The Story- Sarah mysteriously disappears after abandoning her infant daughter, Margot at a hospital. Years later, in 2021, Margot (Emily Bader) sets out to make a documentary about her mother’s strange disappearance with Chris (Roland Buck III) and Dale (Dan Lippert). Margot connects with her blood relative, Samuel (Henry Ayres-Brown), who agrees to take the trio to the Amish community, where Sarah lived to film the documentary.
At the farm, Margot meets Sarah’s father and her grandfather, Jacob Belier (Tom Nowicki). Jacob is the patriarch, and Margot enjoys the early stages of her visit.
A series of eerie and disturbing incidents disrupts Margot’s documentary, and it’s clear sinister forces are at work. Margot learns about the dark secrets from her mother’s past, Jacob’s true intentions, and her connection to the demon Asmodeus.
My Thoughts- Emily Bader delivers a solid performance, playing a simple character. Margot is a good-hearted person, who just wants closure and a chance to bond with her family, but she’s unknowingly walking into a living nightmare.
Dan Lippert is hilarious, filling the role of the quirky comedy character in a Paranormal Activity film. Lippert is good for a handful of laughs, and Roland Buck III’s Chris is a bit more serious, but there’s also a comedic side to his character. One “well, he’s the only black guy here” joke about picking a lock, but outside of that, it’s clear Chris is someone, who will do anything to protect and save Margot.
Next Of Kin switches between different POVs, including using a drone and GoPro cameras. In certain parts throughout the movie, Next Of Kin completely abandons the found-footage POV. Slow motion? Yep. Next Of Kin uses slow motion (a feature introduced by Chris) in three scenes. It’s definitely something different for a PA film, and I’m glad they took a restrained approach to using slow motion. One scene, where Chris shows the kids how it works. Another scene for a character’s death, and one scene with Asmodeus. Make it feel like something important that only needs to be seen when it matters. That’s enough.
The documentary parts worked. You really get the feeling you’re watching a behind the scenes set up for Margot making her documentary, and the sit down interview with Jacob was a nice touch.
Music and theme music! Music makes a debut for the first time in the Paranormal Activity series. Hearing music in a PA film caught me off guard, but it’s not an annoying distraction.
Next Of Kin is the first Paranormal Activity film without Tobi, Katie, Kristi, Hunter, The Midwives, and there’s no imaginary friend relationships here. To take it a step further, they’re not referenced or mentioned at all for the seventh film in the series. On top of that, if we’re talking about visuals and the overall look and presentation of the movie, Next Of Kin is noticeably more clean and polished.
There’s an obvious attempt at a hard reset for Paranormal Activity, but does it work? On one hand, you could say it was time to move on from Tobi, Katie, Kristi, The Midwives, and Hunter. The storylines were dragging. Too much teasing, going in circles, and constantly sticking to a formula of a setting things up with streaky cliffhangers. And Next Of Kin is a Paranormal Activity film, where the human evildoers FINALLY get their comeuppance.
Next Of Kin takes place during the Covid pandemic. There’s only the one scene at the airport, where everyone is masked up. They talk about Covid a little bit, but it’s an afterthought, once the group makes it to the farm.
Being stuck on a farm that’s out in the middle of nowhere, without easy access to modern technology, adds to the desperation and terror for Margot and the others. The nighttime scenes are pretty good. Imagine having to navigate your way through pitch black darkness, trees, and vast stretches of land, while a speedy demon chases after you.
The scenes with the red lanterns shining through the darkness really works for a fantastic aesthetic. A few bloody scenes and gruesome freaky moments. The old lady scraping off the skin on her hand with a potato peeler, while she has this far gone look on her face definitely sticks out. And I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting the double-headed baby goat!
Next Of Kin ends with an intriguing cliffhanger. We’re not dealing with Tobi being the main threatening force for once, so it’s not so easy to predict how things will play out for the future. The lore behind Asmodeus and everything involving The White Witch feels refreshing, but Next Of Kin is weirdly missing a spark for a film that’s supposed take the series on a different path.
The jump scares and the fake-out jump scares are harmless, but Next Of Kin has too many long stretches of boredom. It’s almost impossible to shake the feeling of the movie mostly going through the motions. And what’s the deal with Eli (Colin Keane)? I wondered if they were teasing something with him randomly popping up for jump scares in two scenes, but they didn’t do anything meaningful with Eli, as the story progressed.
The Marked Ones is proof that it’s possible to make a good Paranormal film, while introducing new characters, and you can still make references to the previous films, without dwelling on the past too much. A solid cast all around, featuring two notable performances from Tom Nowicki and Henry Ayres-Brown. The problem is, with or without Paranormal Activity attached to the title, Next Of Kin is just an ordinary found-footage horror film. Next Of Kin is not horrible, or unwatchable. It’s just okay at best.
We’re seven films into the series, so coming up with new ideas or different methods to reinvent or rejuvenate the franchise was always going to be a tricky task. Asmedous is a formidable foe, but there’s always a chance they’ll hit the reset button again, so who knows if we’ll ever get to see what’s next for him.
The Story- Sarah mysteriously disappears after abandoning her infant daughter, Margot at a hospital. Years later, in 2021, Margot (Emily Bader) sets out to make a documentary about her mother’s strange disappearance with Chris (Roland Buck III) and Dale (Dan Lippert). Margot connects with her blood relative, Samuel (Henry Ayres-Brown), who agrees to take the trio to the Amish community, where Sarah lived to film the documentary.
At the farm, Margot meets Sarah’s father and her grandfather, Jacob Belier (Tom Nowicki). Jacob is the patriarch, and Margot enjoys the early stages of her visit.
A series of eerie and disturbing incidents disrupts Margot’s documentary, and it’s clear sinister forces are at work. Margot learns about the dark secrets from her mother’s past, Jacob’s true intentions, and her connection to the demon Asmodeus.
My Thoughts- Emily Bader delivers a solid performance, playing a simple character. Margot is a good-hearted person, who just wants closure and a chance to bond with her family, but she’s unknowingly walking into a living nightmare.
Dan Lippert is hilarious, filling the role of the quirky comedy character in a Paranormal Activity film. Lippert is good for a handful of laughs, and Roland Buck III’s Chris is a bit more serious, but there’s also a comedic side to his character. One “well, he’s the only black guy here” joke about picking a lock, but outside of that, it’s clear Chris is someone, who will do anything to protect and save Margot.
Next Of Kin switches between different POVs, including using a drone and GoPro cameras. In certain parts throughout the movie, Next Of Kin completely abandons the found-footage POV. Slow motion? Yep. Next Of Kin uses slow motion (a feature introduced by Chris) in three scenes. It’s definitely something different for a PA film, and I’m glad they took a restrained approach to using slow motion. One scene, where Chris shows the kids how it works. Another scene for a character’s death, and one scene with Asmodeus. Make it feel like something important that only needs to be seen when it matters. That’s enough.
The documentary parts worked. You really get the feeling you’re watching a behind the scenes set up for Margot making her documentary, and the sit down interview with Jacob was a nice touch.
Music and theme music! Music makes a debut for the first time in the Paranormal Activity series. Hearing music in a PA film caught me off guard, but it’s not an annoying distraction.
Margot, Chris, and Dale eventually learn the truth about Jacob, Samuel, and the others. The Beliers are not Amish. Instead, they’re satanists, or as Dale eloquently put it, “cultish mother*******.” The opportunity to meet her family was a ruse orchestrated by Samuel and Jacob.
