The Story- Lisa (Callie Hernandez) sets out to make a documentary. The subjects? The Blair Witch, and the mystery behind the strange disappearance of her friend James’ (James Allen McCune) sister, Heather Donahue. James, Lisa, Peter (Brandon Scott), and his girlfriend, Ashley (Corbin Reid) travel together to the Black Hills Forest in Burkittsville, Maryland. The group reluctantly allows Lane (Wes Robinson), and his sister, Talia (Valorie Curry), two Blair Witch obsessed locals, to tag along with the promise of filming their own footage.
After a distasteful hoax, James agrees to give up on the documentary, and the search for his sister. But a series of bizarre events confirms the group’s suspicions: Someone or something is watching them, and they’re not alone in the woods….
My Thoughts- Ear cameras? That’s a new one! Well, it’s new for me, I guess. Logically, the ear cameras for Blair Witch are a perfect fit for a found-footage film. Yes, the group is always recording everything. But they’re not wasting time making foolish mistakes by using their phones, or whatever recording device is available, because “PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THIS!” or one of the usual nonsensical reasons different characters cling to for recording in found-footage films.
Lisa and Lane only use their handheld devices, when they’re trying to capture footage for their documentaries, or when they need the light for dark places, and that’s perfectly fine. And you can add a few bonus points for the drone POVs adding aerial shots, possibly giving the group a better chance to find any escape routes.
Is Heather alive? Well, no. During, the fiasco inside the house, James’ sightings of Heather were not real. Just more mind games and bait from the witch to lure James into the house. No one escapes The Blair Witch here. And Lisa had to murder Lane out of self defense, because Lane completely lost his mind.
Also, something to pay attention to here is the video that served as a possible shred of proof that led everyone to the Black Hills Forest. The video on You Tube, supposedly featuring a shot of Heather, was already recorded by Lisa before the current storyline. Tying into the time loop/paradox problem, the video was a trick used to lure the group into the forest, and they were already doomed before they made the trip.
I wasn’t surprised Blair Witch had a high kill count. With the way the story was going, you could tell early on they didn’t have any real plans for a sequel, or to continue the stories for this particular set of characters.
Blair Witch was always going to be a one and done movie, and maybe that’s the best option? You can only go to the well so many times for the storyline about a group of people going to the Black Hills Forest to find the truth about the Blair Witch. There’s a well documented history of bad things happening to people, who sniff around in the forest, so why would different people continue to go knowing there’s a good chance you’ll die or disappear forever? Maybe if you’re an adrenaline junkie, who’s looking for a bigger fix, but that’s still not a good enough reason to do it.
One of my bigger complaints for Blair Witch? The characters are too thin, and it’s to the point, where you know they’re disposable. You can feel sympathy for James. He’s a good guy, who’s determined to find his sister, and he’s willing to risk his life to uncover the truth, but that’s about it.
I did get a few good chuckles out of the little feud between Peter and Lane, no matter how one sided it was. After Peter’s reaction to the confederate flag in Lane and Talia’s living room, and the meeting at the trailer, Peter quickly dismisses Lane and Talia as two loony locals, who have way too much free time on their hands.
Still, you can pick anyone from the main cast of characters, and I wasn’t surprised, or I didn’t care that much, if anyone died. Everyone is a candidate for a spot on the chopping block. You expect it in horror movies similar to Blair Witch, whether it’s a found-footage or traditional POV film, but at least give me a reason to care.
Blair Witch 2016 is a more polished film. If we’re comparing it to the original, Blair Witch looks more clean and sharp. The majority of spooky and tense moments throughout the movie revolved around strange noises, roars, and things that go bump in the night during the nighttime scenes.
The big finale mostly delivered for me. Some good nail-biting moments, featuring the main characters looking for a way out during a stormy night, and I’m glad they never fully showed or locked in on the witch for any close-ups. You’ll get a few brief glimpses of her, and that’s the right approach. Otherwise, you’re just killing the mystique for a monstrous creature. The witch isn’t just an unseen force in Blair Witch. She’s a deadly threat, but you can only see her, when you need to, or during perfect timing scenarios.
