I went into the movie not expecting it to be as good as the other Paranormal Activities. They all seemed to go downhill since the first one came out. This one was just too slow. There were the obvious suspenseful scenes but there just wasn't enough. The movie had hope at times but then it was just squashed by rushing through. They didn't go into much detail about the demonic possession and skipped over plenty of unanswered questions. The last twenty minutes of the movie were by far the best. And that is the only reason it got four stars. I do hope they give up and don't plan on making another one. The few screams that the movie did get wasn't worth the $11.50 I paid for the ticket. Wait until it comes out on RedBox.
314 Reviews
If you didn't like Paranormal Activity 4 see it again
Robert-Who-Watches-Movies30 January 2013
That is my advice. I saw it for the first time as a rental, and when I began watching it I feared I had come across a dud but as the day progressed I watched it bit by bit and began to like it.
I agree it is short on scares compared to the first three, but it makes up for it in telling a good story. It all comes together slowly, but by the time the movie ends I feel the viewer is left with a coherent and intelligent film.
And as for the description of the movie as being "boring" I didn't find it boring at all. Everything moves along at a snappy pace, enhanced by lively characters and good acting. Kathryn Newton did an especially good job. She seemed totally at ease in the role of Alex.
I agree it is short on scares compared to the first three, but it makes up for it in telling a good story. It all comes together slowly, but by the time the movie ends I feel the viewer is left with a coherent and intelligent film.
And as for the description of the movie as being "boring" I didn't find it boring at all. Everything moves along at a snappy pace, enhanced by lively characters and good acting. Kathryn Newton did an especially good job. She seemed totally at ease in the role of Alex.
Rustles up basic, cookie-cutter scares and shortchanges the exposition it needs to begin piecing together
StevePulaski20 October 2012
It has become an unintentional October ritual that I decorate the house for Halloween, watch a few horror films, and, since 2009, see the latest installment of the Paranormal Activity franchise. When I walked out of the original film on that faithful October morning, I hoped that the wonderful picture I had just saw would be left alone, and not have the albatrosses known as sequels leaching off of it.
Now I'm faced with the fourth film in the genre, directed by the extremely talented directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, who made one of 2010's finest documentaries, Catfish. This installment is a small improvement over the uninspired third part, yet it has little to offer. The characters are a tad more tolerable, and some sequences, including the end, have a bit more life in them, but when the moments examine the paranormal inactivity of it all, it becomes totally vanilla.
After two films we finally reconnect with Katie from the original film, this time, living on an upper-middle class suburban block with Hunter from the second film. Only in this part, he's called "Robbie," not "Hunter" and is about six years old. Don't question. Turns out, they have moved across the street from fifteen year old Alex (Kathryn Newton), her tech-savvy boyfriend Ben, who doesn't live there but might as well (Matt Shively, of True Jackson, VP fame), her younger brother Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp), and her parents (Stephen Dunham and Alexondra Lee). When Katie is taken to the hospital for unknown reasons, Robbie (Brady Allen), who already loves to venture into the neighbors' backyard and hang out in the treehouse, is sent to be cared for at Alex's home for the next few days.
Robbie immediately strikes up an unsettling friendship with Wyatt, and it isn't long before Alex and her goofy boyfriend become victim to the paranormal activity occurring in the household. Everything from falling chandeliers, to dining room chairs moving out abruptly, to knives falling, loud thumps, and alarms claiming "FRONT DOOR OPEN, BACK DOOR OPEN" occur and there is little consistency with anything.
Many different cameras are utilized throughout the film, mainly Alex's webcam on her laptop, which she apparently carts around with her everywhere she goes. The main camera is the one on the Xbox 360's Kinect (for those unaware, a mechanism that now comes equipped with the console, which allows the person to use the tiny sensor on the device to utilize motion control and be able to control their character without a formal controller), which, when on, creates little small, green dots that glow and showcase night-vision movement. It's a nifty little novelty, and we can at least see that Joost and Schulman have respectively tried to breed life back into the way these pictures are filmed.
Thank goodness, because there's little that can be done with the story and the scares. We get a barrage of different jump scares, many inactive nights, and lots of abrupt noises always followed up by a startled "hello?" from one of the characters. These films have gotten to be achingly predictable, and it feels like every year since 2010, I've gone on a lunch-date with a person whose intentions I like, but personality and charm I've come to loathe.
I think besides the nifty camera-work, what elevates Paranormal Activity 4 from the monotony and the drabness of the previous installment, is the fact that we have at least marginally tolerable characters to watch as well. Alex and Ben are at times, a humorous riot, and at others, dreadfully unremarkable. Easily, they are the most fun to be with since Katie and Micah, but Katie and Micah were at least trapped in a film that was fun to experience for the first time in a fresh, original manner. Here, we've become so accustomed to this formula that we continue to anticipate every twist and every turn, and we watch in plain awe to see the films border more and more on the line of self-parody.
So, let's say Joost and Schulman make the decision to direct the inevitable Paranormal Activity 5 and Paranormal Activity 6. What they should focus on, instead of repetitive, dead-end jump scares, is giving the audience some insight as to what is haunting Katie and her family and how it came to be. It seems every film, we get a different entity and no explanation surrounding it. When will we get the explanation of Katie's action during the first installment? Or her sister's spontaneous ones in the sequel? Or what about "Toby," or whoever the imaginary figure was in the third film? And don't forget about whatever the hell that was at the end of the third film, and this film, for that matter. Just another sidenote; the last fifteen minutes of this film did not scar me for life, much like its predecessor's.
Paranormal Activity 4 is effective in rustling up scare-attempt after scare-attempt on a basic level, yet shortchanges the larger questions that would offer insight to Katie's family if explored. Some viewers may not want to be bothered by lengthy explanations of the countless questions still at hand or the numerous symbols that have been associated with the demonic creatures in these films. Perhaps so, but to watch the fourth film in a series continue to be resistant in exploring the exposition of its characters doesn't seem like an ideal move. Considering audiences seem to be tiring from the bang-and-scare features the found footage genre has inspired, it would be a pity to see this franchise die before it can fully clean up its messy tracks.
Starring: Kathryn Newton, Matt Shively, Katie Featherston, Brady Allen, Aiden Lovekamp, Stephen Dunham, and Alexondra Lee. Directed by: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman.
Now I'm faced with the fourth film in the genre, directed by the extremely talented directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, who made one of 2010's finest documentaries, Catfish. This installment is a small improvement over the uninspired third part, yet it has little to offer. The characters are a tad more tolerable, and some sequences, including the end, have a bit more life in them, but when the moments examine the paranormal inactivity of it all, it becomes totally vanilla.
After two films we finally reconnect with Katie from the original film, this time, living on an upper-middle class suburban block with Hunter from the second film. Only in this part, he's called "Robbie," not "Hunter" and is about six years old. Don't question. Turns out, they have moved across the street from fifteen year old Alex (Kathryn Newton), her tech-savvy boyfriend Ben, who doesn't live there but might as well (Matt Shively, of True Jackson, VP fame), her younger brother Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp), and her parents (Stephen Dunham and Alexondra Lee). When Katie is taken to the hospital for unknown reasons, Robbie (Brady Allen), who already loves to venture into the neighbors' backyard and hang out in the treehouse, is sent to be cared for at Alex's home for the next few days.