Asmodeus’ current vessel? It’s Sarah. Sticking to a strict pact, a woman must contain Asmodeus through the bloodline from mother to daughter, and unfortunately, Margot is up next. IF Asmodeus is not contained by a woman from the community, the demon will jump to different bodies, spreading chaos throughout the farm and the world.
A nice surprising twist. From the moment Margot, Chris, and Dale arrived at the farm, you could tell something was off. Samuel’s explanation for why Margot needs to go through with the ritual is haunting and really creepy. It’s ironic and hypocritical how Samuel is basically praising women for being strong, and the only beings on earth capable of birthing life into the world. But he also supports a ritual, where a woman is deceived and forced against her will to be a vessel for a demon.
Henry Ayres-Brown does a good job with the scene, where he’s standing in the dark and facing the wall, while telling Chris why the ritual for Margot needs to happen. I also wondered, if Samuel was conflicted about luring Margot into the trap. He’s noticeably nervous and kind of jittery throughout the movie, especially when he meets Margot at Denny’s. Maybe his conscience almost got the best of him?
The finale delivers a few solid thrills, chaos, and some believable close calls. Asmodeus’ lair in the caves is appropriately spooky, and Asmodeus/Sarah’s grotesque demonic form looks phenomenal. Brief glimpses of Asmodeus, but Asmodeus’ nasty form combined with lighting speed easily makes the demon a menacing threat.
Margot confronting Asmodeus, and temporarily disarming the demon by saying her mother’s name works as an emotional scene, followed by Margot killing Sarah, after Margot kicks her onto the bed of sharp, spiky tools. It’s something that’s teased early on in the movie, when Margot almost accidentally fell through a hole in the barn that’s right on top of the sharp tools. As soon as you see that bed of spikes, you just know something bad is going to happen in that spot at some point.
Dale is killed by Asmodeus, but Margot and Chris manage to escape from the madness of the village turning on and killing each other under Asmodeus’ influence. What about Samuel? Well, he’s possessed by Asmodeus, who uses his powers to force two police officers to commit suicide. Sam, possessed by Asmodeus, drives away from the farm to end the movie.
A possessed Samuel, using a baby’s crying voice before switching to a strained yell to get the police officer to lower his guard was truly a bizarre scene. For a brief, moment you could actually believe there was a chance Samuel survived the massacre without any problems.
It’s a strange cliffhanger that leaves some unanswered questions. Where is Asmodeus going? Is he going to find Sarah to complete the ritual? The idea of Asmodeus wreaking havoc in the real world, jumping from one body to the next has some potential.
One thing I’ll say about the ending is, at least Samuel and Jacob got what they deserved. Jacob falls to his death after a struggle with Chris, and Jacob’s mangled and folded corpse is a GRUESOME sight. And Samuel is basically just a meat sack for Asmodeus, until he decides to jump to another body.
Next Of Kin is the first Paranormal Activity film without Tobi, Katie, Kristi, Hunter, The Midwives, and there’s no imaginary friend relationships here. To take it a step further, they’re not referenced or mentioned at all for the seventh film in the series. On top of that, if we’re talking about visuals and the overall look and presentation of the movie, Next Of Kin is noticeably more clean and polished.
There’s an obvious attempt at a hard reset for Paranormal Activity, but does it work? On one hand, you could say it was time to move on from Tobi, Katie, Kristi, The Midwives, and Hunter. The storylines were dragging. Too much teasing, going in circles, and constantly sticking to a formula of a setting things up with streaky cliffhangers. And Next Of Kin is a Paranormal Activity film, where the human evildoers FINALLY get their comeuppance.
Next Of Kin takes place during the Covid pandemic. There’s only the one scene at the airport, where everyone is masked up. They talk about Covid a little bit, but it’s an afterthought, once the group makes it to the farm.
Being stuck on a farm that’s out in the middle of nowhere, without easy access to modern technology, adds to the desperation and terror for Margot and the others. The nighttime scenes are pretty good. Imagine having to navigate your way through pitch black darkness, trees, and vast stretches of land, while a speedy demon chases after you.
The scenes with the red lanterns shining through the darkness really works for a fantastic aesthetic. A few bloody scenes and gruesome freaky moments. The old lady scraping off the skin on her hand with a potato peeler, while she has this far gone look on her face definitely sticks out. And I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting the double-headed baby goat!
Next Of Kin ends with an intriguing cliffhanger. We’re not dealing with Tobi being the main threatening force for once, so it’s not so easy to predict how things will play out for the future. The lore behind Asmodeus and everything involving The White Witch feels refreshing, but Next Of Kin is weirdly missing a spark for a film that’s supposed take the series on a different path.
The jump scares and the fake-out jump scares are harmless, but Next Of Kin has too many long stretches of boredom. It’s almost impossible to shake the feeling of the movie mostly going through the motions. And what’s the deal with Eli (Colin Keane)? I wondered if they were teasing something with him randomly popping up for jump scares in two scenes, but they didn’t do anything meaningful with Eli, as the story progressed.
The Marked Ones is proof that it’s possible to make a good Paranormal film, while introducing new characters, and you can still make references to the previous films, without dwelling on the past too much. A solid cast all around, featuring two notable performances from Tom Nowicki and Henry Ayres-Brown. The problem is, with or without Paranormal Activity attached to the title, Next Of Kin is just an ordinary found-footage horror film. Next Of Kin is not horrible, or unwatchable. It’s just okay at best.
We’re seven films into the series, so coming up with new ideas or different methods to reinvent or rejuvenate the franchise was always going to be a tricky task. Asmedous is a formidable foe, but there’s always a chance they’ll hit the reset button again, so who knows if we’ll ever get to see what’s next for him.
**This post contains spoilers, including thoughts on the extended version and the alternate ending**
The Story- In 1988, after the deaths of their mother, Julie and her boyfriend, Dennis, a young Katie (Chloe Csengery) and Kristi (Jessica Tyler Brown) learn about their roles in Tobi’s plans, as they begin training under a mysterious man named Kent (Don McManus). Grandma Lois (Hallie Foote) reassures her granddaughters, while Kent teaches Katie and Kristi how to communicate with Tobi.
During the Christmas season in 2013, Leila Fleege (Ivy George) forms a dangerous bond with Tobi as her imaginary friend in Santa Rosa, California. Leila’s father, Ryan (Chris J. Murray), her mother, Emily (Brit Shaw), her uncle, Mike (Dan Gill), and Ryan and Emily’s friend, Skyler (Olivia Taylor Dudley) all work together to protect Lelia, and solve they mystery behind The Midwives and Tobi.
Father Todd (Michael Krawic) suggests a risky plan to stop Tobi. Can The Fleege Family, Skyler, and Father Todd save Leila from a relentless Tobi?
My Thoughts- The Fleege Family joins the list of Paranormal Activity families unfortunately caught in the crossfire against Tobi, while trying to protect one of his targets. Brit Shaw and Chris J. Murray play two supportive and loving parents, who refuse to give up on their daughter.
Dan Gill continues the trend of being that one goofy comedic character in a Paranormal Activity film. Gill easily delivers the best comedy moments, and the jokes about his mustache, or Leila poking fun at it are good for a few laughs.
Loyal. That’s the one word I’d use to describe Olivia Taylor Dudley’s Skyler. Unlike Mike, she’s not a blood relative. Skyler could’ve ran and never looked back at any moment, especially when things got serious. But she stayed to do anything she could to help Ryan, Emily, and Leila.