Blair Witch didn’t feel the need to misuse the source materials. Rustin Parr is mentioned more here, the stick symbols, and adding more layers to the time loop/paradox in the Black Hills Forest works as a good thought-provoking dynamic for the movie. A few scenes of nasty gore (e.g. showing the aftermath for Talia’s broken and mangled corpse, and that loud crunch, when Ashley snapped the wooden symbol. Ouch!), and some gross-out amounts, mostly centered around the cut on Ashley’s foot and the growth in her leg.
Overall, Blair Witch is an okay sequel. It’s not bad, but Blair Witch is still a forgettable film. You’ll see a lot of shaky cam stuff, and characters making questionable choices. Why are you splitting up, or going to do something by yourself, when it’s clear you’re not safe and lost in a dangerous place?
This is my third or fourth rewatch for Blair Witch, and if I had to choose, I still prefer the 1999 original film. The grainy footage, and the rough cut feel of it added a strong sense of realism. It was easy to believe three ordinary people just wanted to make a documentary. But they got lost in the Black Hills Forest, and it was all downhill after that.
Blair Witch 2016? I was very aware of the fact that I was watching a found-footage movie with actors. Bottom line, with or without the Blair Witch label, Blair Witch 2016 is just a decent enough film. The home stretch delivers in certain spots, but it’s another case, where the original film still holds on to the number one spot.
The Story- Lisa (Callie Hernandez) sets out to make a documentary. The subjects? The Blair Witch, and the mystery behind the strange disappearance of her friend James’ (James Allen McCune) sister, Heather Donahue. James, Lisa, Peter (Brandon Scott), and his girlfriend, Ashley (Corbin Reid) travel together to the Black Hills Forest in Burkittsville, Maryland. The group reluctantly allows Lane (Wes Robinson), and his sister, Talia (Valorie Curry), two Blair Witch obsessed locals, to tag along with the promise of filming their own footage.
After a distasteful hoax, James agrees to give up on the documentary, and the search for his sister. But a series of bizarre events confirms the group’s suspicions: Someone or something is watching them, and they’re not alone in the woods….
My Thoughts- Ear cameras? That’s a new one! Well, it’s new for me, I guess. Logically, the ear cameras for Blair Witch are a perfect fit for a found-footage film. Yes, the group is always recording everything. But they’re not wasting time making foolish mistakes by using their phones, or whatever recording device is available, because “PEOPLE NEED TO SEE THIS!” or one of the usual nonsensical reasons different characters cling to for recording in found-footage films.
Lisa and Lane only use their handheld devices, when they’re trying to capture footage for their documentaries, or when they need the light for dark places, and that’s perfectly fine. And you can add a few bonus points for the drone POVs adding aerial shots, possibly giving the group a better chance to find any escape routes.
I wasn’t surprised Blair Witch had a high kill count. With the way the story was going, you could tell early on they didn’t have any real plans for a sequel, or to continue the stories for this particular set of characters.
Blair Witch was always going to be a one and done movie, and maybe that’s the best option? You can only go to the well so many times for the storyline about a group of people going to the Black Hills Forest to find the truth about the Blair Witch. There’s a well documented history of bad things happening to people, who sniff around in the forest, so why would different people continue to go knowing there’s a good chance you’ll die or disappear forever? Maybe if you’re an adrenaline junkie, who’s looking for a bigger fix, but that’s still not a good enough reason to do it.
One of my bigger complaints for Blair Witch? The characters are too thin, and it’s to the point, where you know they’re disposable. You can feel sympathy for James. He’s a good guy, who’s determined to find his sister, and he’s willing to risk his life to uncover the truth, but that’s about it.
I did get a few good chuckles out of the little feud between Peter and Lane, no matter how one sided it was. After Peter’s reaction to the confederate flag in Lane and Talia’s living room, and the meeting at the trailer, Peter quickly dismisses Lane and Talia as two loony locals, who have way too much free time on their hands.
Still, you can pick anyone from the main cast of characters, and I wasn’t surprised, or I didn’t care that much, if anyone died. Everyone is a candidate for a spot on the chopping block. You expect it in horror movies similar to Blair Witch, whether it’s a found-footage or traditional POV film, but at least give me a reason to care.
Blair Witch 2016 is a more polished film. If we’re comparing it to the original, Blair Witch looks more clean and sharp. The majority of spooky and tense moments throughout the movie revolved around strange noises, roars, and things that go bump in the night during the nighttime scenes.