Robbie immediately strikes up an unsettling friendship with Wyatt, and it isn't long before Alex and her goofy boyfriend become victim to the paranormal activity occurring in the household. Everything from falling chandeliers, to dining room chairs moving out abruptly, to knives falling, loud thumps, and alarms claiming "FRONT DOOR OPEN, BACK DOOR OPEN" occur and there is little consistency with anything.
Many different cameras are utilized throughout the film, mainly Alex's webcam on her laptop, which she apparently carts around with her everywhere she goes. The main camera is the one on the Xbox 360's Kinect (for those unaware, a mechanism that now comes equipped with the console, which allows the person to use the tiny sensor on the device to utilize motion control and be able to control their character without a formal controller), which, when on, creates little small, green dots that glow and showcase night-vision movement. It's a nifty little novelty, and we can at least see that Joost and Schulman have respectively tried to breed life back into the way these pictures are filmed.
Thank goodness, because there's little that can be done with the story and the scares. We get a barrage of different jump scares, many inactive nights, and lots of abrupt noises always followed up by a startled "hello?" from one of the characters. These films have gotten to be achingly predictable, and it feels like every year since 2010, I've gone on a lunch-date with a person whose intentions I like, but personality and charm I've come to loathe.
I think besides the nifty camera-work, what elevates Paranormal Activity 4 from the monotony and the drabness of the previous installment, is the fact that we have at least marginally tolerable characters to watch as well. Alex and Ben are at times, a humorous riot, and at others, dreadfully unremarkable. Easily, they are the most fun to be with since Katie and Micah, but Katie and Micah were at least trapped in a film that was fun to experience for the first time in a fresh, original manner. Here, we've become so accustomed to this formula that we continue to anticipate every twist and every turn, and we watch in plain awe to see the films border more and more on the line of self-parody.
So, let's say Joost and Schulman make the decision to direct the inevitable Paranormal Activity 5 and Paranormal Activity 6. What they should focus on, instead of repetitive, dead-end jump scares, is giving the audience some insight as to what is haunting Katie and her family and how it came to be. It seems every film, we get a different entity and no explanation surrounding it. When will we get the explanation of Katie's action during the first installment? Or her sister's spontaneous ones in the sequel? Or what about "Toby," or whoever the imaginary figure was in the third film? And don't forget about whatever the hell that was at the end of the third film, and this film, for that matter. Just another sidenote; the last fifteen minutes of this film did not scar me for life, much like its predecessor's.
Paranormal Activity 4 is effective in rustling up scare-attempt after scare-attempt on a basic level, yet shortchanges the larger questions that would offer insight to Katie's family if explored. Some viewers may not want to be bothered by lengthy explanations of the countless questions still at hand or the numerous symbols that have been associated with the demonic creatures in these films. Perhaps so, but to watch the fourth film in a series continue to be resistant in exploring the exposition of its characters doesn't seem like an ideal move. Considering audiences seem to be tiring from the bang-and-scare features the found footage genre has inspired, it would be a pity to see this franchise die before it can fully clean up its messy tracks.
Starring: Kathryn Newton, Matt Shively, Katie Featherston, Brady Allen, Aiden Lovekamp, Stephen Dunham, and Alexondra Lee. Directed by: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman.
Disappointingly par for the course
valisrogue17 October 2012
Franchise fatigue has definitely set in with this tedious fourth instalment.
After taking things off on a slightly different tangent with the previous film, the same writing/directing duo instead plump for the same old, same old - lots of nothing happening before LOUD NOISES! freak out the teenage girls in the audience and the less discerning horror moviegoers.
And, despite some spirited (ha!) performances, the lack of any real plot development leaves the mythology treading water and the series as a whole rather confused.
Ultimately, PA 4 is a step back and the textbook definition of 'diminished return'.
After taking things off on a slightly different tangent with the previous film, the same writing/directing duo instead plump for the same old, same old - lots of nothing happening before LOUD NOISES! freak out the teenage girls in the audience and the less discerning horror moviegoers.
And, despite some spirited (ha!) performances, the lack of any real plot development leaves the mythology treading water and the series as a whole rather confused.
Ultimately, PA 4 is a step back and the textbook definition of 'diminished return'.
Waste of time and money
Njinked22 October 2012
what a waste of time and cash.. the movie was pointless. with no flow. no questions answered. just a waste. I never review movies but had to share how bad this was..compared to part 1- 2- and 3.... i don't know what else to say other than how misleading the commercial is.. the commercial was cut and spliced with video and audio that didn't even match what happened in the movie... you have been warned. when the movie was over.. people actually Boo'd. hopefully people will spread the word, and save others from throwing their money away. i know die-hard fans will go and give it a shot, but will be disappointed as well. Sinister was better and actually made you jump quite a few times.
A major step backwards in the franchise, even for fans of it.
andell19 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Okay, so I'll admit that I found the first "Paranormal Activity" to be overrated, and the second to be largely an extension of the first. The third one, I must admit, I found very effective at times, and it was the best of the franchise in my view.
Now we have "Paranormal Activity 4," and I must admit, I found this one utterly ridiculous in so many ways.
The base story is that Katie, the possessed woman from the first two films, and the sibling who was haunted by Toby in the third film, has moved next door to a new family with her adopted son "Robbie" in tow.
Robbie has a propensity for wandering onto the property of the neighbours across the street, giving Alex, the daughter of the family, and her best friend Ben the creeps...something that they mention seemingly every 30 seconds in the first half of the film.
One night Katie is taken away in an ambulance, and so the family across the street takes in Robbie until Katie is well enough to come home. During this time Robbie bonds with the family's young son Wyatt...and introduces him to his unseen companion...who we assume is "Toby," though I don't recall this ever being made clear.
Paranormal activities begin to plague the family, in particular Alex, from the moment that Robbie enters the home...but her efforts to alert her family of what's going on falls on deaf ears until, by the end, they meet the typical franchise fate.
Now it has to be said that I think the found footage element in this film has been stretched to the max. I mean, there are no home video cameras in the film...it's all captured apparently on laptop web cam...which requires Alex to basically cart along her laptop wherever she goes, while the other laptops are set to remote record.
Apparently no one closes there laptop after they're done using it, but I digress...the formula is obviously warn out.
As is the need to rely on jump scares and CGI. Seriously, aside from some menacing moments when Katie appears behind someone, and you're waiting to see what she does, there is literally no scares besides jump scares.
The most bizarre moment of the entire film...is when Alex and her Father are under attack by the witches coven and the paranormal force...and presumably as she's running for her life, Alex is carrying around her laptop.
To be honest, I just think they've run out of ideas on this franchise, which is I suspect why the film, even with about five minutes of clips from the first two films, just barely makes it over the 80 minute mark.
My advice: if you're looking for a scary film that will be with you for days...go see "Sinister." If you see this one, prepare to be disappointed...as it wouldn't be incorrect to say that the scariest scenes...are in the trailer...some of which somehow don't even make it into the film itself.
Now we have "Paranormal Activity 4," and I must admit, I found this one utterly ridiculous in so many ways.
The base story is that Katie, the possessed woman from the first two films, and the sibling who was haunted by Toby in the third film, has moved next door to a new family with her adopted son "Robbie" in tow.
Robbie has a propensity for wandering onto the property of the neighbours across the street, giving Alex, the daughter of the family, and her best friend Ben the creeps...something that they mention seemingly every 30 seconds in the first half of the film.
One night Katie is taken away in an ambulance, and so the family across the street takes in Robbie until Katie is well enough to come home. During this time Robbie bonds with the family's young son Wyatt...and introduces him to his unseen companion...who we assume is "Toby," though I don't recall this ever being made clear.