Don McManus has brief appearances throughout the movie, but he’s everything you’d expect from a cult leader figure. The tone of his voice is something that sticks out. He’s not angry, or demanding. At first, you’d believe Kent is this mentor/father figure character, who genuinely cares about Katie and Kristi, but it’s also clear he has sinister intentions. Kent has an enigmatic presence, a master evil manipulator, who’s capable of convincing people he’s doing the right thing.
Ivy George is the star of the cast. You could see it with Jessica Tyler Brown in Paranormal Activity 3, and George also does a wonderful job with the imaginary friendship relationship. There’s just something ironic and strange about a small child showing no fear and being playful around a very dangerous and evil demonic entity, while all the adults are justifiably terrified of Tobi. George smoothly switches between the usual childlike mannerisms and behaviors you’d expect from a young girl, to showing a more serious side, when she’s under Tobi’s influence. George absolutely nails the creepy and possessed child character, delivering one of the more memorable Paranormal Activity performances.
Six films into the series, and it’s hard to justifiably come up with reasons to record everything, but they managed to find a different and creative method here. Yes, they relied on setting up security cameras around the house again, but there’s also a special video camera! Ryan finds an old, bulky camera. The camera was used to record Katie and Kristi’s training sessions with Kent. This camera also has a special filter that’s capable of showing Tobi, as he move around the house, in a black and goopy incomplete form.
The special camera POV finally gives a clearer view of what Tobi actually looks like, and there’s something else to think about. Notice how Tobi becomes more whole and takes on a more definitive shape, as his bond with Leila becomes stronger. In the early stages of the movie, when you see Tobi through the camera, it’s just scattered particles.
This could explain why Tobi is limited to banging on doors or windows, sabotaging chandeliers, and other things that go bump in the night mind games and attacks in the early parts of previous Paranormal Activity films. Maybe Tobi was too weak to do anything else, saving his more gruesome and brutal attacks for the finale, when he was finally strong enough.
Christmas! I wouldn’t say The Ghost Dimension is a full on Christmas horror movie. It’s not as Christmassy as the Silent Night, Deadly Night films, the Black Christmas movies, or Krampus 2015, but Christmas does play a role in the story, and some of the scares. Leila making gingerbread men cookies with Emily and Skyler. Tobi playing mind games with Frosty The Snowman and walking Santa toys, and there’s one scene in the extended version involving a Santa suit that should’ve made it into the theatrical cut. Christmas is more of a backdrop here, but it’s still a refreshing change for a Paranormal Activity film.
Tobi lives! Father Todd’s extermination ritual fails, and using the portal in her room, Leila, followed by Emily, travels to Katie and Kristi’s house in 1992. In 1992, Tobi finally has a body, and the movie ends with Tobi murdering Emily and walking off with Leila.
A lot of mixed feelings for this ending. Okay. We get to see what a fully formed Tobi looks like, sort of. They don’t actually show his face, just his pale white legs and the backside of his body before Tobi kills Emily. Outside of the closing moments of the movie, all we have to go on for what Tobi looks like is a picture Ryan found on the internet and Leila’s drawings.
After all the teasing and slight glimpses of Tobi, I just can’t understand not showing his face at the end. Taking a few steps back, it’s revealed Hunter was at a ceremony in 1992, with Kent by his side. Portals and time travel obviously played a role (Hunter was born in 2005) in this brief clip. It’s a short clip from the box of VHS tapes, and Ryan mentions the possibility of a ceremony centered around Hunter, or a ritual for Tobin’s resurrection.
Another cliffhanger-esque ending is kind of annoying at this point, but The Ghost Dimension still delivers an effectively tense finale during the extermination ritual and the aftermath. Tobi snatching a wounded Father Todd. Tobi killing Ryan is a brutal sight, Skyler projectile vomiting acidic black goo all over Mike, Katie and Kristi with blacked out eyes popping up in front of Emily, and Katie telling Emily it’s too late to save Leila. Throw in Tobi killing Emily, combined with the nasty sound of Emily’s neck snapping and the thud of her body hitting the ground, and it’s a consistent whirlwind of eye-catching events.
Also, good details with Father Todd emphasizing the differences between an extermination and an exorcism. Father Todd stresses the importance of needing to do an extermination to save Leila, because an exorcism won’t stop Tobi. Adds another layer of seriousness to the movie, while playing up Tobi as this seemingly unstoppable threat.
The extermination is a success, and The Fleege Family moves to a new house! Yep. In the alternate ending, four months after Father Todd’s successful extermination, Leila, Emily, Mike, and Ryan are all safe, or maybe they’re not. There’s too many subtle and not so subtle clues to suggest it’s not over yet in the alternate ending. Ryan finds a tape titled K+K+L (Katie, Kristi, and Lelia). Leila is standing on the front lawn with Katie and Kristi (as kids)? Emily is pregnant, and Kent weirdly makes an appearance at Leila’s birthday party?
How is it possible that Emily and Ryan didn’t recognize Kent at the party? They’ve seen his face, and they should recognize his voice. He just picks Leila up, and there’s no kind of reaction from Emily or Ryan? Ryan and Emily can clearly see Katie and Kristi with Leila. As kids. In 2014, when Katie and Kristi should be adults…and Emily and Ryan just basically ignore something that should’ve been a big deal? Take a look at the alternate ending below!
Which ending is better? By default I’d have to go with the theatrical ending. Both endings leave some unanswered questions, but the theatrical ending has more closure. I guess you could say the alternate ending is joyous and upbeat. In the theatrical ending, Ryan, Skyler, Emily, Mike, and Father Todd all die at the hands of Tobi. Father Todd dies in both endings, but Mike, Emily, and Ryan are still alive in the alternate ending. It’s not clear what happened to Skyler, because she doesn’t appear at the party after the extermination scene.
It’s also easy to pick up on some similarities to Paranormal Activity 3 with the alternate ending. Remember, PA 3 started off with a birthday party, and things went completely downhill after the party. The Ghost Dimension’s alternate ending features a birthday party for Leila. A very eerie coincidence, or a deja vu callback to Paranormal Activity 3?
The alternate ending is too wide open and the unanswered questions? Emily is pregnant. Is it possible she was marked by The Midwives as a child? Lelia did wish for a baby brother at her party. Was a pregnant Emily a backup plan for Kent and The Midwives, if The Fleege Family somehow managed to stop Tobi? Too many possible what if scenarios for the sixth film in the franchise.
Three good scenes from the extended cut. I’m wondering why all three scenes were cut. They don’t change the direction of the movie or the ending, but each scene actually adds something of significance to The Ghost Dimension.
The scene with someone (presumably Tobi) standing in the doorway to Leila’s room dressed in a Santa’s suit was genuinely creepy and tense. Ryan thinks it’s possibly Mike playing a prank (“GOOOOOALLLL!”) on him again, but when he turns around after Emily pops up, the figure in the Santa suit mysteriously disappears.
Leila’s looking up the fireplace, and Skyler jokingly asks her, if she’s waiting for Santa. Lelia’s response? “Get away from me.” The way Ivy George coldly delivered that line, only to go right back to looking up the fireplace, while completely ignoring Skyler was just perfect.
Another good surprise happens, when Emily goes to check on Leila in her room. She peeps through the crack in Leila’s doorway, and sees Tobi standing next to her bed. The door slams shut as Tobi and Emily make eye contact, and when Emily opens the door, Tobi disappears.
