It’s very fashionable to disregard sequels for the sake of it. Sequels, by their very nature, are derivative and essentially money-spinners feeding off an idea that was successful once. It’s almost too easy to write them off. However, Paranormal Activity 4 is simply one of the most brainless pieces of unimaginative horror that you could possibly come across.
The first film was an excellent study in psychological horror. Its sequels are borderline self-parody with their ineffectual tactics. Devices like a knife being dropped from the ceiling onto a chopping board in front of the camera are not smart, subtle or appropriate for this type of movie. It’s akin to a friend jumping up at you from behind a couch. The art should be to psychologically unnerve the audience, such as when you hear the giggle of children from outside the tent in The Blair Witch Project. There are numerous instances of crude, in-your-face scare tactics and it proves that this franchise has completely run out of ideas.
Perhaps an even bigger problem is the utter lack of continuity with the other films. The actress of the first film has moved to a new town with some boy called Robbie. No explanation of how she came to actually buy the house when she’s been a registered missing person for five years. Surely there’s going to be an estate agent that will lose his job over this?! Anyway, please don’t feed this dead, crusty franchise any more money. It’s not worth it.
Loved this so much.