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Ariel Schulman, ÅÅ, bloody mary, Catfish, child, Chloe Csengery, Christopher Nicholas Smith, Comedy, dark, dead, death, evil, film, frightening, ghost, ghosts, halloween, haunted, haunting, Henry Joost, horror, horror film, horror movie, horror movies, Jessica Tyler Brown, movie reviews, paranormal, paranormal activity, paranormal activity 2, Paranormal Activity 3 Review, Paranrmal Activity 3, reelybored, saw, scary, spirits, spooky, supernatural
Like any successful movie franchise, its novelty eventually wears off and audiences scurry off to the next best thing – at least for the most part (see Saw). When I initially saw the teaser for the latest installment in the Paranormal Activity series I scoffed and told myself that I probably won’t be spending my money on this film, especially after it seemed that the series was heading in a direction that didn’t interest me, specifically, the Bloody Mary angle. As is usually the case, curiosity peaked its tiny little head and bit me in the rear end prompting me towards the movie theater. Needless to say, I’m glad it did. For those wondering, my life is still in tact as the last 15 minutes did NOT mess up my life as promised in the television promos.
Paranormal Activity 3 delivers as it takes note of its mistakes from the second film, which I consider to be the weakest link in the trilogy, and engulfs its audience in a darker realm of the unknown that made the first film so successful. Again, I found myself scanning the giant celluloid screen on the lookout for something to happen or to be out of place – it was like playing a mega version of Where’s the Demon? It was a feeling that the filmmakers of the second movie in the series failed to capture by trying (and I stress the word trying) a little too hard in bringing on the suspense by boring us with repetitive scenes and having little to nothing happening. I can see what they were trying to do but fell a bit flat in doing so. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed Paranormal Activity 2 but it was my least favorite of the three films.
In the third film, filmmakers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (Catfish) brought us back in time to 1988 when the two sisters, Katie and Kristi, were children and the trouble with the demon began. For the most part, I would say that most of the audience should be fairly up to speed on the why aspect of things given that a good portion of the history was divulged or hinted in Paranormal Activity 2.
One thing that I can say for sure on what separates this from its predecessors is that there was definitely a lot more things going on. Ranging from terrifying night-time moments to the cheap cliched scare, there was rarely a dull moment in the film that kept the audience gasping for air. It was the first time that I heard a male’s scream trump that of a female in a movie theater. However, I have to admit that the visuals in this one were downright creepy and if you had a hard time sleeping with the previous two films, get ready for this one!
Aside from the fear factor, the humor in this installment seemed to have gotten a slight nudge, for the better at that thanks to Dennis (Christoper Nicholas Smith) who is responsible for the footage we are watching. Also giving fantastic performances goes to Chloe Csengery and Jessica Tyler Brown who played young Kati and young Kristi, respectively. Also, credit goes to the filmmakers in capturing that 80′s essence when owning a camcorder was novelty and “all the rave” so to speak. In a way, it really did look like this was found footage from the 80′s!
There were a few things that were left unanswered that left me with more questions about the PA mythos. Despite this, it didn’t deter from my enjoying of the film but rather made for some interesting conversation afterward. Take note that the filmmakers did, what I think was pretty smart, leave almost everything you see in the trailer out of the film. This seemed like a tactic in getting people into the theater. Some may have felt duped but I welcomed this tactic in that nothing was given away in the trailers and left plenty of room for surprise when sitting a dark theater – this way there were no expectations on when a particular scene was going to happen. Even the poster is a bit misleading!
Is this scene even in the movie? Hmmm...
I don’t want to give anything away so I will simply part in saying I recommend giving this film a watch and, if possible, try to watch with a tamed audience.
Nice review! I totally agree about them capturing that 80′s feel. The lack of trailer footage being in the film makes me excited for the DVD!
Here’s to hoping they won’t give us a bare bones edition DVD/Bluray!
Right?!? I’m going to be optimistic. I’m hoping for a variety of deleted scenes!
I mean, it only makes sense to do so unless they want us to double dip which would most likely be the case.
I saw Paranormal Activity 1 when it first came out and I thought it was okay……The second paranormal activity came out and I actually thought it was better than the first, and I felt it left room for the third the really make an impact……BOY WAS I WRONG. I left and smoked a cigarette about 3/4 of the way through the movie, came back and told my friend, and I quote,”This is the WORST, most boring, lame, and really FRAUDULENT film.” None of the scares in the previews are in the movie…..I personally HATE this and think of it ONLY as duping….WHY ELSE SHOW THEM UNLESS YOU KNOW YOUR MOVIE SUCKS!!!!!!!!! My friend said we’ll see they’re is more time, 15 min. later it was over and he said WORST MOVIE IN A LONG TIME.
Lol, sorry you had such a bad experience
I like the series up to the point when they try to explain what’s happening. Then I just get frustrated and start snickering. Why can’t some entity just be malevolent for no good reason? That’s why I like “The Exorcist.” There’s literally no good reason for what happens to Regan in the movie, it’s just evil being evil.
True, part of the reason why i liked the first one so much. But I also understand that the formula would be hard to repeat with the sequels unless a new cast of characters were introduced. Instead, we got a new cast that was related to those in the first film so the question would naturally arise of, “why is this demon tormenting this family?” and the filmmakers are providing the answer i suppose.
But yes, i agree, less is more and nonetheless i still enjoy the films
I admit, I enjoyed them. Grudgingly.
I used to read a lot about the occult when I was a teen and came across the idea that some people are haunted by ghosts because their spirit/psyche etc. attracts them. They become a kind of magnet for good and bad spirits. I kind of wish that that were the explanation. That freaks me out so much more than demons.
Same here, am a huge fan of the occult /paranormal and believed a lot more when I was younger. I used to read so much about it and what always got me, what always kept me up at night was the unknown. My imagination was scarier than any demon.
I’m still a fan of the paranormal/occult but I’m a skeptic now. I do love the folkloric aspect, though.
Yeah, my favorite nights when I was young were spent reading “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” and being too scared to sleep.
Ha! I think i found my long lost twin
Is “The Twilight Zone” music playing really loudly where you are too? :]
Hehe, it is