Paranormal activities begin to plague the family, in particular Alex, from the moment that Robbie enters the home...but her efforts to alert her family of what's going on falls on deaf ears until, by the end, they meet the typical franchise fate.
Now it has to be said that I think the found footage element in this film has been stretched to the max. I mean, there are no home video cameras in the film...it's all captured apparently on laptop web cam...which requires Alex to basically cart along her laptop wherever she goes, while the other laptops are set to remote record.
Apparently no one closes there laptop after they're done using it, but I digress...the formula is obviously warn out.
As is the need to rely on jump scares and CGI. Seriously, aside from some menacing moments when Katie appears behind someone, and you're waiting to see what she does, there is literally no scares besides jump scares.
The most bizarre moment of the entire film...is when Alex and her Father are under attack by the witches coven and the paranormal force...and presumably as she's running for her life, Alex is carrying around her laptop.
To be honest, I just think they've run out of ideas on this franchise, which is I suspect why the film, even with about five minutes of clips from the first two films, just barely makes it over the 80 minute mark.
My advice: if you're looking for a scary film that will be with you for days...go see "Sinister." If you see this one, prepare to be disappointed...as it wouldn't be incorrect to say that the scariest scenes...are in the trailer...some of which somehow don't even make it into the film itself.
It's the same movie... Again.
sergiodrummond22 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I was warned that this was going to be a complete bullsh*t, and I knew it. But still I wanted to watch the last (I HOPE) movie from this poor franchise.
You know what's the problem with Paranormal Activity? They made the same movie, FOUR TIMES. It's the same story, retold by a different vision, but with the same "scary" moments, the same characters with the same reactions (At first: Cool! Ghosts are invading my house, let's record this! And then: OMG, no one believes in me, we're f*cked!), and the same structure: Bulding up tension the whole movie, so in the end everyone dies in the final 5 minutes, in a very stupid way.
I can't believe I've watched this movie, even knowing that it was going to be THAT bad.
You know what's the problem with Paranormal Activity? They made the same movie, FOUR TIMES. It's the same story, retold by a different vision, but with the same "scary" moments, the same characters with the same reactions (At first: Cool! Ghosts are invading my house, let's record this! And then: OMG, no one believes in me, we're f*cked!), and the same structure: Bulding up tension the whole movie, so in the end everyone dies in the final 5 minutes, in a very stupid way.
I can't believe I've watched this movie, even knowing that it was going to be THAT bad.
Paranormal Activity- does exactly what it says on the tin!
cookiechip_077 October 2012
So the forth film in the series. If there is money to be made they will keep churning them out and usually with total disregard to maintaining the quality that made the 1st film so popular. However, i am pleased to report that -although we know what to expect- this film is both intriguing and enjoyable. For those of you who have seen all the films you know that its not going to cover new ground but you are still expecting a decent continuation and contribution from a franchise that you like. Well, there is a lot to like here i think! After attending a special preview screening of the whole film (the directors informed us it wasn't the completely polished movie yet- still a little editing to be done) the audience reacted very positively towards it.
//Plot- The film takes place five years after Paranormal Activity 2, which ended with Katie kidnapping Hunter. It follows the life of Alice, her boyfriend Ben, her mother, and her brother Wyatt as paranormal activity starts to occur when a mother and child (called Robbie) move into the neighbourhood. After Robbies mum goes to the hospital Alice's mother takes Robbie in, which leads to weird occurrences in their house//
Look, in all honesty, there are a whole host of better horror movies to watch out there, but i am writing for those who WANT to see this movie on its own merits not any one seeking out a mind-blowing plot with incredible character development!...okay?! :)
Anyway PA4 is kept simple which is a good thing, the acting, the format, the camera work and dialogue are all standard so this cant really be criticised. A new and amazing plot / acting etc is not what the directors are aiming for, what people are after is tension, suspense and jumpy scare moments which i believe delivers on all these aspects! With boo moments and fake outs a plenty. Also I like the fact there are weird occurrences in the day time as well as the night. The aspects that most stood out in PA4 was the use of an Xbox- this was a really cool effect and added an extra dimension to the film. The sound effects such as the well known vibration when tension is being racked up always gets me going, love that. It also contains an actual creepy kid and who doesn't like creepy kids! (...me!)
So all in all, if you have never seen any of the previous films and you go to see this one (for some strange reason?!) you will have had a decent movie outing with jumpy moments and will probably want to watch the others after! For those who have seen the previous ones, you wont feel let down or disappointed with this one because it miles better than the 2nd one and i'd say it beats the 3rd one too! So there is fun to be had here with the film just like there is with Scream 4 too. (if you haven't seen it because its number 4 go see it, its actually quite good!) My advice is see it with a positive mindset and if you do that then GOOD THINGS will happen... mainly PARANORMAL THINGS!! (star ratings are based on 6-average, 7-good, 8- very good, 9- superb 10- Epic)
//Plot- The film takes place five years after Paranormal Activity 2, which ended with Katie kidnapping Hunter. It follows the life of Alice, her boyfriend Ben, her mother, and her brother Wyatt as paranormal activity starts to occur when a mother and child (called Robbie) move into the neighbourhood. After Robbies mum goes to the hospital Alice's mother takes Robbie in, which leads to weird occurrences in their house//
Look, in all honesty, there are a whole host of better horror movies to watch out there, but i am writing for those who WANT to see this movie on its own merits not any one seeking out a mind-blowing plot with incredible character development!...okay?! :)
Anyway PA4 is kept simple which is a good thing, the acting, the format, the camera work and dialogue are all standard so this cant really be criticised. A new and amazing plot / acting etc is not what the directors are aiming for, what people are after is tension, suspense and jumpy scare moments which i believe delivers on all these aspects! With boo moments and fake outs a plenty. Also I like the fact there are weird occurrences in the day time as well as the night. The aspects that most stood out in PA4 was the use of an Xbox- this was a really cool effect and added an extra dimension to the film. The sound effects such as the well known vibration when tension is being racked up always gets me going, love that. It also contains an actual creepy kid and who doesn't like creepy kids! (...me!)
So all in all, if you have never seen any of the previous films and you go to see this one (for some strange reason?!) you will have had a decent movie outing with jumpy moments and will probably want to watch the others after! For those who have seen the previous ones, you wont feel let down or disappointed with this one because it miles better than the 2nd one and i'd say it beats the 3rd one too! So there is fun to be had here with the film just like there is with Scream 4 too. (if you haven't seen it because its number 4 go see it, its actually quite good!) My advice is see it with a positive mindset and if you do that then GOOD THINGS will happen... mainly PARANORMAL THINGS!! (star ratings are based on 6-average, 7-good, 8- very good, 9- superb 10- Epic)
lazy / conveniently-chosen cinematography genre that's, to me, most unforgivable of all
very, very poor storytelling
wcameronmartin21 October 2012
I am never giving this franchise another dime, nor another minute of my life; mark my words, so long as I live. That's four movies, at approximately two hours per film, twelve opening-weekend cinema passes at three tickets per release
all for what?? There's no bigger-picture, here! There's no larger story being told
there *IS* no story to this story!
The writers are doing nothing more than frantically clamoring to try and keep the series going for just one-more-year. Short pay-off, because they realize they've got NOTHING of substance. Like "Lost," in it's final season, you're left holding the bag, realizing it was all for nothing: the writers had sh*t, and so that is what they gave you sh*t.
Me? I'm embarrassed I stayed this long. This is my stop, this is where I get off.