Everything else? More mind games and taunting from Tobi around the house. A touching scene, where Emily reads Leila a bedtime story. Emily tells Leila about her umbilical cord wrapping around Leila’s neck during birth, and how Lelia will always be her “little miracle.” Mike wears a Santa mask in one scene. There’s also one scene in the extended version, where Emily gets a call from Leila’s school. Leila bit another kid. I’m guessing they removed this scene, because they didn’t want to diminish the shocker for Leila biting Father Todd, the only scene in the movie, where they actually show her biting and attacking someone.
The Ghost Dimension connects some dots and fills in a few gaps. Pay close attention to Kent’s pep talk for Katie and Kristi in the beginning. Kent tells Kristi her purpose is to give birth to one of the chosen ones (Hunter). Meanwhile, Katie is supposed to take care of Kristi and others. It’s possible there’s a double meaning for that “take care of” part. Katie killed Kristi in Paranormal Activity 2, and she kidnapped Hunter. You could say Kristi outlived her purpose after she gave birth to Hunter, because it’s clear everyone has a specific role within The Midwives coven. Katie? She’s always filled the role of an underboss for Tobi, or his enforcer, mercilessly killing anyone that might disrupt his plans.
They expanded on the lore behind Tobi and The Midwives, and according to Kent, Tobi also goes by different names. We know why Leila and Hunter are important, and why Tobi needs their blood. I’m also glad they continued to use time travel and the portals to maintain consistency following The Marked Ones. Leila’s house was built in the same spot as Katie and Kristi’s house in 1988 after it burned down, so the portal in Leila’s room has a direct connection to that house in 1992.
Paranormal Activity 3 heavily influences the story, including the opening of the movie, and the training sessions with Katie, Kristi, and Kent. There’s also another Bloody Mary scene, with Leila playing the game by herself. This time around, you can see a ghostly hand in the mirror after Ryan stops Leila from playing. Keep in mind, the Bloody Mary scene with Katie and Kristi playing the game together only appears in the extended version and one of the trailers for Paranormal Activity 3.
Mike makes a reference to Katie, when he mentions how she killed a family in Nevada (Alex and her family in Paranormal Activity 4). The Ghost Dimension is the first Paranormal Activity film without an appearance from Katie as an adult. Katie is only mentioned in two scenes. She’s the relator, (under a different last name) who sold Ryan and Emily the house, so she still manages to play an important role in the story.
The Ghost Dimension was also a 3D film. I watched it in 3D at a theater years ago, but it’s still easy to pick out some of the more obvious 3D parts. Tobi’s particles floating in front of the screen, and there’s one obvious 3D death (Tobi killing Ryan) that’s easy to spot without the glasses. Was 3D necessary? I’d have to say no, because there’s just no real reason for 3D with how they used it here, and it doesn’t add anything to the movie overall.
I have to believe box office numbers played a big role in deciding to take a playing it safe approach. Paranormal Activity actually took some chances with The Marked Ones, a genuine effort to mostly do something different. The Ghost Dimension weirdly reverts back to the same tired formula used in the first four Paranormal Activity films. The usual Night # 1, Night # 2, and so on transitions for the security camera footage, and mind games and taunting from Tobi, including more swinging chandeliers. And if you’ve seen more than one PA film, you already know things won’t end well for anyone, who’s not in the inner circle for Tobi’s imaginary friends.
Yes, The Ghost Dimension answers more questions, but this is the SIXTH film. Still too much teasing and possibly setting things up for bigger events at this point. It’s also a case, where I’m glad they didn’t go with the alternate ending. The alternate ending completely destroys and wastes all the efforts to possibly defeat Tobi. Way too many different possible scenarios on the table and unanswered questions. The theatrical ending is easily darker and more grim, but the big reveal for Tobi is a huge letdown.
The Ghost Dimension is not a terrible film. There’s just enough spookiness to go around. I’m still baffled by the decision to leave out two scenes from the extended version that could’ve added more frights to the movie. I’ve always loved the shot of Leila staring at the open portal in her room, but The Ghost Dimension is still disappointing.
PA 6 was marketed and promoted as the final movie in the series. I always expected more because of that, but there’s nothing here that gives off the impression or screams it’s a big grand finale. But there’s one thing that can’t be denied, Ivy George does manage to give The Ghost Dimension a big boost, because she’s genuinely that good.
The Story- In 1988, after the deaths of their mother, Julie and her boyfriend, Dennis, a young Katie (Chloe Csengery) and Kristi (Jessica Tyler Brown) learn about their roles in Tobi’s plans, as they begin training under a mysterious man named Kent (Don McManus). Grandma Lois (Hallie Foote) reassures her granddaughters, while Kent teaches Katie and Kristi how to communicate with Tobi.
During the Christmas season in 2013, Leila Fleege (Ivy George) forms a dangerous bond with Tobi as her imaginary friend in Santa Rosa, California. Leila’s father, Ryan (Chris J. Murray), her mother, Emily (Brit Shaw), her uncle, Mike (Dan Gill), and Ryan and Emily’s friend, Skyler (Olivia Taylor Dudley) all work together to protect Lelia, and solve they mystery behind The Midwives and Tobi.
Father Todd (Michael Krawic) suggests a risky plan to stop Tobi. Can The Fleege Family, Skyler, and Father Todd save Leila from a relentless Tobi?
My Thoughts- The Fleege Family joins the list of Paranormal Activity families unfortunately caught in the crossfire against Tobi, while trying to protect one of his targets. Brit Shaw and Chris J. Murray play two supportive and loving parents, who refuse to give up on their daughter.
Dan Gill continues the trend of being that one goofy comedic character in a Paranormal Activity film. Gill easily delivers the best comedy moments, and the jokes about his mustache, or Leila poking fun at it are good for a few laughs.
Loyal. That’s the one word I’d use to describe Olivia Taylor Dudley’s Skyler. Unlike Mike, she’s not a blood relative. Skyler could’ve ran and never looked back at any moment, especially when things got serious. But she stayed to do anything she could to help Ryan, Emily, and Leila.
Don McManus has brief appearances throughout the movie, but he’s everything you’d expect from a cult leader figure. The tone of his voice is something that sticks out. He’s not angry, or demanding. At first, you’d believe Kent is this mentor/father figure character, who genuinely cares about Katie and Kristi, but it’s also clear he has sinister intentions. Kent has an enigmatic presence, a master evil manipulator, who’s capable of convincing people he’s doing the right thing.
Ivy George is the star of the cast. You could see it with Jessica Tyler Brown in Paranormal Activity 3, and George also does a wonderful job with the imaginary friendship relationship. There’s just something ironic and strange about a small child showing no fear and being playful around a very dangerous and evil demonic entity, while all the adults are justifiably terrified of Tobi. George smoothly switches between the usual childlike mannerisms and behaviors you’d expect from a young girl, to showing a more serious side, when she’s under Tobi’s influence. George absolutely nails the creepy and possessed child character, delivering one of the more memorable Paranormal Activity performances.
Six films into the series, and it’s hard to justifiably come up with reasons to record everything, but they managed to find a different and creative method here. Yes, they relied on setting up security cameras around the house again, but there’s also a special video camera! Ryan finds an old, bulky camera. The camera was used to record Katie and Kristi’s training sessions with Kent. This camera also has a special filter that’s capable of showing Tobi, as he move around the house, in a black and goopy incomplete form.
The special camera POV finally gives a clearer view of what Tobi actually looks like, and there’s something else to think about. Notice how Tobi becomes more whole and takes on a more definitive shape, as his bond with Leila becomes stronger. In the early stages of the movie, when you see Tobi through the camera, it’s just scattered particles.
