Category Archives: Films in the Paranormal Activity Series
PARANORMAL4ACTIVITY
PARANORMAL4ACTIVITY-United States-2012
Katie Featherston as Katie
Kathryn Newton as Alex
Matt Shively as Ben
Alexondra Lee as Holly (Image not from film)
Stephen Dunham as Doug (Image not from film)
Brady Allen as Robbie
Aiden Lovekamp as Wyatt
Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Story by Chad Feehan
Screenplay by Christopher Landon
Let me clear one thing up for everyone from the start; I did not hate Paranormal Activity 3 nor did I think it sucked in any way. But, I know that I am in the minority when it comes to the film so let’s move on. Apparently the filmmakers thought differently than I because they have set the 4th film in the series 5 years after the events of Paranormal Activity 2. The setting is now a house in Nevada in 2011 and strange things begin to occur after the family takes in a strange little boy from across the street after his mother is taken to the hospital via ambulance. When I say strange I mean this is the kind of kid who appears out of nowhere to scare the living shit out of you and who talks to unseen beings named Toby. I’m sure you remember Toby from the 3rd film so I don’t have to tell you what he is.
The film centers around the family’s teenage daughter Alex (Kathryn Newton, Bad Teacher) and her sort of somewhat boyfriend, Ben (Matt Shively, Barrio Tales) as Alex experiences strange phenomenon throughout the house and Ben helps her set up laptops that double as webcams to record the activity. Another neat trick involves night vision and the X-Box Kinect system. It made me wonder what the hell I was doing with a PlayStation 3.
But I digress. Paranormal Activity 4 is one of those movies that I don’t like to say a whole lot about because I don’t want to give too much away. I will say three main things about the film. One, the film does have some genuinely scary moments. Two, the film answers certain questions, but of course it sets up even more. Finally, the film marks the significant return of Katie Featherston to the series. That may not seem all that relevant to anyone else, but I’ve had the hots for her since the first Paranormal Activity. If that’s too much information then sue me.
So, is Paranormal Activity 4 good? I think so. Is it scary? For the most part, yes it is. Is it going to make a shitload of money? Seriously, what the hell do you think? Oh, and for those of you keeping tabs I rate the series in order of quality 1. Paranormal Activity 2; 2. Paranormal Activity; 3. Paranormal Activity 4 and 4. Paranormal Activity 3. Now shoo, go buy Halloween candy or sacrifice a virgin* or something.
NO TRIVIA AT THIS TIME
*Written in Blood does not in any way, shape or form condone the sacrificing of virgins or even non-virgins for that matter. Do not attempt this. If you do I do not know you.
Related articles
- ‘Paranormal Activity 4′ Review: The Horror Franchise Finally Loses Its Way (slashfilm.com)
- ‘Paranormal Activity 4′ is eerie setup for another sequel (sacbee.com)
- ‘Paranormal Activity 4′ review: More of same (newsday.com)
- The paranormal bus stops here (sfluxe.com)
- A youthful energy creeps into ‘Paranormal Activity 4′ (seattletimes.com)
- Is ‘Paranormal Activity 4′ The Best Yet? Frightened Fans Weigh In (mtv.com)
- Friday Flicks: Does the World Really Need a Paranormal Activity 4? (newsfeed.time.com)
- ‘Paranormal Activity 4′: The Reviews Are In! (mtv.com)
- The Triumph Of ‘Paranormal Activity’ (forbes.com)
- ‘Paranormal Activity 4′ Star Katie Featherston Says She Filmed ‘Enough for Two or Three Movies’ (hollywood.com)
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY-United States-2007
Katie Featherston as Katie
Micah Sloat as Micah
Written and Directed by Oren Peli
So, here’s the thing; I could swear that I’ve reviewed this movie before for this blog. I can remember finding the poster, the photos and the trailer. I remember posting it. So why is it that when I do a search for the post the only films that show up are “Paranormal Activity 2″ and “Paranormal 3 Activity”? I don’t delete my posts after I put them out there for all the world to see; so what the hell?
Anyway, I guess that’s not important. What’s important is this review. This marks the fifth time that I have watched “Paranormal Activity” and each time I’ve noticed something different. The first time I noticed the vocal just underneath Katie (Featherston’s) voice when she tells Micah (Sloat) that she thinks they’ll be okay. I noticed the chandelier moving the second or third time I watched and this time I noticed Katie’s hair move when she tells Micah that she can feel the entity breathing on her. It’s the small things that make this film as creepy as it is.