The big finale mostly delivered for me. Some good nail-biting moments, featuring the main characters looking for a way out during a stormy night, and I’m glad they never fully showed or locked in on the witch for any close-ups. You’ll get a few brief glimpses of her, and that’s the right approach. Otherwise, you’re just killing the mystique for a monstrous creature. The witch isn’t just an unseen force in Blair Witch. She’s a deadly threat, but you can only see her, when you need to, or during perfect timing scenarios.
Blair Witch didn’t feel the need to misuse the source materials. Rustin Parr is mentioned more here, the stick symbols, and adding more layers to the time loop/paradox in the Black Hills Forest works as a good thought-provoking dynamic for the movie. A few scenes of nasty gore (e.g. showing the aftermath for Talia’s broken and mangled corpse, and that loud crunch, when Ashley snapped the wooden symbol. Ouch!), and some gross-out amounts, mostly centered around the cut on Ashley’s foot and the growth in her leg.
Overall, Blair Witch is an okay sequel. It’s not bad, but Blair Witch is still a forgettable film. You’ll see a lot of shaky cam stuff, and characters making questionable choices. Why are you splitting up, or going to do something by yourself, when it’s clear you’re not safe and lost in a dangerous place?
This is my third or fourth rewatch for Blair Witch, and if I had to choose, I still prefer the 1999 original film. The grainy footage, and the rough cut feel of it added a strong sense of realism. It was easy to believe three ordinary people just wanted to make a documentary. But they got lost in the Black Hills Forest, and it was all downhill after that.
Blair Witch 2016? I was very aware of the fact that I was watching a found-footage movie with actors. Bottom line, with or without the Blair Witch label, Blair Witch 2016 is just a decent enough film. The home stretch delivers in certain spots, but it’s another case, where the original film still holds on to the number one spot.
The Story- Curse Of The Blair explores and examines the mysterious disappearances of Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams, after their journey into the Black Hills Forest to record footage for The Blair Witch Project documentary.
My Thoughts- Is this real? Did the legend of The Blair Witch destroy this quiet little town in Maryland? Curse Of The Blair Witch looks and feels like a real documentary. The presentation is spot on, and the talking heads are phenomenal.
Bill Barnes (Bill Dreggors), a Burkittsville historian, easily steals the show here. Dreggors is an excellent fit for the old timer, who’s also a great storyteller. Bill Barnes is a bit crusty, but it’s not to the point, where he’s yelling and shaking his fist, because a bunch of kids are on his lawn. No, Barnes is the old dude, who still has some fire left in him, and it’s easy to crack a smile, or laugh during some of his segments.
Lucan Johnson, a self-proclaimed Wiccan, is a close number two for the best interviewees throughout the documentary. Johnson is eccentric. He comes off as a weirdo, and there’s a chance you’ll think he’s completely full of BS, but Johnson strongly believes in his words.
Curse Of The Blair Witch is a damn good mockumentary. News clips, interviews with professors and other experts, and family members sharing stories. There’s a strong effort to bring authenticity and a sense of realism to produce a “real” documentary. Curse Of The Blair Witch also does a good job of humanizing and adding more depth to Heather, Josh, and Mike’s personalities. And it’s no real surprise if you’ve seen the movie, but Mike’s brother reveals he was a rebel with some anger issues during his younger years.
You’ll also learn more about Elly Kedward (the witch) and Rustin Parr (Frank Pastor). Parr eerily looks like a normal guy, and there’s some good black and white footage from Parr’s arrest, his trial, and Parr’s explanation for what happened in the woods.
Curse Of The Blair Witch is an informative and thought-provoking mockumentary about a small town that just couldn’t escape decades of black clouds, and a series of bizarre and violent events. Remember, they never found the bodies, so the case is still open, adding another mysterious and haunting layer to the mockumentary.
It’s worth checking out for Heather, Mike, and Josh’s backstories, and more in-depth explanations for the origins of Burkittsville and The Blair Witch curse, if you’re a fan of the films. I honestly wish I could go back and watch this one without any knowledge of the films. Whether you believe in supernatural stuff or not, Curse Of The Blair Witch is more than capable of at least planting some seeds of curiosity. Also, ending the mockumentary with a missing persons flyer featuring Heather, Mike, Josh, and contact information for the local authorities, was a nice touch.
Curse Of The Blair Witch is available on You Tube, and you can check it out below, if you’re interested!