This could explain why Tobi is limited to banging on doors or windows, sabotaging chandeliers, and other things that go bump in the night mind games and attacks in the early parts of previous Paranormal Activity films. Maybe Tobi was too weak to do anything else, saving his more gruesome and brutal attacks for the finale, when he was finally strong enough.
Christmas! I wouldn’t say The Ghost Dimension is a full on Christmas horror movie. It’s not as Christmassy as the Silent Night, Deadly Night films, the Black Christmas movies, or Krampus 2015, but Christmas does play a role in the story, and some of the scares. Leila making gingerbread men cookies with Emily and Skyler. Tobi playing mind games with Frosty The Snowman and walking Santa toys, and there’s one scene in the extended version involving a Santa suit that should’ve made it into the theatrical cut. Christmas is more of a backdrop here, but it’s still a refreshing change for a Paranormal Activity film.
The Ghost Dimension connects some dots and fills in a few gaps. Pay close attention to Kent’s pep talk for Katie and Kristi in the beginning. Kent tells Kristi her purpose is to give birth to one of the chosen ones (Hunter). Meanwhile, Katie is supposed to take care of Kristi and others. It’s possible there’s a double meaning for that “take care of” part. Katie killed Kristi in Paranormal Activity 2, and she kidnapped Hunter. You could say Kristi outlived her purpose after she gave birth to Hunter, because it’s clear everyone has a specific role within The Midwives coven. Katie? She’s always filled the role of an underboss for Tobi, or his enforcer, mercilessly killing anyone that might disrupt his plans.
They expanded on the lore behind Tobi and The Midwives, and according to Kent, Tobi also goes by different names. We know why Leila and Hunter are important, and why Tobi needs their blood. I’m also glad they continued to use time travel and the portals to maintain consistency following The Marked Ones. Leila’s house was built in the same spot as Katie and Kristi’s house in 1988 after it burned down, so the portal in Leila’s room has a direct connection to that house in 1992.
Paranormal Activity 3 heavily influences the story, including the opening of the movie, and the training sessions with Katie, Kristi, and Kent. There’s also another Bloody Mary scene, with Leila playing the game by herself. This time around, you can see a ghostly hand in the mirror after Ryan stops Leila from playing. Keep in mind, the Bloody Mary scene with Katie and Kristi playing the game together only appears in the extended version and one of the trailers for Paranormal Activity 3.
Mike makes a reference to Katie, when he mentions how she killed a family in Nevada (Alex and her family in Paranormal Activity 4). The Ghost Dimension is the first Paranormal Activity film without an appearance from Katie as an adult. Katie is only mentioned in two scenes. She’s the relator, (under a different last name) who sold Ryan and Emily the house, so she still manages to play an important role in the story.
The Ghost Dimension was also a 3D film. I watched it in 3D at a theater years ago, but it’s still easy to pick out some of the more obvious 3D parts. Tobi’s particles floating in front of the screen, and there’s one obvious 3D death that’s easy to spot without the glasses. Was 3D necessary? I’d have to say no, because there’s just no real reason for 3D with how they used it here, and it doesn’t add anything to the movie overall.
I have to believe box office numbers played a big role in deciding to take a playing it safe approach. Paranormal Activity actually took some chances with The Marked Ones, a genuine effort to mostly do something different. The Ghost Dimension weirdly reverts back to the same tired formula used in the first four Paranormal Activity films. The usual Night # 1, Night # 2, and so on transitions for the security camera footage, and mind games and taunting from Tobi, including more swinging chandeliers. And if you’ve seen more than one PA film, you already know things won’t end well for anyone, who’s not in the inner circle for Tobi’s imaginary friends.
Yes, The Ghost Dimension answers more questions, but this is the SIXTH film. Still too much teasing and possibly setting things up for bigger events at this point. It’s also a case, where I’m glad they didn’t go with the alternate ending. The alternate ending completely destroys and wastes all the efforts to possibly defeat Tobi. Way too many different possible scenarios on the table and unanswered questions. The theatrical ending is easily darker and more grim, but the big reveal for Tobi is a huge letdown.
The Ghost Dimension is not a terrible film. There’s just enough spookiness to go around. I’m still baffled by the decision to leave out two scenes from the extended version that could’ve added more frights to the movie. I’ve always loved the shot of Leila staring at the open portal in her room, but The Ghost Dimension is still disappointing.
PA 6 was marketed and promoted as the final movie in the series. I always expected more because of that, but there’s nothing here that gives off the impression or screams it’s a big grand finale. But there’s one thing that can’t be denied, Ivy George does manage to give The Ghost Dimension a big boost, because she’s genuinely that good.
The Story- After his high school graduation in 2012, Jesse Arista (Andrew Jacobs) experiences a series of unusual changes in Oxnard, California. Jesse’s friends, Hector (Jorge Diaz) and Hector’s cousin, Marisol (Gabrielle Walsh) tag along, as Jesse looks for answers.
Meanwhile, Jesse’s erratic behavior endangers Hector, Marisol, his dog, Chavo, and his grandmother, Irma (Renee Victor). During his search for the truth, Jesse uncovers a strange connection between, Oscar (Carlos Pratts), the valedictorian of his graduating class, and his kookie neighbor, Ana (Gloria Sandoval).
Oscar’s brother, Arturo (Richard Cabral) sheds light on shocking revelations. Dark secrets about Jesse’s past are revealed, drawing concerns from his father, Cesar (David Saucedo) and his sister, Evette (Noemi Gonzalez). To make matters worse, The Midwives are closing in, with plans to prepare Jesse for a sinister ritual. Can Hector, Irma, Marisol, and Arturo save Jesse?
My Thoughts- I’ve always thought it was kind of weird how Evette and Cesar weren’t more directly involved in the story. Jesse has an amazing and loyal support system around him, including Marisol, Hector, Irma, and Arturo. But his father and his sister are basically side characters with minor roles? Although, I guess you could say giving Cesar and Evette bigger parts would’ve turned the movie into a cluttered mess, because The Marked Ones is loaded with characters, who play crucial roles in Jesse’s story.
Andrew Jacobs delivers a solid performance. During the early stages, Jesse is this enthusiastic and carefree kid, who just graduated high school. He wants to have fun, but as the infection slowly consumes him, he takes a hard turn towards a darker side. He’s a dick and bully, similar to an edgier teenager, who wants to be a tough guy. Big difference is, Jesse has demonic powers and supernatural strength.
Jorge Diaz fills the role of the goofy Paranormal Activity comedy character, a jokester sidekick, but he also cares about his best friend. Irma is everything you’d expect from a grandmother. Loving, overprotective (for good reasons) at times, and she refuses to give up on her grandson. Renee Victor brings a good sense humor to Irma and a lively presence, reminding you that she might be an elderly lady, but she’s still not too old to have fun.
Gabrielle Walsh fills plays a supportive friend, who’s not afraid to take risks to help Jesse. Arturo? There’s no denying Richard Cabral is the live-wire in the cast. The tattoos, and Arturo is supposed to be a “serious gangster,” but it’s hard to ignore Cabral noticeably hamming it up for an entertaining performance.
The Marked Ones is the first film in the series, where I’m torn on the need to record everything that’s going on. Early on in the movie, I can understand Jesse and Hector, two knuckleheaded teenagers, recording their adventures, or both of them doing stupid things that teenagers would do. They’re just having fun.