But allow me to expand on that a bit. It’s not the small things that you notice or expect to see that make “Paranormal Activity” creepy. It’s the things you expect to see that don’t happen. Every time I watch the movie I expect that when Micah and Katie first go downstairs to investigate the noise that the light from the camera will shine down on some perverse, terrible thing lurking in the darkness. When Micah opens the curtain to peer outside I expect to see a hideous visage staring into his eyes. I see neither; and that makes it even worse. I originally thought that Micah was a bit of a dick in the way he handled the entire situation; but I can also understand his reasoning. We fear what we can’t see and what we can’t understand. We are terrified when we want to protect our loved ones and don’t have the slightest idea as to what to do. “Paranormal Activity” is frightening because it makes us stare into the face of helplessness. Micah wants to protect Katie and in the end there’s not a damn thing he can do.
“Paranormal Activity” is similar to “The Blair Witch Project” in that it puts its characters in situations beyond their control. It’s no surprise that both films feature characters, Heather in “Blair Witch” and Micah in “Paranormal”, who are complete control freaks. It’s also no secret that it turns out bad for them. The thing is, sometimes you go up against something that’s in way more control than you are. The difference in the two films is that while “Blair Witch” stops at showing us that what we can’t see is more frightening than what we can see; “Paranormal” shows us that what’s even more frightening is what we expect to see and then don’t.
I still think I reviewed this movie already. I blame gremlins.
TRIVIA
The original ending was changed at the suggestion of Steven Spielberg.
Oren Peli got the idea for the movie from a personal experience. Late at night he was sleeping and a box of detergent fell off the shelf. The box was pushed too far back for it to just tilt and fall.
The actors weren’t given scripts but were given guidelines on how to behave or what to discuss in their scenes.
Dreamworks wanted to remake the movie with a bigger budget and better known actors rather than release the film as it was and use the original as a DVD extra.
Related articles
- WATCH: Paranormal Activity 4 Trailer (gossipcop.com)
- Katies Back And She’s Not Alone, Trailer For Paranormal Activity 4 (thepeoplesmovies.com)
- ‘Paranormal Activity 4′ Trailer: There Goes the Neighborhood (screenrant.com)
- Paranormal Activity 4 – 666 Teaser Trilogy Examined; Big Surprise on Dread Central Tonight at Midnight (PT)! (dreadcentral.com)
- ‘Amityville Horror’ Sequel To Rip Off ‘Paranormal Activity,’ Will Probably Still Be Terrible (screencrave.com)
- ‘Paranormal Activity 4′ Trailer Preview: Demonic Rewind (screenrant.com)
- ‘Paranormal Activity 4′ Spreads Terror Through First Teaser Trailer (aceshowbiz.com)
- Paranormal Activity 4 Official Trailer and New Teaser That Asks What Really Happened? (dreadcentral.com)
- Official Paranormal Activity 4 Title Treatment (dreadcentral.com)
- Paranormal Activity 4 Trailer Review (uloop.com)
PARANORMAL 3 ACTIVITY
Paranormal Activity
PARANORMAL 3 ACTIVITY-United States 2011
Chloe Csengery and Jessica Tyler Brown as Katie and Kristi
Also starring Christopher Nicholas Smith, Lauren Bittner and Katie Featherston
Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Written by Christopher Landon and Oren Peli (characters)
Remember how I said that although people still get scared at horror movies, but they just don’t get scared as a collective whole? Yeah, well, you can throw that sh*t right out the window. That is, at least in the case of Paranormal Activity 3. The theatre was packed tonight when I went to see it and I could swear that there were several moments that people were going to end up in each other’s laps. Is the film good? I believe it is. I enjoyed the first two films and was a little weary that there would be a third. Without giving anything away I can safely tell you that Paranormal Activity 3 not only answers a lot of questions; it also opens up the door for a possible fourth film in the series. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing depends entirely on your point of view. The film once again uses the ‘found footage’ technique of telling the story and this time takes us back to when Katie was a child and when it all began and that is all I am going to say about it.
If you measure how good a horror film is by audience reaction then I would have to say that Paranormal Activity 3 is a masterpiece. It’s probably not; I’ll eventually buy the film and watch it alone, and the scenes that made everyone jump out of their skins will not seem that scary anymore. Then again, it could turn out to be like the first film and be even more frightening within the confines of home (not so) sweet home.
TRIVIA
Towards the beginning of the film, Julie takes a picture of young Kristi standing in the driveway shortly before a group picture is taken. The photo being taken appears in bothParanormal Activity and Paranormal Activity 2 as an indication that the demon has started haunting them.
Mark Fredrichs previous played the Psychic in the first Paranormal Activity, which took place nearly two decades after the events in this film.
As with Paranormal Activity and Paranormal Activity 2, Paramount Studios once again utilized paranormal investigator/researcher, Christopher Chacon, who is recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on paranormal phenomena, to internationally promote and publicize this third installment. Chacon also works in the entertainment industry as a writer, director and producer.
