THE FIFTH PARANORMAL ACTIVITY MOVIE IS COMING

Spoiler Warning

Since the second film’s release, I’ve been writing reviews followed by my wishes for the next installment.

• Wouldn’t it be awesome if Paranormal Activity 4 was about…
• Wouldn’t it be awesome if Paranormal Activity 3 was about…

It turns out, I’m wrong a lot and that’s okay as long as the movies deliver the scares.  I’m a huge fan the Paranormal Activity franchise but the latest chapter was a big disappointment.  It simply didn’t add anything new to the mythology.  Or at least anything we haven’t seen before.  The creepy women cult (CWC) was introduced in the third but nothing was added except that the group still exists with more members.  When it comes to Hunter, we already knew the demon ‘Toby’ was after him after the events of Paranormal Activity 2.

Here is an image from the end of PA2.  Was the ending of 4 any different?  Really?

Now the chase is over.  Toby presumably has Hunter in his possession (pun intended) and a fleet of demon faced women at his disposal.  But what does it all mean?  That’s what was missing for me.

Still, I’m thrilled that another chapter is on the way.  But I’m also concerned about where we might go next.  For me, the scariest part of these movies has been the uneasy feeling that something is in the room.  The demon is around and you never know when something crazy will happen.  I feel like we are getting dangerously close to having visible villains like Katie (and Hunter?) running the show.  (And who and/or  what the hell was Robbie?)

My first wish for Paranormal Activity 5?

MORE TOBY

Toby drags people out of beds and throws them across rooms.  He picks up children by their hair.  He’s angry but he’s also mysterious.  I don’t have to know exactly what Toby is aside from the fact that he’s not a ghost.  But Paranormal Activity 4 was full of fake outs and false alarms.  The fifth movie needs more legitimate encounters with the demon.

I GIVE YOU WEALTH, YOU GIVE ME BOY.

That was the deal.  So now what?  The girl’s grandmother started this but it appears as though ol’ Toby got his payment.  What’s next?  What else was the Grandmother into?  Who are all those creepy women?  Does Toby have deals with all of them?  Is that where Robbie came from?

There are so many questions and that’s a good thing.  But we didn’t get any real answers in Paranormal Activity 4.  The fifth chapter has to be better.

THE APPROACH

I didn’t like that we followed an all new family in this story.  Since Paranormal Activity 2, I’ve always thought they should follow Ali and the search for her brother.  Police had to have been involved at some point right?  Make Ali a documentary filmmaker now that she’s a little older.  Have her dig up old tapes from Paranormal Activity 3.  This could reveal so much about her families dark past.

This also gives her a legitimate reason to film everything and the found footage theme can continue.

While you’re at it, bring back Alex and have them team up.  They are looking for the same child and demon after all.  You can throw in a twist at this point, what if Alex is now a full fledged member of the CWC meant to find out what Ali knows.  I think this premise gives us tons of potential for answers and Toby Terror.  Of course…  I’m wrong a lot.

Go back to Grandma’s house.  Have Ali learn about the rituals and how these women summoned Toby in the first place.  Or did he find them?  You can simultaneously learn about how it started AND where it’s going.

THE STORY

Something needs to set Toby on a rampage.  Let’s piss him off.   Have Ali try and join the cult.  He’ll see right through her. (Irony?)  Or have Ali find her brother and take him away.  Imagine how upset Toby would be if someone interfered?  Ali could be on a mission to provoke him in order to find her brother and then set up cameras to capture it all.  Toby is frightening enough before you provoke him.

Screw it, have the police catch Katie in the process.  Can you imagine demon Katie in a holding cell?  Imagine what it would be like to have Ali on one side of the bars with a camera and Katie on the other.  What would that conversation be like?

Hi Aunt Katie…  Soooo…   You’re kind of a bitch…

THE END?

For the last two movies, we’ve witnessed large groups of women approaching innocents with evil intentions.  I’d like this event to occur again but continue instead of ending abruptly.  The women should appear with 30 minutes of run time left for mayhem to ensue.  Again, I’m not looking for tons of answers.  Just a few.

BUT…  I don’t want a leader.  No CWC president who sits down and spills all.  That would be awful.  These women are possessed by a powerful and angry demon so lets leave it at that.  But why?  What is the ultimate end game?  We don’t have to see it but it would be fantastic if the filmmakers hinted at something bigger.  Something we can hold on to until the inevitable Paranormal Activity 6.

BUT KEEP IT SMALL

I say I want them to hint at something bigger because, I feel, the franchise has lost the element that made the first so terrifying.  The home.  People are supposed to feel safe in their homes and Paranormal Activity screwed it up for everyone who enjoyed the film.

