Cast: Katie Featherston, Kathryn Newton, Matt Shively
Director: Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost
Country: USA
Genre: Horror
Official Trailer:Here
Editor’s Notes: For an additional perspective on Paranormal Activity 4, read Julian Wright’s review.
On the fourth go around on this wild and bumpy paranormal Ferris wheel, we see a return to the original narrative thrust, which concerns little Hunter and his evil aunt Katie. Unfortunately, this carnival ride, despite its impressive ability to muster descent jolts, is becoming a little rusty around the hinges. That’s not to say it’s a terrible horror film. In many ways, it’s a step up from the unconnected ramblings of Paranormal Activity 3, partly due to an engaging, charismatic performance from Kathryn Newton that keeps the film grounded. However, something from the first film has been lost and the franchise is really starting to miss it.
In many ways, it’s a step up from the unconnected ramblings of Paranormal Activity 3, partly due to an engaging, charismatic performance from Kathryn Newton that keeps the film grounded.
So, what’s missing? All of the elements are in place: 1) a voyeuristic boyfriend who’s obsessed with filming everything, 2) a family with bad communication skills so no one will believe what’s really going on, and 3) things to go bump in the night. Seems like a solid recipe. Perhaps it’s the freshness of the ingredients with which the first film was constructed that gave it an edge above its predecessors. Could be the solution, but Paranormal didn’t invent the slow burn found footage horror film, so it can’t simply just be that. We need to dig deeper.
It’s the simplicity that’s been lost, the beautiful simplicity of it all. As the story grows bigger and mythology is expanded upon, we’re traveling further away from the original visceral impact that a simple story can offer. Let’s look at other independent horror classics such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or Halloween. Both those films thrive off their narrative simplicity because that’s what leaves room for tension and suspense; Kids go to the farmhouse of a deranged chainsaw family, escaped killer stalks babysitters on Halloween. If you’re main concern with a film is to create unrelenting suspense, then once you show the audience there’s a bomb under the table, you can’t get jumbled up with details about what kind of bomb it is, where it was made, how much it cost, if the owners have insurance. These story points too often get in the way and muddy up the frightening reality that indeed, the table could explode any minute. There’s just not enough working under the surface of this film to keep an interesting story alive, unless you’re being pulled through by suspense.
Some people don’t seem as excited for these films to continue, but I’ll welcome as many Paranormal sequels as it takes, as long as they continue to keep the Saw franchise at bay.
Now for some stuff they got right. Katie… It’s great to have her back. Using the history of the previous films, the filmmakers were well aware that we’ve been trained to dread this woman. All they had to do was put her in a doorway and instantly everyone’s on edge. I found myself asking, could she become a new horror icon? The genre is starved for female villains. Perhaps this Halloween, we’ll see a bunch of people really cheap out and go as evil aunt Katie… Which is basically jeans and a shirt. Truly frightening.
Despite never really being able to pull you through the first and second act, the film does deliver a great non-stop scary conclusion that is worth the wait and gets you excited for the inevitable Paranormal 5. Some people don’t seem as excited for these films to continue, but I’ll welcome as many Paranormal sequels as it takes, as long as they continue to keep the Saw franchise at bay.
[notification type=”star”]50/100 ~ MEDIOCRE. Despite never really being able to pull you through the first and second act, the film does deliver a great non-stop scary conclusion that is worth the wait and gets you excited for the inevitable Paranormal 5.[/notification]
