Paranormal Activity 4

In 2009 a handful of co-workers and myself had seen previews for the new found footage, sleeper horror 'Paranormal Activity' during the movie there were screams and laughs (from being so afraid) to be had. Come the final scene the entire cinema was either almost under their seats or curled up on top of it.

2010 saw the release of the prequel/sequel 'Paranormal Activity 2' which focused (in my opinion) mostly on setting ground and story for both itself and its predecessor, although the sequel had fewer scares, when they came they sent viewers howling and cowering in their seats - again this sequel lead to a final scene that was horrific, shocking and left everyone with the question 'what happened to Katie and Hunter?'

In 2011 when Paranormal Activity 3 was announced friends of mine and myself included thought we would get closure and wondered how this series would finally end. When trailers hit the Internet and television it was clear to everyone that this would not be a sequel, again, it would follow in the footsteps of its predecessor and it too would be another prequel - paranormal activity 3 took us back to the 80's to the childhood of sisters Katie and Kristi to the moment the demon enters their lives. PA3 eventually solidated the story, we had seen and heard the beginning, from grandma Louis and her coven of witches making a deal with a demon (Toby) for wealth and riches in exchange for the first male born in the bloodline, grandma Louis along with her coven (it's safe to assume) perform a ritual on the sisters Katie and Kristi to ensure one of them produce a male and end the terrifying events around them.

After being possessed by (Toby) the demon at the end of PA1 Katie, goes to her younger sisters house, Kristi, whom had just had the demon excorcised from her. And kills both her and her husband and takes their infant son Hunter - viewers would now assume going off information provided in the third film that Hunter would be offered as a sacrifice, or, payment and the deal with the demon would be done. End of trilogy, right?

2012 - I recently sat through a screening of Paranormal Activity 4 this film is now up to date with the rest of the world (previous entries being set in the 1980's or 2006) we are introduced to Alex a young fifteen year old girl, her parents, younger brother, Wyatt , and her somewhat likeable boyfriend. After her mysterious neighbor is taken to hospital Alex and her family take in the single mothers son, Robbie, who is quiet - until at night where he is seen speaking with the invisible entity we've all grown to. Love? Toby, things here very drearily begin to escalade - I won't post any spoilers on my review for those who haven't seen it - but, I for one was extremely disappointed with this fourth installment, it was both unnecessary and full of large plot holes. Again I was accompanied by friends to this annual treat, only to find it dreary and dragged out the movie plays like a Halloween episode of Gossip Girl with too much activity happening between Alex and her boyfriend and not enough of the Paranormal aspect. Katie Featherstone once again returns to reprise her role for, perhaps, a maximum of 5 minutes the last minute of the movie is a blurry rush I am still unsure what happened. PA4 falls below the bars set by previous entries in both scares and plot - it would have been safer for the film company to perhaps revamp this series for the fourth entry, introduce us to new characters, new house, new storyline with familiar scares we know and love - instead we have the previous trilogy torn open and scattered with this latest attempt fitting nowhere amongst them, I rate the latest Paranormal Activity film 1 and 1/2 stars purely because they DID try and the teenage couple did an amazing job portraying their roles in this messy movie. Where I would usually recommend my friends and family to watch these films I honestly now say "wait for this one and rent it."

- Josh.