As the story progresses, with the exception of a few scenes, where they needed night vision and the light, there’s absolutely no reason Marisol, Jesse, or Hector should’ve been recording anything. The only reason I can come up with is, whoever had the camera is recording just so the audience can see what’s going on, but taking that approach kills a lot of the realism for a found-footage film.
Simon Says! While it’s not 100% confirmed or referenced, you have to assume Jesse is communicating with Tobi through the Simon Says game. One clue I can think of is, when Jesse wants to know, if Simon is his guardian angel, and he gets a red light for a response. Tobi is the ultimate puppet master in Paranormal Activity, so you can assume that’s who Jesse is talking to. If it’s Tobi, using Simon Says is a unique and clever method for using the demon here. Kristi and Hunter were kids, when they encountered Tobi, but Jesse is too old to go the imaginary friend route.
The Marked Ones takes a unique approach for callbacks and references to the previous Paranormal Activity films, without dwelling on the past too much, or relying too heavily on storylines involving Kristi, Katie, or Hunter. Hector finds a VHS tape titled Katie and Kristi 1988 (Paranormal Activity 3) in Ana’s apartment, and there’s the picture with Ana, Jesse’s mother, and Grandma Lois (Paranormal Activity 3 again). There’s a news article in Oscar’s room about a psychic, who visited the home of a murder scene, referring to Dr. Fredrichs and what happened at the end of the original Paranormal Activity. Katie and Kristi (as kids) make brief appearance. A genuine surprise and one of the better jump scares in the series, when Jesse sees the ghostly vision of Katie and Kristi just standing there with black eyes.
Ali Rey returns! Remember, Ali is Hunter’s stepsister and Kristi’s stepdaughter, so she knows what’s going on. Ali is definitely an ideal choice to drop more info on The Midwives, and after what she went through in Paranormal Activity 2, you can understand why she feels the need to help anyone in a similar situation.
It’s ironic and kind of sad how Jesse and Oscar’s stories are so similar throughout the movie. They both start out as two happy kids, who just graduated high school, with potentially bright futures. Jesse is having fun playing around with his powers. He develops some charisma, and women love him. As the possession starts to consume them, Jesse and Oscar are no longer the victims. It’s clear they’re too far gone, with Jesse starting out as the main protagonist, who needs to be saved, only to wind up as the relentless villain.
One pet peeve I’ve always had about The Marked Ones revolves around Ana’s apartment. Arturo, Jesse, Marisol, and Hector. Why is it so easy for people to just wander in and out of a crime scene, where someone was brutally murdered?
I can’t get over how they decided to basically go with an ending that’s too close to how the final moments of Paranormal Activity 4 played out. There’s one minor change to close things out, but it’s almost the same ending.
Still, The Marked Ones was a much needed breath of fresh air for the Paranormal Activity franchise years ago. Breaking away from the tedious formula involving setting up cameras around the house, the security camera footage, and the Night #1, Night #2, and so on transitions brings a refreshing spark to The Marked Ones. It’s also the first film in the series that’s not confined to a house and the outside of the house. Watching Jesse, Hector, and Marisol travel around, going from one place to the next, helps add a layer of unpredictably, because anything can happen anywhere.
Five films in, and we do learn more details about The Midwives. There’s another connection between Jesse and Oscar, because their mothers died after childbirth. A bit weird that happened, and how they emphasized both deaths for plot points. Kristi survived giving birth to Hunter.
There’s a bigger bombshell, when it’s revealed that whatever’s going on with Tobi is not just limited to Katie, Kristi, Hunter, Jesse, and Oscar. Missing first born sons connected to The Midwives is a world wide thing, and they’re clearly trying to build an army. Grandma Lois’ house is obviously the base of operations for The Midwives. Ana? She can’t be the only one. It’s impossible to believe there’s only one Ana, someone, who lays the foundation for The Midwives, their initiation process, and their rituals.
A new set of characters really helps here. The Marked Ones happened at a crucial point in the series, where the story finally takes a break from focusing on Katie, Kristi, and Hunter. The Marked Ones also features two oddly brutal death scenes. It’s odd, because you can clearly see the similarities for both deaths.
The Marked Ones features a handful of tense moments, some good humor, heightened levels of chaos, the finale delivers solid thrills, and a few freaky scenes throughout the movie. Jesse slowly pulling threads or strings out of his eyes, and it’s hard to forget about that scene with a naked Ana painting satanic markings on a mannequin. Jesse stalking Hector and Marisol in the dark alleyway is another good one. I’ve always loved the cleansing scene at Jesse’s apartment. That demonic roar, when Jesse is in mid air is something else.
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones has its problems, including some familiar found-footage horror tropes and cliches. Please stop recording, and focus on running away and protecting yourself! Still, if I put The Marked Ones up against the previous movies, it’s my top pick for the best film in the series. Time traveling and portals? No more playing it safe, or sticking to the formula. After four films, you can actually see a commendable effort for change to make something different, and the results are largely positive.
**This post contains spoilers, including thoughts on the extended version and the alternate ending**
The Story- After his high school graduation in 2012, Jesse Arista (Andrew Jacobs) experiences a series of unusual changes in Oxnard, California. Jesse’s friends, Hector (Jorge Diaz) and Hector’s cousin, Marisol (Gabrielle Walsh) tag along, as Jesse looks for answers.
Meanwhile, Jesse’s erratic behavior endangers Hector, Marisol, his dog, Chavo, and his grandmother, Irma (Renee Victor). During his search for the truth, Jesse uncovers a strange connection between, Oscar (Carlos Pratts), the valedictorian of his graduating class, and his kookie neighbor, Ana (Gloria Sandoval).
Oscar’s brother, Arturo (Richard Cabral) sheds light on shocking revelations. Dark secrets about Jesse’s past are revealed, drawing concerns from his father, Cesar (David Saucedo) and his sister, Evette (Noemi Gonzalez). To make matters worse, The Midwives are closing in, with plans to prepare Jesse for a sinister ritual. Can Hector, Irma, Marisol, and Arturo save Jesse?
My Thoughts- I’ve always thought it was kind of weird how Evette and Cesar weren’t more directly involved in the story. Jesse has an amazing and loyal support system around him, including Marisol, Hector, Irma, and Arturo. But his father and his sister are basically side characters with minor roles? Although, I guess you could say giving Cesar and Evette bigger parts would’ve turned the movie into a cluttered mess, because The Marked Ones is loaded with characters, who play crucial roles in Jesse’s story.
Andrew Jacobs delivers a solid performance. During the early stages, Jesse is this enthusiastic and carefree kid, who just graduated high school. He wants to have fun, but as the infection slowly consumes him, he takes a hard turn towards a darker side. He’s a dick and bully, similar to an edgier teenager, who wants to be a tough guy. Big difference is, Jesse has demonic powers and supernatural strength.
Jorge Diaz fills the role of the goofy Paranormal Activity comedy character, a jokester sidekick, but he also cares about his best friend. Irma is everything you’d expect from a grandmother. Loving, overprotective (for good reasons) at times, and she refuses to give up on her grandson. Renee Victor brings a good sense humor to Irma and a lively presence, reminding you that she might be an elderly lady, but she’s still not too old to have fun.
Gabrielle Walsh fills plays a supportive friend, who’s not afraid to take risks to help Jesse. Arturo? There’s no denying Richard Cabral is the live-wire in the cast. The tattoos, and Arturo is supposed to be a “serious gangster,” but it’s hard to ignore Cabral noticeably hamming it up for an entertaining performance.