Ali’s search for answers should ultimately lead Toby to her home.  While she puts her clues together, he’ll be waiting and we’ll be at the edge of our seats.

DEAR PARANORMAL ACTIVITY…  DON’T BECOME SAW

To me, Saw was done after part 3.  It was a great trilogy that told the horrific tale of a man on a mission to inspire/torture his subjects.  Everything was wrapped up nicely.  If the other 4 didn’t exist, you would still know the whole story.  Paranormal Activity 4 felt very much like Saw 4-7 but I believe there is a lot more story to tell.  I’m more than willing to line up year after year but I have some conditions:

1. More scares.  Less false alarms.
2. New scares.  Give us something we haven’t see before.  (The Fan-Cam in PA3 was awesome)
3. Tension.  Nobody cares about the new family in PA4 so when they go down it’s just not that gripping.  Bring back characters we care about and then create some new ones.
4. More Toby.  The center of it all shouldn’t take a back seat like he did in PA4.  Katie and Robbie are creepy characters but I’d rather have invisible demon moments.  (Although that final Katie chase in PA4 was pretty sweet.)
5. More scares!  That’s what we loved about the first.  Go back to the intimate and vulnerable moments that made us afraid of our own homes.

Paranormal Activity 5 is coming whether we like it or not.  The possibilities are endless.  This is just my theory and it’s probably way off.

XTRA | 10 Horrifying Modern Movie Ghosts & Demons

Click here for more on Paranormal Activity including past reviews.

WILL PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 DELIVER?

We’ll find out soon enough.  I suppose it depends if you believe the first 3 delivered.  I certainly did.  I’m a big fan of the Paranormal Activity franchise and I cannot wait to see the upcoming fourth installment.  To celebrate the release, I’ve gone back and compiled all the articles I’ve written on the series thus far.

As you’ll find out, my relationship with the films depends entirely on the audience I share the experience with.

[Update] Paranormal Activity 4 Review

• The Paranormal Activity Experience
• Wouldn’t it be awesome if Paranormal Activity 4 was about…
• Paranormal Activity 3, Teddy Ruxpin & The Theater Experience
• Wouldn’t it be awesome if Paranormal Activity 3 was about…
• Paranormal Activity 2 was awesome AND I told somebody to SHUT UP!
• Movies That Scarred Me For Life: The Complete 12 Part Series
• Director Wars: Gareth Edwards vs Oren Peli
• 10 Flicks: Movies I’ve Seen In Theaters More Than Once
• Dammit…  I want to make a horror movie!
• All Time Best: Movie Ghost
• 2009′s All Time Top 5 Movies
• Did Paranormal Activity save horror films?

The following image is dedicated to a good friend of mine who swears this is the creepiest moment in the entire series.

…  That smile is pretty creepy.

This edition of Versus should probably incorporate Neill Blomkamp somehow as his extraordinary film District 9 kind of paved the way for more low(ish) budget/high concept films.  Even better, he did it by creating an imaginative short film called Alive In Joburg first which I included below.

XTRA: I  Call These Movies…  Awesome Movies.

It’s an inspiring tale that opened doors for talented directors like Oren Peli and Gareth Edwards to make their mark.

Paranormal Activity was my favorite movie of 2009.

Director Oren Peli did an amazing job with a tiny budget and created a massively successful horror franchise.  He proved that it doesn’t take a ton of money to create a horrific atmosphere if you have a solid concept and clear direction.

2010′s Monsters showed us that you don’t need a massive budget to create a successful alien invasion story.

Director Gareth Edwards created the incredible visual effects by himself but more than that, he created an pretty fantastic film driven by wonderful characters.

Each took relatively small budgets (Peli especially with a budget of $15,000) and armed with entertaining stories, launched themselves into the Hollywood spotlight.

Sometimes all it takes is a good idea and the passion to pull it off.  Blomkamp did it and is now seen as one of the leading young directors today.

So which director will win this battle?  Lets break it down.

The Hype

Paranormal Activity

Oren Peli and company made this film in 2007.  It was a long time before it got into the hands of Steven Spielberg.

The marketing team did an incredible job of creating hype for this film.  Basically, daring people to demand it in their cities.  Using the web, social media and positive word of mouth, a tremendous amount of hype was generated.

And the film delivered as promised.

Monsters

This film didn’t get nearly enough publicity leading up to it’s release.  It’s unfortunate.

I did like how they released it online.  I wish it was available somewhere On Demand in Canada early on.  I would have definitely payed to rent it.

Instead, I was forced to wait.

Winner: Paranormal Activity

The Directors

These films are both incredibly alike and incredibly different.  Both films involve 2 main characters facing enormous challenges and both keep things relatively simple.  Where they differ is scale.

