The latest trailer for the Paranormal Activity franchise has just premiered and it seems that the movie will be moving forward with the technology (no more video cameras!). But that doesn’t necessarily that they’re heading for more scares by updating to Skype. I speak from experience – I watched the first Paranormal Activity movie on Halloween night 2009 and it scared the crap out of me. I went with a friend who should have had his hand x-rayed after the show, because I probably broke a few bones by gripping on to it so hard. Being one of those people who loves horror movies and is not easily scared, it was shocking to me that a movie made today could give me that reaction. Most modern horror movies are either blood and gore slasher flicks designed to disgust rather than frighten, or they’re just recycled crap that is too predictable to elicit any sort of shock. Remember that time before every body and their mother started doing the “found footage” movie? It was fun, but too bad it didn’t last.
Despite the fact that horror movie sequels usually suck, I’ve stuck with this franchise. I’m nieve enough to hope that they might capture some of the original magic that made me jump in fear, which is why I’m keeping a close watch on Paranormal Activity 4. From the looks of the trailer, that belief might be in vain. Check it out for yourself:
From the trailer, we can sort of tell that this movie picks up where Paranormal Activity 2 left off. Paranormal Activity 3 was a prequel, showing the two girls Katie and Kristi during the first appearance of that crazy demon that haunts the family. If you’ve seen the 2nd movie, then you know that in the end Katie (Katie Featherston, the female lead from Paranormal Activity) runs off with her nephew after going crazy on her sister’s family. So we’re picking up with a creepy woman and young kid moving in next door, and all sorts of lights start flickering. The main question I have from watching this trailer: what kind of house just announces that the door is opening? Do they live in the house from that Disney movie Smart House? Did this family not think to lock said door after seeing a kid just staring at their motion sensor lights?
When just the trailer raises these kinds of mocking questions, it doesn’t bode well for the movie to follow. There is the vague hope that nothing in the trailer will remain in the movie (like they did for the Paranormal Activity 3 trailer), but that would be a lame approach to getting people interested in the franchise. If you enjoyed the trailer, be prepared for the movie to be nothing like it. If you hated it, there is the chance that the movie will be either better or worse. I will probably still check out the movie, but if the trailers don’t start shaping up it will be a Redbox rental instead of a big screen. Of course, I’m one of those crazy people still holding out hope that Hollywood will get the hint that they should stop recycling the same found footage story over and over again to make money. Fat chance that’s ever happening.
What do you guys think of the Paranormal Activity 4 trailer? Are you scared and excited? Or do you think the series is going even further downhill?
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