The Marked Ones is the first film in the series, where I’m torn on the need to record everything that’s going on. Early on in the movie, I can understand Jesse and Hector, two knuckleheaded teenagers, recording their adventures, or both of them doing stupid things that teenagers would do. They’re just having fun.
As the story progresses, with the exception of a few scenes, where they needed night vision and the light, there’s absolutely no reason Marisol, Jesse, or Hector should’ve been recording anything. The only reason I can come up with is, whoever had the camera is recording just so the audience can see what’s going on, but taking that approach kills a lot of the realism for a found-footage film.
Simon Says! While it’s not 100% confirmed or referenced, you have to assume Jesse is communicating with Tobi through the Simon Says game. One clue I can think of is, when Jesse wants to know, if Simon is his guardian angel, and he gets a red light for a response. Tobi is the ultimate puppet master in Paranormal Activity, so you can assume that’s who Jesse is talking to. If it’s Tobi, using Simon Says is a unique and clever method for using the demon here. Kristi and Hunter were kids, when they encountered Tobi, but Jesse is too old to go the imaginary friend route.
There’s a scene that’s exclusive to the extended version that’s one of my favorites. Jesse, Hector, and Marisol are attempting to create their own homemade portal, after looking through Ana’s witchcraft books. The dark church at night was a perfect setting, and the banging on the bathroom door was a nice touch, before Jesse and Marisol ran away.
Yeah, I know it’s a typical stupid horror movie scene. Why would you WILLINGLY try and open a satanic portal? Because it might be fun? Potentially a catastrophic playing with fire mistake, but it’s still a good, tense nail biting scene.
There’s also another eerie scene in the extended version, where the door to Jesse’s apartment mysteriously opens in the middle of the night, with Chavo sitting in front watching. Was it Tobi, who opened the door? Maybe one of The Midwives?
The extended footage for The Marked Ones features a few peculiarities. Certain scenes are simply extended with extra footage, including a fake-out jump scare from Hector, when he’s looking for clues with Jesse in Ana’s apartment. The scene, where Hector, Marisol, and Jesse are looking through Ana’s witchcraft books is swapped around with small time differences compared to the theatrical version.
Everything else is just more footage that doesn’t change the direction of the story. Jesse buying the camera at the pawn shop, Irma trying out her new Shake Weight, Hector eating spicy food, Irma attempting to cleanse the house of evil spirits, and Jesse’s dad presumably taking a dump.
The Marked Ones MOSTLY delivers a satisfying finale. Hector running for his life, trying to escape The Midwives and a fully possessed Jesse provides some good thrills and close calls. Also, a few genuinely bonkers moments, when Arturo blasts two Midwives with his shotgun, and the rah-rah “Let’s go smoke these b******” line.
The big surprise happens, when Hector unknowingly goes through one of the portals, traveling back in time to Katie and Micah’s house in 2006 to the ending of the original Paranormal Activity. I’m glad they finally showed how Katie actually killed Micah. Just a crazy scene, with a scared and confused Hector pleading for help, leading to Katie brutally stabbing Micah to death.
The similarities to Paranormal Activity 3 are obvious. Sure, you can spot a few differences. Unlike Dennis, Hector was actually able to open the front door. You’ll see the army of Midwives in greater numbers, and of course there’s the time travel portal.
One thing that really bugs me is, the room with the unicorn painting on the floor that covered The Midwives symbol, and the other satanic symbol on the opposite wall. I’m supposed to believe that unicorn painting’s been in the same spot since 1988? And Hector hid in the same closet, where Dennis and Kristi hid in PA 3, with an identical camera angle.
The second to last final shot? Oh boy. Jesse lunging at Hector to knock him and the camera down (presumably killing Hector) is way too similar to what happened at the end of Paranormal Activity 4, with Katie lunging at Alex. The only difference is, a Midwife pops up to turn off the camera and end the movie.
To my knowledge, the alternate ending was never released on DVD or Blu-Ray. Jesse survives after a sort of exorcism style ritual, with help from Arturo, Marisol, and Hector, but the demon jumps to a security guard!
Kind of hard to tell what might’ve happened to everyone after the security guard attacks. But it’s easy to assume Jesse, Hector, Marisol, and Arturo survived. In the theatrical ending, Marisol and Arturo are both dead. There’s a good chance Hector is dead, and Jesse is still fully possessed. So I guess you could say it’s possibly more of a happy ending. To add an extra side note, there’s also a part in the alternate ending that shows Jesse staring at a fire after the chaos, but the clip ends before that happens. Skip to 0:36, if you’re only interested in watching the alternate ending.
The Marked Ones takes a unique approach for callbacks and references to the previous Paranormal Activity films, without dwelling on the past too much, or relying too heavily on storylines involving Kristi, Katie, or Hunter. Hector finds a VHS tape titled Katie and Kristi 1988 (Paranormal Activity 3) in Ana’s apartment, and there’s the picture with Ana, Jesse’s mother, and Grandma Lois (Paranormal Activity 3 again). There’s a news article in Oscar’s room about a psychic, who visited the home of a murder scene, referring to Dr. Fredrichs and what happened at the end of the original Paranormal Activity.
Katie and Kristi (as kids) make brief appearance. A genuine surprise and one of the better jump scares in the series, when Jesse sees the ghostly vision of Katie and Kristi just standing there with black eyes.
Ali Rey returns! Remember, Ali is Hunter’s stepsister and Kristi’s stepdaughter, so she knows what’s going on. Ali is definitely an ideal choice to drop more info on The Midwives, and after what she went through in Paranormal Activity 2, you can understand why she feels the need to help anyone in a similar situation.
It’s ironic and kind of sad how Jesse and Oscar’s stories are so similar throughout the movie. They both start out as two happy kids, who just graduated high school, with potentially bright futures. Jesse is having fun playing around with his powers. He develops some charisma, and women love him.
As the possession starts to consume them, Jesse and Oscar are no longer the victims. It’s clear they’re too far gone, with Jesse starting out as the main protagonist, who needs to be saved, only to wind up as the relentless villain. Think about that evil smirk on Jesse’s face after he pushed or threw Irma from the top of the stairs, or the scene, where he used his powers to torture Chavo.
One pet peeve I’ve always had about The Marked Ones revolves around Ana’s apartment. Arturo, Jesse, Marisol, and Hector. Why is it so easy for people to just wander in and out of a crime scene, where someone was brutally murdered?
I can’t get over how they decided to basically go with an ending that’s too close to how the final moments of Paranormal Activity 4 played out. There’s one minor change to close things out, but it’s almost the same ending.
Still, The Marked Ones was a much needed breath of fresh air for the Paranormal Activity franchise years ago. Breaking away from the tedious formula involving setting up cameras around the house, the security camera footage, and the Night #1, Night #2, and so on transitions brings a refreshing spark to The Marked Ones. It’s also the first film in the series that’s not confined to a house and the outside of the house. Watching Jesse, Hector, and Marisol travel around, going from one place to the next, helps add a layer of unpredictably, because anything can happen anywhere.
Five films in, and we do learn more details about The Midwives. There’s another connection between Jesse and Oscar, because their mothers died after childbirth. A bit weird that happened, and how they emphasized both deaths for plot points. Kristi survived giving birth to Hunter.
