By Daniel N. Gullotta.
What can be said about Paranormal Activity 3, that hasn’t been said in a review of 1 or 2? Not a lot, so I will keep this review as short as possible. Looking at the success of Paranormal Activity 1, sequels, prequels, and spin offs were clearly inevitable, particularly looking at it’s budget to profit marker. Made in the tradition of ‘found footage films’ like Blair Witch Project and Cannibal Holocaust, unlike most horror movies of this past decade, Paranormal Activity plays on minimalism.
Paranormal Activity plays with the mind, it teases the senses, and fills the air with nothing but tension. It aims to scare people with the bare basics, the things that continue to scare people every single day; random shadows, strange noises, and bizarre things happening that just cannot be explained so easily. Of course, this is where people either love it or hate it. If those things do not scare you in the slightest, then, you will not enjoy this series. If you do enjoy all of that stuff and you liked of it in the first two, you will probably enjoy this one just as much.
Paranormal Activity 2, rather then using the same subject and sources with a different direct, decided to go build more on a single history and mythos, thus interlocking number one and number two. Part three takes another step closer and deeper into the mystery of Kate and Kristi’s haunting, this time, looking at their childhood. Because it based on their childhood, things indeed take an interesting turn, that is for the most part.
As this film is a prequel, it takes place in 1988, a time when home-video was only just breaking into main stream family and home usage. The camera is more limited, and understandably so, those things weren’t exactly common or cheap back then, however it does force the suspension of disbelief a little too hard for me personally. While many others can just go with it, I did struggle from time to time as I was reminding myself, “Why is hold this huge 80’s camera, when he should be dropping it and running for his life?” Some people may be able to deal with it, but I did struggle.
With limited cameras, you can basically expect what is going to happen in each room and as audiences are aware of the formula, you spend most of the movie just waiting to see what happens next. The major problem is that you can guess almost everything that will happen next. The scares are extremely easy and cheap, and more than the previous films it is a lot more in your face scares for sure. However some of the scenes were creative and different, not common, but still outstanding enough to maintain my interest in what was coming up next.
The best thing I can say is that the performances from these actors are a huge improvement from the previous cast members. They feel very real and very human. Particular note should be given to the two child actresses. Yet, it is more of the same formula with new mythos and story. As to be expected, Paranormal Activity 3 ends on a note that clearly marks room for more films. If this franchise is to continue to grow in the right direction, it will need to be more creative and interesting with the formula in how it uses minimal to massive effect.
Ultimately this film is nothing special, but it is an enjoyable ride if you like the first two films, particularly if you are in a cinema packed with people like I was. Enjoying it as a whole is apart of the experience, and watching and sharing in people’s gasps, screams, and jumps is the best of the paranormal ride.
ONE SENTENCE RATING:
Grab your mates and see it on the cheap.
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