The writers are doing nothing more than frantically clamoring to try and keep the series going for just one-more-year. Short pay-off, because they realize they've got NOTHING of substance. Like "Lost," in it's final season, you're left holding the bag, realizing it was all for nothing: the writers had sh*t, and so that is what they gave you sh*t.
Me? I'm embarrassed I stayed this long. This is my stop, this is where I get off.
The Demon Returns
Fields20118 October 2012
Rest assured that everything seen in the trailers are in the actual film. With that being said, that may not be a good thing. The trailers never impressed me but I did find the actual film a little better than lackluster and I'm a HUGE fan of Paranormal Activity films!
Just saying the plot alone sounds like the other films but what these films are really about is seeing it with a bunch of people and enjoy the scares. I really like trying to find anything out of the ordinary with some of the scenes like if a person is standing and there is windows all around them. Then I just look around for anything that's moving. That's what happens with the XBox Kinect scenes. Sure, it's a gimmick and something trying to outsell the oscillating fan from the last one, but it's fun to try to see if anything is moving.
However, I didn't think there were as many scares in this one as the other ones. A few creepy moments happen here and there. The neighbor's house across the street is particularly scary. The main girl, Alex, goes there a few times and my friends and I kept muttering on how stupid she is. However, nothing really stands out except maybe the scenes with a knife but it really doesn't go much of anywhere except another jump scare. The ending was particularly creepy but it goes by way too quick and I didn't even know it was the ending until the movie just ended. I was hoping for some build of suspense but instead it was like the filmmakers had to wrap up the film quick. One last criticism I want to add is that I never really got to know the parents. They seemed so one- dimensional. In the other films, I felt some connection to all the characters but the parents on this one just were blah.
I enjoyed this one, and it's slightly better than part two but that's where it stands. The first and third were better, but that's not to say this one is bad. I hope the filmmakers put more thought into the next installment and really up the ante on the scares. The fact of the matter is that I enjoy these films, and it's something to look forward to every October. I hate to see series go stale like last year's Halloween candy.
Just saying the plot alone sounds like the other films but what these films are really about is seeing it with a bunch of people and enjoy the scares. I really like trying to find anything out of the ordinary with some of the scenes like if a person is standing and there is windows all around them. Then I just look around for anything that's moving. That's what happens with the XBox Kinect scenes. Sure, it's a gimmick and something trying to outsell the oscillating fan from the last one, but it's fun to try to see if anything is moving.
However, I didn't think there were as many scares in this one as the other ones. A few creepy moments happen here and there. The neighbor's house across the street is particularly scary. The main girl, Alex, goes there a few times and my friends and I kept muttering on how stupid she is. However, nothing really stands out except maybe the scenes with a knife but it really doesn't go much of anywhere except another jump scare. The ending was particularly creepy but it goes by way too quick and I didn't even know it was the ending until the movie just ended. I was hoping for some build of suspense but instead it was like the filmmakers had to wrap up the film quick. One last criticism I want to add is that I never really got to know the parents. They seemed so one- dimensional. In the other films, I felt some connection to all the characters but the parents on this one just were blah.
I enjoyed this one, and it's slightly better than part two but that's where it stands. The first and third were better, but that's not to say this one is bad. I hope the filmmakers put more thought into the next installment and really up the ante on the scares. The fact of the matter is that I enjoy these films, and it's something to look forward to every October. I hate to see series go stale like last year's Halloween candy.
Worst storyline ever
alex-king-karvell21 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Is there actually any consistency in this series? Let's recap: In Paranormal Activity 3 (which takes place before the other films) we learn that the Grandma of the family is a bit of a bad apple and does the odd bit of devil worshiping and in the process likes to get young girls to do something not explicitly described but a strong implication of harboring demonic babies and or marrying demons
then forgetting the whole thing
quite why is never explained. Her own daughter either doesn't fulfill this role or did and its just a damn greedy demon.
At the end of the film the Grandma takes her grandchildren to do whatever it is she wants them to do. Then in the 1st and 2nd films we see that the demon now wants a boy in return for the wealth and power it allegedly provided to the Grandma despite her living in a distinctively average house and apparently choosing not to share her wealth with any of her descendants. Quite what the demon got from whatever happened at the end of the 3rd film isn't clear but by hook or crook the demon gets the boy at the end of the second film. Now it's something of a clumsy demon because by the 4th film it's lost the boy and he's been adopted; but it wants him back. You'd think after all that effort it would do a better job of holding onto it but still. So in summary we don't know what the demon actually wants a boy for, or two young girls. It is starting to sound rather dodgy now isn't it, I wouldn't let that script writer babysit, the Grandma appears to have got a bit of a raw deal and the demon prefers more difficult targets to possess (some of the time?) rather than just possessing some homeless person if a kidnapping is all that's required. Is any of that inaccurate?
At the end of the film the Grandma takes her grandchildren to do whatever it is she wants them to do. Then in the 1st and 2nd films we see that the demon now wants a boy in return for the wealth and power it allegedly provided to the Grandma despite her living in a distinctively average house and apparently choosing not to share her wealth with any of her descendants. Quite what the demon got from whatever happened at the end of the 3rd film isn't clear but by hook or crook the demon gets the boy at the end of the second film. Now it's something of a clumsy demon because by the 4th film it's lost the boy and he's been adopted; but it wants him back. You'd think after all that effort it would do a better job of holding onto it but still. So in summary we don't know what the demon actually wants a boy for, or two young girls. It is starting to sound rather dodgy now isn't it, I wouldn't let that script writer babysit, the Grandma appears to have got a bit of a raw deal and the demon prefers more difficult targets to possess (some of the time?) rather than just possessing some homeless person if a kidnapping is all that's required. Is any of that inaccurate?
Nothing new in terms of story or shocks for PA, but some bright new faces worth seeing!
scrapmetal728 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
So, PA4 is not a bad film. It only adds minimal development to the story that had developed in the first three films, and in my opinion it doesn't have any big shock scenes like 2 and 3 did. For shocks, it's more on the level of PA1. I would call this one the mildest of the PA's. If you've seen the other three, then story-wise, you will probably feel like you've seen it all before.
However, it is still a well done film that makes inventive use of easily accessible recording media. The family is relateable and engaging and I cared about what would happen to them.
For me, the movie was most enjoyable for the lead actress and the actor who played her boyfriend. Kathryn Newton is radiant and engaging. She has a sweet, likable energy. Matt Shively, as her boyfriend Ben, right off the bat seemed like someone I would not like at all, but he very quickly won me over with his friendly sense of humor. These two leads made what would have been a redundant movie an enjoyable experience.
However, it is still a well done film that makes inventive use of easily accessible recording media. The family is relateable and engaging and I cared about what would happen to them.
For me, the movie was most enjoyable for the lead actress and the actor who played her boyfriend. Kathryn Newton is radiant and engaging. She has a sweet, likable energy. Matt Shively, as her boyfriend Ben, right off the bat seemed like someone I would not like at all, but he very quickly won me over with his friendly sense of humor. These two leads made what would have been a redundant movie an enjoyable experience.
They Could've Done a Bit More with the First Sequel in the Franchise
ivern-326-7116363 November 2012
Paranormal Activity 4 is the first true sequel in the Paranormal Activity franchise. All the other "sequels" have been prequels. It's about this family who has this small kid in the neighborhood who's mother's gone to the hospital. So he stays at this family's house. The family's daughter and her boyfriend start sensing weird things going on in the house, so they start an investigation by setting up web-cameras to watch over the house.