Paranormal Activity

Shot in one house with hand held techniques.  The ‘found footage’ style is executed perfectly and provides some of the best scares in recent memory.  Peli does a fantastic job showing you just enough to keep you at the edge of your seat while holding back for the spectacular finale.

Monsters

Monsters is a much more polished film.  While P.A remains locked in one location, Monsters takes you on a journey filled with Aliens, Armies, Battles and much more.  Edwards has a great eye for visual effects.  You’d never know they were done on such a low budget.

Using clever placements of signs, debris and other effects, the director creates a perfect ‘Infected Zone’ that pulls you into the story.

I give the edge to Monsters here for the sheer scale the director managed to achieve.

Winner: Monsters

The Cast

Paranormal Activity

Both main characters did a great job selling the story to the audience but there were still moments here and there where it felt a little over the top.

Monsters

The strength of this film is the character work and a lot of credit has to go to the cast.

Winner: Monsters

The Films

Paranormal Activity

To this day it remains one of the best theater experiences I’ve ever had.  Such a simple concept.  Such an entertaining movie.

Review

Monsters

Monsters had a different impact on me.  The way the film is presented was inspiring.  I may not know a lot about visual effects but I’ve certainly applied it to my screenwriting.  I’m no longer afraid to go a little further instead of constantly worrying about escalating costs.

Review

Winner: Tie

The Reactions

Paranormal Activity

Rotten Tomatoes: 82%

Monsters

Rotten Tomatoes: 72%

Winner: Paranormal Activity

The Cash

Source: Box Office Mojo

Paranormal Activity

Budget: $15,000

Worldwide Box Office: $193,355,800

A staggering number.

“How much profit?”

“Oh just 193 million…  No biggie.”

Monsters

Budget: $500,000

Worldwide Box Office:$2,724,490

It’s unfortunate the film didn’t get a larger release.

Winner: Paranormal Activity

The Future

Paranormal Activity

The film will now be a trilogy of demonic madness and I can’t wait to see how it all ends.

XTRA: Wouldn’t It Be Awesome If Paranormal Activity 3 Was About…

Oren Peli didn’t direct the second or the upcoming third installment but he has served as a writer and producer on the projects.

He also has another ‘found footage’ film coming out that centers on aliens and more specifically on Area 51.

XTRA: Paranormal Activity 2 review

Monsters

Early word has surfaced that Gareth Edwards will be taking on Godzilla next.  If that’s the case, it will be a while before we see anything new so the edge still goes to Peli.

Winner: Paranormal Activity

Overall

Each category is worth one point with ties counting as a point for each.

Paranormal Activity: 5 Points

Monsters: 3 Points

The Winner: Paranormal Activity

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[UPDATE] July 22, 2011. The first trailer for Paranormal Activity 3 has arrived!

Paranormal Activity 3 is coming!

On October 21, 2011 we will get a second unlikely follow up to one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen in theaters:  Paranormal Activity

The first installment was my favorite film of 2009.  It was the most fun I’ve had at a screening in years. The entire theater loved it and the atmosphere was incredible.  Well done Oren Peli.

Really?  How creepy is that look?  Especially when you are already terrified.  I loved the first film.

I was really hoping the Paranormal Activity 2 would deliver and thankfully it did.

Click here for my full review and the story of the first time I told someone to shut up at the movies.

What will the third film be about?  Here is what I think would be awesome.

Paranormal Activity 3

[Warning Full Spoilers Ahead]

I loved how they tied the second film in with the first. Now they have built an entire mythology around the demon that haunts Katie and her family.

There is a history that dates way back to their grandmother.  A woman who makes a deal with ‘something’ in exchange for wealth.

Obviously the grandmother is long gone but I think it would be sweet to tell that story.

Many people are saying the series should ditch the found footage approach.  I kind of disagree.  It would certainly provide more options to the filmmakers but isn’t the low budget look of the films a plus?  I think it’s a lot scarier when you aren’t dealing with crystal clear color corrected film.  Maybe it will be a hybrid and mix styles.

I think the third film should follow Molly Ephraim’s Ali. Have her search for her baby brother and aunt Katie.  During her search have her uncover videos and such from the past.  Home movies that Katie and her sister Kristi made when they were younger.

Hauntings. Ooooooo.

Maybe she could dig further and discover a REALLY old tape from the 40′s that shows the grandmother’s encounters with the demon.

What I don’t want is a prequel.

We HAVE to find out what happens to the baby.  When was the last time you had a horror film where the bad guy wins and gets away?  What’s the demon going to do now?

Perhaps a new deal?  An exchange? I want answers!

Maybe another family is being haunted by Katie and Ali seeks them out.  She could be documenting the whole thing with a friend.

