game and begins hunting the detectives, teasing them with possible clues at the crime scenes while always remaining one step ahead. When familiar local girl Anne goes missing, the detectives find themselves racing against time to catch the killer and save the young girl's life. First person we are introduced to is the protagonist Slot character used to build plot. Maintaining the typical role of a young female being the damsel in distress. Secondary protagonist character used to create more variation Setting the story in a local, suburban area helps to create a sense of isolation and eeriness Adds a sense of post-modernism and professionalism (coming from a large rural city). The antagonist is never introduced formally. Creates a sense of anonymity and inhumanity Adhering to the gender stereotype of men being the lead characters Provides a sense of predictability that the girl will be saved and killer will be caught. Plays on the generic horror feature of ‘the murder chase’. Established crime location tells us the majority of the action with the detectives and killer will link back to this location at the beginning and end Texas Killing Fields

2. Daniel Rey along with his wife, Kristi ; daughter, Ali ; toddler son, Hunter , and their dog, move to Carlsbad, California . A few days later their residence is broken into, however, nothing appears to be missing. In order to prevent re-occurrences, they install a number of security cameras that will record everything on a DVR. After they hire a Spanish-speaking nanny to look after Hunter, she informs them that there is something wrong in their house and performs prayers, much to the chagrin of Daniel, who lets her go. He will subsequently regret this decision as more inexplicable and strange incidents occur, with Ali concluding, after a research, that their house may be possessed by a demonic entity . Paranormal Activity (2) The lead character is the alpha male, a common convention of horror films Secondary characters are introduced as ‘his’. His family are objectified within the plot to create his role as the dominant male in the household (Daniel Rey) . One of the wealthiest areas in the United States. May imply the family have status. Convention in horror to use large and often wealthy houses. Surreal aspect of non-human creature with human cognitive intelligence is a common theme in horror. The unfamiliarity with the feared object stimulates more fear as we as an audience are unaware of its capabilities and intentions- it is inhumane, and in a sense regards its own status of anonymity; an important element of fear is not knowing what to expect. Foreign stock characters are used to create a suspicion that something may be occurring, but plays on the assumption that because the stock character is foreign they may just be abnormal.