I was looking forward to this movie, basically because the first three movies were fun times. Even the second one was fun ... until it got boring. Basically, the thing about these movies is that they're different from other horror movies; they're different from other found footage movies even. They're also creepy as hell. The first Paranormal Activity is one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen, the second is much less scarier because it was a family and not a couple and the third one just shoved all this suspense in your face that it was almost unbearable at times.
With Paranormal Activity 4, it goes back a notch with the suspense from the previous movie, and makes it more like Paranormal Activity 2. On paper that sound like a bad thing, but this movie is better than 2. First of all because of the creative use of Microsoft Kinect. That was cool, and made for the creepiest images in the film. Also the main characters are two teenagers which were both really likable, especially the guy; he was awesome. And I could relate to these characters more than I could with any of the previous characters in the first three movies.
Paranormal Activity 4 is definitely a flawed movie though. While it is a fun time, it goes downhill towards the last 30 minutes. What's supposed to be the suspenseful climax turns into the most boring part of the movie. The ending is fast-paced and a little creepy, but not in the way that these movies should be. It was more action-packed than scary. But this was also a problem the two previous movies had. They had a good or even great set-up, but the last 30 minutes or so were either boring or so in-your-face that it became more like an action movie and less like horror. In the case of Paranormal Activity 2 and 3, both those movies were so in-your-face towards the end that it was almost laughable.
Speaking of laughable (but in the good way), Paranormal Activity 4 is really funny. It has some hilarious lines and it is really self-aware, which is good because when you've come as far as a fourth movie, it's hard to take it seriously.
Paranormal Activity 4 is overall a pretty fun time. Although the climax is boring and the lack of poltergeist scenes is disappointing, it has great main characters and some creative scares ... while still having a lot of dumb jump scares. Go see it if you're a fan.
I was looking forward to this movie, basically because the first three movies were fun times. Even the second one was fun ... until it got boring. Basically, the thing about these movies is that they're different from other horror movies; they're different from other found footage movies even. They're also creepy as hell. The first Paranormal Activity is one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen, the second is much less scarier because it was a family and not a couple and the third one just shoved all this suspense in your face that it was almost unbearable at times.
With Paranormal Activity 4, it goes back a notch with the suspense from the previous movie, and makes it more like Paranormal Activity 2. On paper that sound like a bad thing, but this movie is better than 2. First of all because of the creative use of Microsoft Kinect. That was cool, and made for the creepiest images in the film. Also the main characters are two teenagers which were both really likable, especially the guy; he was awesome. And I could relate to these characters more than I could with any of the previous characters in the first three movies.
Paranormal Activity 4 is definitely a flawed movie though. While it is a fun time, it goes downhill towards the last 30 minutes. What's supposed to be the suspenseful climax turns into the most boring part of the movie. The ending is fast-paced and a little creepy, but not in the way that these movies should be. It was more action-packed than scary. But this was also a problem the two previous movies had. They had a good or even great set-up, but the last 30 minutes or so were either boring or so in-your-face that it became more like an action movie and less like horror. In the case of Paranormal Activity 2 and 3, both those movies were so in-your-face towards the end that it was almost laughable.
Speaking of laughable (but in the good way), Paranormal Activity 4 is really funny. It has some hilarious lines and it is really self-aware, which is good because when you've come as far as a fourth movie, it's hard to take it seriously.
Paranormal Activity 4 is overall a pretty fun time. Although the climax is boring and the lack of poltergeist scenes is disappointing, it has great main characters and some creative scares ... while still having a lot of dumb jump scares. Go see it if you're a fan.
Was Not Even Worth The Price (May contain Spoilers)
zdavies4517 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I would just like to start by saying that if you are a true fan of the original and know the story through and through, then this movie will not do anything for you. BUT, if you are just there for a few cheap jump scares, go for it.
Still here? Okay lets continue.
From the get go, you are introduced to the films before it, but none of the true mythology the previous films have built up (which is a shame because the third film left things to be explored). You are also introduced to a new family and that all you should really know for now.
This movie is not worth it. Unlike the first film (and to an extent the second film) tension is not built up to a satisfying ending, as 20 minutes into the film we are already well established and getting scared by things popping out at any time. The acting in the film is okay for a horror movie for a film. BUT for a film so late into a franchise with no set direction for a 5th film, i think they should just let it die (but i'm sure 13 yr olds will just LOVE it for the fact things jump out which is NOT scary) And the Ending. I will not even comment as i believe it to be not a proper ending and i will go on a rant.
Don't expect too much and you might enjoy it but for what its worth, it was atrocious, just another franchise getting run into the ground like the Saw films.
Still here? Okay lets continue.
From the get go, you are introduced to the films before it, but none of the true mythology the previous films have built up (which is a shame because the third film left things to be explored). You are also introduced to a new family and that all you should really know for now.
This movie is not worth it. Unlike the first film (and to an extent the second film) tension is not built up to a satisfying ending, as 20 minutes into the film we are already well established and getting scared by things popping out at any time. The acting in the film is okay for a horror movie for a film. BUT for a film so late into a franchise with no set direction for a 5th film, i think they should just let it die (but i'm sure 13 yr olds will just LOVE it for the fact things jump out which is NOT scary) And the Ending. I will not even comment as i believe it to be not a proper ending and i will go on a rant.
Don't expect too much and you might enjoy it but for what its worth, it was atrocious, just another franchise getting run into the ground like the Saw films.
Epic fail :(
www-qwat19 October 2012
At first, i want to say, that i was expecting a lot from this movie. I went to cinema all pumped up with a lot of my friends and i prepared myself for something really scary. Even when "night #1" appeared on the screen, we were ready to pee our pants. But all my hopes ended within 40 minutes. At first, 80% of the movie was completely pointless, and i'm not even mentioning the fact about absence of shocking moments, even "traditional paranormal activity jump scares" were left out. Most of the intense moments were interrupted or not finished at all. The main characters were acting like a group of idiots. So many "no reason" things throughout the movie. Horribly written script which ruined the whole paranormal activity "thing" in it. And a trailer shows a lot of the moments which didn't appear in the movie itself.
P.S. Result: Hollywood makes good movies in a pile of dog crap. Period.
P.S. Result: Hollywood makes good movies in a pile of dog crap. Period.
Rubbish
bbwrotherham21 October 2012
What complete and utter garbage!! I want my money back!! so slow and it didn't really get going at all....makes you jump a couple of times and that's mainly due to the loud bangs...and the ending,what was that about??? really hope they don't make another one !! if they do I certainly will not be going as much as I love the cinema,it says I have to write ten lines to be able to post my view...can I really moan about it for that long?? yeah I guess so,and would I be able to put a spoiler,well no you can't spoil what is already rubbish ....really disappointed with this but then again they kind of did go down hill the more they made,if they do make another one it will be the same again I suppose cause what else is there do with it,the same happens over and over..OK well rant over,if you do go and see this be prepared,you may nod off.
Absolute waste of time!!
NieshaStevens0718 October 2012
Warning: Spoilers
First off let me just say that as a film in a franchise this was absolutely horrible!!!! I was bored out of my mind and my friend was yawning throughout the film. We did, however, get a good laugh when the grown men in the theater were screaming. Much of the scenes shown in the trailer did not make it in the film which is disappointing. With about seven scenes where we actually flinch, the movie is completely drawn out and a sad attempt to end a franchise that was held in such high regards. Other than that Katie's presence was a plus and the acting of the young girl Alex. Please do not waste your money, time or screams.