You could easily mix footage from today, 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 50 years ago and probably beyond in the third.

They left it open enough to go anywhere they want with the third film.

I hope they stay small.  Keep the story ‘realistic’.  I never want to see that demon.  What scared me in theaters was the unknown.  What is it?  Why is it there?

Paranormal Activity 2 provided some fantastic answers but posed a lot more questions.

My worst fear is an entirely new storyline where some random people are haunted and have to deal with it.  Stick with the mythology.

I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

I don’t even care if I’m right.

I just want it to be good!

I’m a happy film fan these days.

More and more, there are films being released that I absolutely adore.  These films are unique, original and incredibly entertaining.

The only problem is I can’t figure out what to call them.

Big concept/Character driven?

Found Footage?

Low Budget cost with Big Budget looks?

Take your pick or suggest a better one by commenting below.

I’m a huge fan of the usual suspects like Scorsese, Spielberg, Jackson, Tarantino and more.  Personally, you can add J.J Abrams to that list.

Yet, more and more I find myself drawn to some new filmmakers out there creating absolute masterpieces.

Some of them are even mentored by the titans of the industry. District 9 was produced by Peter Jackson while J.J Abrams seems to have a hand in every awesome movie being released.  (Cloverfield, Star Trek, Mission Impossible 3 to name a few.)

This new trend of mixing independent style (and budget) with high concept stories is literally changing everything.

What started years ago with The Blair Witch Project has now gone mainstream and exploded into huge blockbusters.

District 9 was the first.

I think District 9 is responsible for bringing the independent feel to blockbuster films.

Thanks to these types of films, the line between studio and independent is disappearing.  Pulling off an incredible movie no longer takes a gargantuan amount of cash.  All it takes is an idea and the commitment to execute.

It was produced with a moderately small budget considering the subject matter and earned both financial and critical success.

District 9 relied on it’s amazingly original concept, well executed effects and the strength of the story and characters.  Director Neill Blomkamp brought the story back to the forefront.

Audiences are smarter now and we demand good great stories.  The summer’s biggest movies were packed with massive set pieces and effects sequences but many lacked the necessary amount of heart needed to connect to the story.

Cloverfield

Things got even better when Cloverfield’s marketing campaign took over the internet.

J.J Abrams and Co. brought the mystery back to the movie trailer.

I remember sitting in the theater wondering…

What the hell is this?!

What is this movie called!?

Giant monster movie?  Found footage? It started an amazing trend I feared would one day become overused but so far I’m not complaining.

Cloverfield completely reinvented the ‘Monster’ movie by creating a unique experience for movie goers.

We didn’t need to see the monster every 5 minutes.  We needed to be engaged in the mystery and ride along with the main characters.

Monsters & Skyline

Those movies opened the door for 2010′s monster/alien invasion in the form of Monsters and Skyline.

Not too mention The Troll Hunter and many more movies made on a smaller scale but with HUGE IDEAS.

NOTE: I’m not entirely sure about The Troll Hunter but it definitely looks like a crazy/weird ride.

Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity came along and proved that with enough creativity and dedication, you can turn $15,000 into over 100 million.

Unbelievable.

Director Oren Peli created my favorite movie of 2009 by creating a horrific and completely gripping story.  When it works it works.

Technically, it’s worked twice as 2010′s follow up was equally chilling.  Read my full review here.

I for one cannot wait to see the Peli’s next film.  The alien themed: Area 51.

Even big action directors like Roland Emmerich are jumping on board as the director is losing the big budget in order to direct The Zone.  A ‘small’ alien invasion movie.

[UPDATE] It appears Mr. Emmerich has canceled the project.

J.J Abrams is even scheduled to return in what could be one of my most anticipated movies of all time.

Super 8

Super 8 is being produced by Steven Spielberg and I fully expect this movie to be J.J Abrams E.T: The Extra Terrestrial.

The hype has begun.

The viral marketing machine is already going with mysterious websites and cryptic messages popping up everywhere.

I believe this type of marketing has changed the way movies will be released forever.  By engaging your audience early on, you build a relationship with them.  You build hype and keep the momentum going right up until the release.

There are times when films will fail to live up to the amazing amounts of hype they generate but so far, I have yet to be disappointed.

Following movies has never been more satisfying and fun.

These are all new and original franchises made by incredibly talented and imaginative people.

I want to do that!

Battle: Los Angeles

Whoa.  This trailer came along and completely kicked my ass.  It’s unfortunate that Skyline was so terrible but amazing that we still have another alien invasion movie to look forward to in 2011.  Check out the trailer below and tell me it doesn’t look bad ass?

It’s an inspiring time to be a fan of film.