So I have explained what I like about the series on a whole, it is time to dissect the most recent film. I originally saw this movie in the theater, but just rented it again which is why I am doing the review. The film starts with a pregnant Kristi, and her sister Katie dropping off video tapes from their child hood. Now after the last film we know Kristi is now dead and a possessed Katie is missing. We now are transported back to 1988 our camera man is Dennis a comical younger looking wedding photographer who is obsessed with documenting everything. This man just so happens to be dating Kristi and Katie's mother Julie. We are introduced to this seemingly happy family, and soon to their guest, Kristi's imaginary friend Toby. After an earthquake shakes dust onto an invisible being Dennis decides to record everything. After strange events and sickness, the family finally decides to leave the house and go to Julie's mothers house, where we find out more about the Paranormal activity series as a whole, and the whole movie comes to a dramatic close. I made the synopsis as brief as I could, because really you should watch the movie, but also I would like to dissect what I love about this movie.
The cheap scares are a plenty, but they seem to be done this time with a wink and a nod to the movie goer, almost to say "we know why your here." The two that stand out are when the babysitter jumps in front of the camera, and when Julie jumps out of a closet wearing a werewolf mask. These parts aside we get real tension and real suspense. The audience who has already seen these tactics twice before is given different types of scares in this movie. One of the best scares is so utterly simple, but brilliant. Because it is 1988 and cameras are expensive Dennis creates a surveillance camera by modifying an osolating fan and attaching a camera to it. The scare comes when some one in a bed-sheet looking like a Halloween ghost approaches the babysitter from behind, and then just when our view is leaving the sheet drops showing no one was underneath. The tension builds and builds and the payoff is incredible.
The second thing I love about this movie has been at play since the first film, the back story about the demons, and the coven of witches is so creepy, and when things start happening, after dark the pay off is wonderful. For me this is the series, campy, funny, creepy, and terrifying. This third installment is easily my favorite, it is a little formulaic but it is insanely fun. I highly recommend this film for any fan of the genre.
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