Re-heated, day-old pizza
TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews19 October 2012
With no sisters left, and the producers already having used up their "get out of sequel with a prequel" card, they're left with no other choice than to follow a new family. How does it tie in? Well, the female neighbour across the street crashes her car, trying desperately to deroute the overall plot(which, along with the mythology, is barely progressed at all here), which is now in unknown condition - it's unclear if it'll ever get back on track. Anyway, while she recovers, her 5-year-old child is to be taken care of by, to her, complete strangers(...do people do that? Seriously?), and our characters(tolerable, some likable, if also questionable): the parents, 15-year-old(yeah, this is teenaged up, not only with her age... jumpscares take over for the long, eerie shots where you feel like you can sense some movement somewhere(expressing a lack of patience, and the gags are largely uninspired), and in place of the great oscillating fan of the preceding entry, we have the Kinect motion-sensor dots seen in nightvision... they get a bit of mileage out of that, still, it's a big step down, and I'm talking about the whole product as well... it's like the even-numbered ones in this series are doomed to suck(this is not as bad as the second one, though, in spite of multiple cameras, since there are no wasted angles, in part because of those we follow, and their amount)) Alex(Newton, girly but not annoying, our lead and pretty sympathetic... and one of the best actors in this, although it tends to be positive throughout), her sarcastic boyfriend Ben(who's admittedly creepy), her younger brother(also 5-ish) Wyatt(and they definitely found two creepy kids - again...) and their parents. Weird things start happening, of course, and we sit around and wait for them to learn what we already know. The pacing is good, considering, with this not losing your interest. There is a bit of disturbing violence and strong language in this. I recommend this only to those needing their now yearly fix of Paranormal Activity. Hopefully, this'll be the only pure cash-grab movie they make in this series... and they'll wise up and make the next one the last one. 6/10
Frighteningly disappointing
annashewring21 January 2013
Despite only finding at best mixed reviews, I had high hopes for this film as a fan of the series; the original Paranormal Activity was a refreshing change from what had become a stale and repetitive phase of horror films. I was apprehensive that a sequel would be a disappointment but was, if anything, better than the first installment. I enjoyed the third film to an extent, turning a blind eye to the repetitiveness and weak story. The cliff-hanger ending reassured me that the fourth Paranormal Activity would answer the fairly basic questions which are the only reasons that we feel the need to watch every film in this series.
However, Paranormal Activity 4 is the most disappointing yet. Granted, some moments would make me jump if those moments weren't almost identical to the ones in the first, second and third films. Not only are the scares hugely predictable, but this installment doesn't even answer any of the questions that audiences have. In fact, it somehow manages to raise more, particularly with the frankly terrible ending – OK, so a long time ago, someone in the original family made a pact to give the first-born male to this Demon. The first-born male being Hunter, who was kidnapped by Katie in the second film. We still do not known exactly what this has to do with the coven of countless women who are seen in the third film, and at the end of the fourth film.
Aside from the hopes of sucking more money from viewers who have been drawn into the original genius of these films, I don't see what is stopping the demon from taking Hunter and that being the end of it. Especially now that the demon has control of a Human body (Katie) and all of Hunters family is dead so there is no one to stop it or try to save him.
Overall, this film was hugely disappointing, failing completely to recover from the slump of story line and structure, which the third film saw. As much as I would love to say that I will not bother watching any more of these films, this wouldn't be true because I need to have my questions answered and find out what it's all about. All we can hope is that they do something a little bit different next time and finally wrap up the story.
However, Paranormal Activity 4 is the most disappointing yet. Granted, some moments would make me jump if those moments weren't almost identical to the ones in the first, second and third films. Not only are the scares hugely predictable, but this installment doesn't even answer any of the questions that audiences have. In fact, it somehow manages to raise more, particularly with the frankly terrible ending – OK, so a long time ago, someone in the original family made a pact to give the first-born male to this Demon. The first-born male being Hunter, who was kidnapped by Katie in the second film. We still do not known exactly what this has to do with the coven of countless women who are seen in the third film, and at the end of the fourth film.
Aside from the hopes of sucking more money from viewers who have been drawn into the original genius of these films, I don't see what is stopping the demon from taking Hunter and that being the end of it. Especially now that the demon has control of a Human body (Katie) and all of Hunters family is dead so there is no one to stop it or try to save him.
Overall, this film was hugely disappointing, failing completely to recover from the slump of story line and structure, which the third film saw. As much as I would love to say that I will not bother watching any more of these films, this wouldn't be true because I need to have my questions answered and find out what it's all about. All we can hope is that they do something a little bit different next time and finally wrap up the story.
They've Obviously Visited the Well One Too Many Times
Michael_Elliott19 October 2012
Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
* 1/2 (out of 4)
The first film was a masterpiece, the second boring, the third had a good story but no scares and I think this fourth one really puts the nail in the coffin. Basically what we have takes place five years after Katie and Hunter went missing. They turn up living next door to a couple who has a teenage daughter who begins to notice strange things in the house. I won't spoil anymore for a couple reasons. One reason is that if you do decide to watch the film you won't want to know too much. The second reason is that there's really not too much that does happen. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 is a major disappointment in a number of ways but the biggest is that it's just downright boring and not scary at all. There were a couple of those fake jump scares but certainly not enough to make this thing worth sitting through. Even worse is that the entire thing seems like a complete mess with a story that never explains anything and in fact I'm not really sure if anyone knew what they were trying to do. What made the first movie so effective is the build up to something happening. None of that is here. There's never any mounting fear of what's going on and there really aren't too many scenes that even try to go for scares. I'm not going to spoil the ending but it's bad enough to where people should just stand up and either boo or request their money back. The new technology in the film doesn't add enough and right from the start you just get the feeling that the filmmakers have visited the well one too many times. Performances were decent at best but making the annoying boyfriend too annoying wasn't a good idea. I'm sure the film will make a lot of money on its opening weekend but I doubt word of mouth will be too strong so if they do plan future installments I hope they actually come up with a new and different story and quit trying to connect everything together. As this one shows, there's just very little to connect.
* 1/2 (out of 4)
The first film was a masterpiece, the second boring, the third had a good story but no scares and I think this fourth one really puts the nail in the coffin. Basically what we have takes place five years after Katie and Hunter went missing. They turn up living next door to a couple who has a teenage daughter who begins to notice strange things in the house. I won't spoil anymore for a couple reasons. One reason is that if you do decide to watch the film you won't want to know too much. The second reason is that there's really not too much that does happen. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 is a major disappointment in a number of ways but the biggest is that it's just downright boring and not scary at all. There were a couple of those fake jump scares but certainly not enough to make this thing worth sitting through. Even worse is that the entire thing seems like a complete mess with a story that never explains anything and in fact I'm not really sure if anyone knew what they were trying to do. What made the first movie so effective is the build up to something happening. None of that is here. There's never any mounting fear of what's going on and there really aren't too many scenes that even try to go for scares. I'm not going to spoil the ending but it's bad enough to where people should just stand up and either boo or request their money back. The new technology in the film doesn't add enough and right from the start you just get the feeling that the filmmakers have visited the well one too many times. Performances were decent at best but making the annoying boyfriend too annoying wasn't a good idea. I'm sure the film will make a lot of money on its opening weekend but I doubt word of mouth will be too strong so if they do plan future installments I hope they actually come up with a new and different story and quit trying to connect everything together. As this one shows, there's just very little to connect.
