Film Review: Paranormal Activity 4

Posted in Film, Reviews
By Sam Bathe on 17 Oct 2012

After the horror show that was Paranormal Activity 3, and I mean in terms of quality not literally referencing the genre, Paramount hoped to get their spine-tingling franchise back on track with outing number 4.

Catfish (and Paranormal Activity 3) directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman return, with the latest in the series acting as a sequel to number 2. Set five years after the disappearance of Katie and Hunter, perhaps not uncoincidentally things take a turn for the worse for a suburban family when mysterious woman moves in across the road.

While it’s simply more of the same, with laptop cameras this time dotted around the house and the same disturbances in the middle of night causing plenty of screams, Paranormal Activity 4 is an entertaining watch and surprisingly absorbing.

A lack of originality does hold the film ba ck, but with decent work behind the camera and a breakneck finale, Paranormal Activity 4 is still a solid watch if you’ve an evening spare, or horror film night coming up.

3/5

FAN THE FIRE is a digital magazine about lifestyle and creative culture. Launching back in 2005 as a digital publication about Sony’s PSP handheld games console, we’ve grown and evolved now covering the arts and lifestyle, architecture, design and travel.