There’s a bigger bombshell, when it’s revealed that whatever’s going on with Tobi is not just limited to Katie, Kristi, Hunter, Jesse, and Oscar. Missing first born sons connected to The Midwives is a world wide thing, and they’re clearly trying to build an army. Grandma Lois’ house is obviously the base of operations for The Midwives. Ana? She can’t be the only one. It’s impossible to believe there’s only one Ana, someone, who lays the foundation for The Midwives, their initiation process, and their rituals.
A new set of characters really helps here. The Marked Ones happened at a crucial point in the series, where the story finally takes a break from focusing on Katie, Kristi, and Hunter.
The Marked Ones also features two oddly brutal death scenes. It’s odd, because you can clearly see the similarities for both deaths. Oscar committing suicide, and Marisol being thrown or dropped through the glass at Lois’ house? Oscar’s death works as a nasty ending for him and a good jump scare. The sound of Oscar’s body hitting the top of the car works perfectly. Seeing the car basically explode is enough for a squirmy reaction, because you know that had to hurt. You can say the same thing about Marisol’s death. Hector is cautiously looking for her, and bam! Marisol’s body lands right in front of him in a bed of broken glass.
The Marked Ones features a handful of tense moments, some good humor, heightened levels of chaos, the finale delivers solid thrills, and a few freaky scenes throughout the movie. Jesse slowly pulling threads or strings out of his eyes, and it’s hard to forget about that scene with a naked Ana painting satanic markings on a mannequin. Jesse stalking Hector and Marisol in the dark alleyway is another good one. I’ve always loved the cleansing scene at Jesse’s apartment. That demonic roar, when Jesse is in mid air is something else.
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones has its problems, including some familiar found-footage horror tropes and cliches. Please stop recording, and focus on running away and protecting yourself! Still, if I put The Marked Ones up against the previous movies, it’s my top pick for the best film in the series. Time traveling and portals? No more playing it safe, or sticking to the formula. After four films, you can actually see a commendable effort for change to make something different, and the results are largely positive.
The Story- In 2011, Tobi returns, targeting Alex Nelson (Kathryn Newton), her father, Doug (Stephen Dunham), her mother, Holly (Alexondra Lee), and her adopted brother, Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp) in their home in Henderson, Nevada. The paranormal attacks escalate, when a neighborhood boy named Robbie (Brady Allen) stays with Alex’s family, while his sick mother recovers in the hospital.
Secrets about Wyatt’s past are revealed, and the identity of Robbie’s mother and her connection to Wyatt. Piecing together a series of strange clues, Alex’s boyfriend, Ben (Matt Shively) helps her solve the dark mystery. Can Alex save Wyatt before it’s too late?
My Thoughts- Paranormal Activity 4 starts off with footage from Paranormal Activity 2. A lot of similarities for how both stories unfold. Alex is the big sister trying to protect Wyatt. The research with Brad, the risks, and Alex pleading with her father to believe her about supernatural forces. Ali and her boyfriend, Brad worked together to find answers in PA 2 to try and save Kristi and Hunter. Ali’s father, Dan dismissed the chances of any paranormal interference as foolish nonsense. The big difference is, when you compare him to Brad, Ben is far more involved and hands on with helping Alex (and he pays for it).
Alex, similar to Ali, is a happy teenage girl. Holly and Dan are going through some marital problems, but they both deeply care about Wyatt and Alex. The Nelsons are a likable family. But it’s hard to shake this feeling that they’re just disposable characters, with Wyatt being the lone exception, when his true identity is revealed. Ben is the goofy and persistent teenage boy, with raging hormones, and Brady Allen delivers most of the humor here.
Robbie is a smart ass, and to quote Alex, he is a bit “weird.” Robbie is an important character, a crucial lynchpin for the story. One Robbie scene that sticks out for me happens, when Alex is trying to play along with Wyatt and Robbie in Wyatt’s playhouse. Alex tells them she can see their imaginary friend (Tobi), but Robbie won’t stop giving her a hard time, because he knows she’s lying. It’s hilarious, when you stop and think about the whole scenario. Robbie is telling the truth, and Alex is unaware of the fact that she’s in the presence of a literal demon.
The scares and the spooky side for Paranormal Activity 4 really didn’t work for me. Sure, there’s the one creepy scene, where Tobi uses his powers to levitate Alex, while Wyatt watches in the background. Some decent comedy from the fake-out jump scares, but they’re also kind of predictable.
Everything else? We’re at a point in the series, where we’ve already seen creaky doors slowly opening and closing. Brief moments of Tobi appearing or flashing across the screen, and what was the point of the kitchen knife fiasco? Kind of odd to tease something that could possibly happen with the kitchen knife for so long, only for it to drop down in the middle of night to startle Doug. The chandelier falling and almost hitting Alex? Eh, it’s another problem with everything leading up to it being too predictable. And now that we’re four films in, it’s safe to say Tobi really hates chandeliers and light fixtures.
They relied on the XBox Kinect night vision with the tracking dots POV too much here. It’s a cool visual, when Ben first introduces it, but the Kinect trick slowly loses its wow factor throughout the movie. I can understand using it as a means to show ghostly figures and glimpses of what Tobi might look like, but I’ve always believed it should’ve been limited to maybe one or two scenes.
The story finally moves out of California, shifting to Nevada, but it’ll be hard to notice a real difference, or a change of scenery. Alex lives in a quiet and peaceful suburban neighborhood, similar to Katie and Kristi’s neighborhoods in the previous three films. Honestly, if they didn’t put Henderson, Nevada on the screen during the opening, it’s easy to assume everything is still happening in California.
Paranormal Activity 4 stays consistent with reasons for recording everything, or the need to record everything. Wyatt’s soccer game, the picnic afterwards, and you can also understand Alex and Ben are just two kids just having fun. There’s a logical transition for taking things more seriously, catching strange events around the house through Alex’s laptop and other cameras, because it’s clear Wyatt is in danger, and Tobi won’t stop until he gets what he wants.
Two brutal deaths here, but that’s not enough to save this one. There’s no denying Paranormal Activity 4 hits a low point in the series. It’s the first film, where the formula for storytelling feels stale, because it’s easy to pick up on the usual patterns from start to finish.
The big return had to be expected, and it’s an easy catch, if you pay close attention to the footage from PA 2. The reveal for Wyatt’s true identity is a nice surprise, but Paranormal Activity 4 lacks any real tension, and the scare tactics are too redundant. The unseen force (Tobi) dragging someone (Alex) across the floor or down a hallway is a horror movie scare tactic that’s been run into the ground. After four consecutive films, it’s safe to say Paranormal Activity relied on it too much.
To make matters, the story is just going in circles. Paranormal Activity 2 was largely a prequel, so it gets a pass, and Paranormal Activity 3 was entirely a prequel. Why are they still doing all these slight teases for revealing Tobi? There’s the one scene, where Wyatt and Robbie are playing a boxing game. Ben hints at the possibility of Tobi being used as an avatar in the game, a ghostly, pale white male. But that’s only an idea of what Tobi might look like.
Paranormal Activity 4 just feels dull overall. We already know about the witches, we’ve seen the symbol representing The Midwives, and we know what’s going to happen, when Tobi gets serious. PUSH the story forward. All the teasing, the hints, and the seemingly never ending cycle of setting up the story for the next film, four movies into any kind of series, just kills whatever kind of momentum you’re trying to build.
Look at the ending to PA 2. Then consider how Paranormal Activity 4 ends. Too much time passes between both movies. For some odd reason, they’re still only taking baby steps to the point, where it feels like they’re just milking the story to justify another sequel.