Falls short of 1 - 3
dfranzen7020 October 2012
Chances are you won't read very far into this review. In fact, most of you have stopped. Why read a review about the fourth movie in a horror series that uses the same gimmick (found footage) each time? I don't blame you, I blame the game. So you're off the hook.
For the rest of you, I'll lay it out simply. The fourth Paranormal Activity movie isn't bad, just not the classic that the first one was or even parts of the next two were. This is not uncommon with horror franchises (Saw). It is worth seeing in the theater (although probably not IMAX), as long as you're invested in the series and have indeed seen the preceding three.
The theme of the day is, again, possession. We've learned a few things from prior PA movies and, without giving them away here, I can note that the events in this film take place approximately six years after the events of the second film (the third was more of a prequel about the childhood days of Katie and her sister).
As you may recall, the movies are shot as if we're seeing them through a camera (camcorder, laptop, camera phone, etc.), with the intent being to place us directly in the perspective of the particular character (or room). This lends quite a bit of verisimilitude to the proceedings, but it's a trope that can be overdone pretty quickly.
To account for this, directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman use laptops and the established video chats between plucky teen Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her boyfriend Ben (Matt Shively). A recorded chat shows something weird about the kid who lives across the street, Robbie (Brady Allen); Robbie quickly comes to live with Alex and her family when his mother needs to be hospitalized, a malady that's never explained.
Strange things are afoot in the house. Knives disappear. Chandeliers fall. Robbie is as lifelike as a Village of the Damned kid, although he gets along well with Alex's younger brother Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp). Meanwhile mother Holly (Alexondra Lee) and father Doug (Stephen Dunham) don't get along, and the kids notice. Well, Alex does. Hard to know what's going on in Robbie's head, and suddenly Wyatt is more withdrawn.
The shock factor is in full play here. By now, you've become inured to things skulking in the background or people being dragged by unseen forces. The use of a night-vision feature on a laptop camera does break up that tedium, though, as you can see some presence sitting on the couch next to Robbie at one point. What is it? Viewers of the first three movies might have a good idea.
I remember seeing the first in the series. I saw it at home, well after it'd become a huge phenomenon. It frightened me, I have to admit. For a day or so afterward, I tracked creaks and other noises in the house. That's a pretty effective film. I saw the other three in the theater, and although I became more used to the tricks of the found-footage trade, I wasn't less scared. This fourth one, although a little slower than its ancestors, is still pretty scary, and I think it all has to do with the perspective, usually of young Alex. What she sees, we see. That involves us, and we jump when she jumps and are trapped when she's trapped.
Of course, we don't see just Alex's adventures; thanks to Ben's placement of laptop cameras in various rooms, the movie switches to different areas of the house when something's a-happening. This is helpful, because if your lead character is trapped in a room and all you hear is noises, you as audience member kind of want more of the story.
Some may disagree with this with some validity, but I liked the ending. From the end of the previous films, we know the history of our characters, so we know what's behind all of the supernatural goings-on. I'm reminded of the great Spanish horror film Rec, which had a final scene that is utterly unforgettable; Paranormal Activity 4's isn't quite as ferocious, but it's still a ghastly, dread-inducing coda. I'm sure there'll be a fifth, and as usual I'll be there to see it.
For the rest of you, I'll lay it out simply. The fourth Paranormal Activity movie isn't bad, just not the classic that the first one was or even parts of the next two were. This is not uncommon with horror franchises (Saw). It is worth seeing in the theater (although probably not IMAX), as long as you're invested in the series and have indeed seen the preceding three.
The theme of the day is, again, possession. We've learned a few things from prior PA movies and, without giving them away here, I can note that the events in this film take place approximately six years after the events of the second film (the third was more of a prequel about the childhood days of Katie and her sister).
As you may recall, the movies are shot as if we're seeing them through a camera (camcorder, laptop, camera phone, etc.), with the intent being to place us directly in the perspective of the particular character (or room). This lends quite a bit of verisimilitude to the proceedings, but it's a trope that can be overdone pretty quickly.
To account for this, directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman use laptops and the established video chats between plucky teen Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her boyfriend Ben (Matt Shively). A recorded chat shows something weird about the kid who lives across the street, Robbie (Brady Allen); Robbie quickly comes to live with Alex and her family when his mother needs to be hospitalized, a malady that's never explained.
Strange things are afoot in the house. Knives disappear. Chandeliers fall. Robbie is as lifelike as a Village of the Damned kid, although he gets along well with Alex's younger brother Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp). Meanwhile mother Holly (Alexondra Lee) and father Doug (Stephen Dunham) don't get along, and the kids notice. Well, Alex does. Hard to know what's going on in Robbie's head, and suddenly Wyatt is more withdrawn.
The shock factor is in full play here. By now, you've become inured to things skulking in the background or people being dragged by unseen forces. The use of a night-vision feature on a laptop camera does break up that tedium, though, as you can see some presence sitting on the couch next to Robbie at one point. What is it? Viewers of the first three movies might have a good idea.
I remember seeing the first in the series. I saw it at home, well after it'd become a huge phenomenon. It frightened me, I have to admit. For a day or so afterward, I tracked creaks and other noises in the house. That's a pretty effective film. I saw the other three in the theater, and although I became more used to the tricks of the found-footage trade, I wasn't less scared. This fourth one, although a little slower than its ancestors, is still pretty scary, and I think it all has to do with the perspective, usually of young Alex. What she sees, we see. That involves us, and we jump when she jumps and are trapped when she's trapped.
Of course, we don't see just Alex's adventures; thanks to Ben's placement of laptop cameras in various rooms, the movie switches to different areas of the house when something's a-happening. This is helpful, because if your lead character is trapped in a room and all you hear is noises, you as audience member kind of want more of the story.
Some may disagree with this with some validity, but I liked the ending. From the end of the previous films, we know the history of our characters, so we know what's behind all of the supernatural goings-on. I'm reminded of the great Spanish horror film Rec, which had a final scene that is utterly unforgettable; Paranormal Activity 4's isn't quite as ferocious, but it's still a ghastly, dread-inducing coda. I'm sure there'll be a fifth, and as usual I'll be there to see it.
The worst of the series
phoenix_kim20 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Not that Paranormal Activity is particularly good, but the series has had some mindless fun. After the previous (and best) movie, I felt this one had to live up to a lot. Surprise - it didn't.
You have the standard "nothing happens for 1 hour and 15 minutes" with the occasional LOUD NOISES, until a character decides to finally investigate the meaning of a mysterious symbol (hmm, hasn't this happened before?) followed by the same ending as all of the others. It always feels like the entire movie just nosedives off the end of a cliff in the last few minutes, with no real build-up.
Anyway, PA4 just did everything worse than the others. There was minimal story, which I should point out if anyone was curious for more on the whole demon thing. Just have to emphasise that they literally added nothing to it, except continuing on with Katie and her newly acquired son. Not that the mythos is great, but the fact that they didn't touch upon any of it this time around didn't make any sense to me.
Summary: no direction, useless characters, no story development, the weakest jump scares yet.
Stay tuned for at least 3 more sequels, each of a more progressively decomposed state than the last, until this franchise is left as a pile of mush. Though I'd say the fourth has already gotten us that far.
You have the standard "nothing happens for 1 hour and 15 minutes" with the occasional LOUD NOISES, until a character decides to finally investigate the meaning of a mysterious symbol (hmm, hasn't this happened before?) followed by the same ending as all of the others. It always feels like the entire movie just nosedives off the end of a cliff in the last few minutes, with no real build-up.
