MikePA's Movie Review of Paranormal Activity 4

Review: Paranormal Activity 4
MikePA - wrote on 11/11/12

I don't get it. I just do not understand why this series is so popular. Are people frightened by strange forces opening doors and moving chairs in the night time? Do people lose sleep over 15-year-old girls getting dragged around the house at 3 in the morning? Maybe staring at empty rooms for an hour and a half waiting for something to just freakin' happen already is their type of entertainment. Or maybe people just lost taste in good horror.

The good news is Paranormal Activity 4 is better than its predecessor, Paranormal Activity 3, which I dread. Paranormal Activity 4 is not a good movie at all, but I was expecting a lot worse, considering the fact that this is the fourth installment in one of the most overrated horror movie franchises out there. It's more entertaining than the other sequels, which is mainly because of the comedy sprinkled around. It's not scary, it's not suspenseful, it's not disturbing, and it's not remotely memorable. I liked the first film. It was original and pretty scary. I don't remember much of the second film, but I do remember disliking it. And the third film was the worst of that year, in my opinion. Three sequels into the franchise, and they're still giving us much, much more of the same thing.

If it wasn't for Matt Shively's character, Ben, who provided some great laughs, this thing would be a disaster. Believe it or not, but he kept the movie alive for me. The other characters are lifeless and soulless and just flat-out stupid. They're the type of characters you want to see killed just because you can't stand them. I like the actors, they all did a fine job playing their roles, especially the two teenagers. Next time I'd like to see them in something better (if there is a next time for them) because they have talent, but they don't have a chance to show us their talent because of how poorly served they are by the directors and the script.

As for the scares, it's everything you'd expect. There aren't any. It starts with an interesting opening sequence that builds anticipation, followed by a slow-moving half hour, then shots of the night time in which things move and people walk around and objects fall, then the 10-minute climax that comes off as unintentionally funny. There are a few moments that make you jump, not because of a terrifying sight, but because of the loud "DUN!" that's added. There isn't any suspense. There is no build-up of tension. What's the point of making a horror movie if you're not going to try?

Despite an interesting opening, some comic relief, and a pretty cool sequence that takes place in the garage, directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman have almost nothing to offer. Nothing new, anyway.

1.5/4