Paranormal Activity 3

Paranormal Activity 3 


Directed By: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Reviewer: Mr. Lamincent, 15
Rating: Loved it!


When I found out there was a Paranormal Activity 3 a while back, I FLIPPED OUT. After all, it was my favorite original movie series of all time. So, when I finally saw it, I was rather impressed.

Going in, I had high expectations. I had seen the previous last two movies at least twice each, and grasped the story line pretty well. The series moves backwards, so PA 2 was a prequel to PA, and PA 3 a prequel to PA 2. Throughout the last two movies, hauntees Katie and Kristi always say thay what's happening to them used to happen when they were kids. What PA 3 shows you is that they weren't kidding. The film starts out with Katie and Kristi (adults at the time) going through some old tapes. Something weird goes on and discover that the tapes are gone. After some old-VCR static, the movie officially starts. Following true Paranormal Activity fashion, before the pants soiling terror, there is innocent, wholesome plot build up. The first fifteen minutes are almost misleading in this sense, having even the most die-hard Paranormal Activity fans (like yours truly) wondering “...So like, when am I supposed to get scared...?”

It all starts with an “earthquake”. The parents, Julie and Dennis, leave their camera in the room and run to go check on the girls. As dust from the quake falls, it takes the shape of what looks like a woman. After the dust has collected, it falls to the ground in a poof and you have your first paranormal encounter for the movie.

When Dennis takes notice after reviewing the tape, he decides to bring essences of his job home (he’s a wedding videographer). He sets up cameras in places he feels should be monitored most. Now the fun begins. From the camera he set up in the girls’ room, footage reveals that Kristi got up in the middle of the night and was talking to some unseen person. She calls him “Toby”. Toby, the allegedly tall, old, unseen presence ends up being the scariest and most frightening character of the whole movie.

From this point on, PA 3 builds your fear out of anticipation. This is emphasized with Dennis’ invention of putting a camera on an oscillating fan. He sets up this contraption in their dining room/living area. As it pans from side to side, the whole time, you have assured yourself you’re going to get scared by SOMETHING, which sends your heartbeat racing and hiding behind your sweater sleeves, wanting to look, but not wanting to send your popcorn flying. But before you know it, the scene has moved on and you realize, “Wow, I just sweated my socks off for nothing!” But, as soon as the movie establishes that thought within you, BAM! The feeling is refreshed.

When the family has had enough, they go to their Julie’s mom house, hoping to find a safe haven. However, they end up getting anything but. Their first night, they hear noises coming from the living room. Julie, it being her mom’s house, goes with the intention of telling their slightly creepy host to cool it down. She doesn’t come back. Dennis, camera in tow, goes to look for her. While doing so, he goes to check on Katie and Kristi; they’re gone too. As he goes to look for them, everything goes bump in the oh-so-frightening night, and HOST-less (I’ll see if you guys catch that) shadows come from everywhere. I won’t give away the ending, but let’s just say stuff goes down, and it combines the endings from the last two movies rather eloquently with a creepy twist.

This movie is not for those who get scared easily. Also, due to a very brief bite of sensuality and frequent coarse language, make sure you get the OK from your parents before watching.