Anyway, PA4 just did everything worse than the others. There was minimal story, which I should point out if anyone was curious for more on the whole demon thing. Just have to emphasise that they literally added nothing to it, except continuing on with Katie and her newly acquired son. Not that the mythos is great, but the fact that they didn't touch upon any of it this time around didn't make any sense to me.
Summary: no direction, useless characters, no story development, the weakest jump scares yet.
Stay tuned for at least 3 more sequels, each of a more progressively decomposed state than the last, until this franchise is left as a pile of mush. Though I'd say the fourth has already gotten us that far.
Everyone's a critic
cblackburn944 November 2012
After having read countless reviews slandering this film and branding it as "a waste of time and money" and a film created solely for monetary reasons, I went to the cinema with very low expectations. However, after watching this film I am starting to think that people are just bitter. There were more than just a few scares, with excellent new methods of filming technology incorporated with the suspense and jumpy moments of which this franchise has built its name upon. I would recommend this movie to anyone a thousand times over, well worth the money! I do not usually review films on here, but the amount of negativity this film (unjustly) received angered me and I wanted to say that this film is an excellent progression for the franchise, leaving plenty of options open for new plot lines to come in the very near future.
Better than 4.6
johnjanis20 July 2020
Go watch as many movies on here that you can that are rated 4.6 then honestly ask yourself if this movie deserves a higher rating after you watch it. I say definitely.
Is it a great movie? No. But it's definitely better than most people say and the last good movie in the franchise in my opinion. The next two are just average.
If you liked the previous three instalments, especially part 2 as it's similar, though admittedly not quite as good, then I can't see why you wouldn't still enjoy this.
What is happening?
skaternotaposer2 February 2013
Warning: Spoilers
**full of spoilers throughout**
My brother and I decided to marathon the Paranormal Activity series last night (before, I had only seen the first) and I have some serious issues with the fourth installment, as well as the end of the third. Honestly, why not even tag on the end of the second as well?
The second movie ends with Katie coming and offing her sister and taking baby hunter. I suppose I am to assume that little cross just ended the demon's possession of Kristi? Alright, fine. I'll give that one to you just so that the "good guys" have even a slight chance of getting all this crap sorted out. Other than that, no. Kristi looked way to far gone to bring her back. She was basically defending the baby. For what? Who knows. If it was for Katie, why? If it was for the demon/Toby, why didn't she just take it herself?! Enough of that, though. Moving on.
PA3. I loved *most* of it. The swivel camera? Genius. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time it was on that camera. So much could happen in the time it takes to move back around. Every time it moved back and nothing was there = huge sigh of relief. The end, however, was another story. I understand the closet where Toby "resided" was creepy, but so was the Grandmother's entire house. They would have fared better in a public space. And if not, at least people would know what happened. Whatever. I'll return to this thought after my complaints with 4.
PA4. I thought the parents were complete idiots. Especially the mother. When she died, I wasn't scared at all, I was literally cheering. She was completely oblivious to whatever was happening in the house, and didn't seem to care about her kids' well-being. The parents' immediate write-off of anything Alex said was really annoying, and was also in the second and third movies. I refuse to believe that if a parent heard their child mention anything weird going on, or if they had a threatening, demonic sounding imaginary friend, they would assume the child doesn't know what they are talking about and proceed to dismiss their child's pleas as an overactive imagination, wind-blowing, lying, or anything of the sort. I feel like this was just a flaw in creating those characters (the parents).
Questions for the entire series. Who is Robbie? what the heck is that about? and this coven business? So now there are multiple families that have this going on? Congratulations, you just completely and irreversibly overpowered this demon business. Also, think of how many movies they could milk out of that. Way too many. A movie could be made for every other family/story line that stems from the women in that coven thing. Not only is it completely ridiculous, it's incredibly unclear. Up through the third movie, I was rather excited to watch the story unfold. The fourth killed that excitement. I simply don't care anymore. From here on out, with that vampire army, they might as well just make the fifth about taking over the entire world. or devouring it. Mostly the demon is just a major troll, I liked that. then there were a bunch of old people that made deals with it and became heartless weirdos. i don;t care for that so much. Maybe it is all just personal preference, but I think the fifth has some work to do in wrapping up this hole filled plot and returning the series from a jumpy joke back into the first movie, which was terrifying. Even if I wasn't scared watching it, after the fact, I certainly thought twice about leaving my door open while sleeping or looking down hallways without turning on the light or whether a random noise in the night was normal or a demon messing with me. I don't completely dismiss this movie. Some of it was pretty believable. A lot of it wasn't, and that killed it for me.
My brother and I decided to marathon the Paranormal Activity series last night (before, I had only seen the first) and I have some serious issues with the fourth installment, as well as the end of the third. Honestly, why not even tag on the end of the second as well?
The second movie ends with Katie coming and offing her sister and taking baby hunter. I suppose I am to assume that little cross just ended the demon's possession of Kristi? Alright, fine. I'll give that one to you just so that the "good guys" have even a slight chance of getting all this crap sorted out. Other than that, no. Kristi looked way to far gone to bring her back. She was basically defending the baby. For what? Who knows. If it was for Katie, why? If it was for the demon/Toby, why didn't she just take it herself?! Enough of that, though. Moving on.
PA3. I loved *most* of it. The swivel camera? Genius. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time it was on that camera. So much could happen in the time it takes to move back around. Every time it moved back and nothing was there = huge sigh of relief. The end, however, was another story. I understand the closet where Toby "resided" was creepy, but so was the Grandmother's entire house. They would have fared better in a public space. And if not, at least people would know what happened. Whatever. I'll return to this thought after my complaints with 4.
PA4. I thought the parents were complete idiots. Especially the mother. When she died, I wasn't scared at all, I was literally cheering. She was completely oblivious to whatever was happening in the house, and didn't seem to care about her kids' well-being. The parents' immediate write-off of anything Alex said was really annoying, and was also in the second and third movies. I refuse to believe that if a parent heard their child mention anything weird going on, or if they had a threatening, demonic sounding imaginary friend, they would assume the child doesn't know what they are talking about and proceed to dismiss their child's pleas as an overactive imagination, wind-blowing, lying, or anything of the sort. I feel like this was just a flaw in creating those characters (the parents).
Questions for the entire series. Who is Robbie? what the heck is that about? and this coven business? So now there are multiple families that have this going on? Congratulations, you just completely and irreversibly overpowered this demon business. Also, think of how many movies they could milk out of that. Way too many. A movie could be made for every other family/story line that stems from the women in that coven thing. Not only is it completely ridiculous, it's incredibly unclear. Up through the third movie, I was rather excited to watch the story unfold. The fourth killed that excitement. I simply don't care anymore. From here on out, with that vampire army, they might as well just make the fifth about taking over the entire world. or devouring it. Mostly the demon is just a major troll, I liked that. then there were a bunch of old people that made deals with it and became heartless weirdos. i don;t care for that so much. Maybe it is all just personal preference, but I think the fifth has some work to do in wrapping up this hole filled plot and returning the series from a jumpy joke back into the first movie, which was terrifying. Even if I wasn't scared watching it, after the fact, I certainly thought twice about leaving my door open while sleeping or looking down hallways without turning on the light or whether a random noise in the night was normal or a demon messing with me. I don't completely dismiss this movie. Some of it was pretty believable. A lot of it wasn't, and that killed it for me.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
