In everyday language, normal is synonymous with average. Never has this been truer than for the third film of the Paranormal Activity series. The first film was groundbreaking in the horror genre, opting for suspense and jump-out-of-your-seat moments, instead of the standard gore/shock films that have become so prominent lately. The only thing groundbreaking about this most recent addition, however, was the earthquake scene. The film starts out promisingly, with small noises or movements intertwined with what seemed like hours of camera footage, but then, in an attempt to ‘up the ante’, the scares towards the end become bigger and much less subtle, moving from the ethereal to the physical. It’s this marked change that means the film falls into the same familiar pitfall as other sequels (or prequels, in this case). The end result is a film suited for a slightly different demographic than the original intended.
But you know how it is; three times the film, three times the money. Let’s just hope they stop here and manage to retain some integrity. (Think of the Saw series; when the sequel number is larger than the amount of characters in the title, something is surely afoot). Perhaps I’m being a little harsh on the film; there’s no denying it was enjoyable and terrifying at the same time (if that’s even possible). It’s just they were in a lose-lose scenario. Shake things up a bit and risk losing your die-hard fans, or stick with the traditional format, and become boring to the masses.
The trouble with making a prequel (especially within a genre that depends on the unknown), is that we know exactly where/how the film is going to end. This is especially true if you were actually paying attention in the first two films, and not just cowering behind a cushion. Still, if you do decide to go and see this film, bear in mind that you will inevitably have to put up with those ‘too-cool-to-be-scared’ jocks, who will most likely spend their time making daft comments and laughing. If there is no one in your screening who fits this description, that’s because it’s you!
2.5 STARS