The Story- Heather (Rei Hance), Josh (Joshua Leonard), and Mike (Michael C. Williams) travel to Burkittsville, Maryland to film a documentary about The Blair Witch during Halloween season in 1994. Titled The Blair Witch Project, Heather leads the trio into the woods to shoot the documentary.
The group runs into a series of setbacks and mishaps, but they’ll have bigger problems to worry about. After a handful of strange occurrences, it’s clear Heather, Mike, and Josh are not alone in the woods, because someone or something is following them, watching, and waiting for the right moment to strike…..
My Thoughts- My one big complaint about The Blair Witch Project? Too much bickering. Yes, I get it. Heather, Mike, and Josh are scared. They’re frustrated, tired, hungry, cold, and they’re alone in the woods, while a witch is hot on their trails. But all the screaming, finger-pointing, and arguments eats up way too much time here. Occasionally, you’ll get the feeling the movie is picking up some momentum, but everything comes to a screeching halt, because Josh has to scold Heather for being a terrible human being.
If we’re putting the spotlight on the main trio, you can tell Heather is a good person, but she also pushes too hard. She wants to get the documentary done, feeling it’ll be the crowning achievement in her life, because she doesn’t have anything else to look forward to. The big problem is, she recklessly threw the group into a meat grinder, without any real backup plans, or an escape route.
Josh tries to be the glue that holds everything together until he finally reaches a breaking point with Heather. Mike? He’s a hotheaded asshole, but Mike actually has a few tranquil moments, when he realizes pouring more gasoline on already roaring fire will only make things worse.
I’m old enough to remember, when The Blair Witch Project was first released. The buzz, the hype, people questioning whether it was real or not. I HAD to see it. Decades later, my opinion on it hasn’t really changed. Lots of shaky cam, the movie hits one too many dull stretches, and while I understand the justifiable reasons behind it, all the constant arguing and fighting drives me nuts. Also, you can point to more than one scene, where there’s really no reason to record anything at all. Please, focus on protecting yourselves, and finding a safe place to hide!
Still, The Blair Witch Project has some positives. The strong sense of realism is believable. The grainy picture quality, blooper style footage (e.g. Mike munching on a giant leaf), and interviews with the locals, with Mary Brown (Patricia DeCou) stealing the show as that one old kooky resident, who tells wild stories.
It’s a found-footage film that gives you the feeling you’re watching real, raw, and uncut footage about three people, who set out to make a seemingly harmless documentary. And you’re getting an unfiltered firsthand behind the scenes experience, documenting the chaos showing how everything devolved into a tragic mess. The Blair Witch Project taking place during Halloween season was a nice touch, and I’m always a sucker for horror films about a small town filled with dark secrets and a troubled past. Some good spooky nighttime scenes, and the finale truly delivers, complete with a strong and eerie cliffhanger.
Whether or not The Blair Witch Project is overrated or rated appropriately, is something that’ll be debated for a long time. But you can’t deny the overall impact on the horror genre and what The Blair Witch Project did for found-footage films. We’re inching towards a thirty year anniversary for this one, and it’s a movie that’s still remembered and talked about in 2026. You can hate it, love it, or possibly fall somewhere in the middle, but a small team working with a tight budget managed to create a memorable horror flick with a lasting legacy, a truly remarkable accomplishment that deserves recognition.
The Story- Heather (Rei Hance), Josh (Joshua Leonard), and Mike (Michael C. Williams) travel to Burkittsville, Maryland to film a documentary about The Blair Witch during Halloween season in 1994. Titled The Blair Witch Project, Heather leads the trio into the woods to shoot the documentary.
The group runs into a series of setbacks and mishaps, but they’ll have bigger problems to worry about. After a handful of strange occurrences, it’s clear Heather, Mike, and Josh are not alone in the woods, because someone or something is following them, watching, and waiting for the right moment to strike…..
My Thoughts- My one big complaint about The Blair Witch Project? Too much bickering. Yes, I get it. Heather, Mike, and Josh are scared. They’re frustrated, tired, hungry, cold, and they’re alone in the woods, while a witch is hot on their trails. But all the screaming, finger-pointing, and arguments eats up way too much time here. Occasionally, you’ll get the feeling the movie is picking up some momentum, but everything comes to a screeching halt, because Josh has to scold Heather for being a terrible human being.
If we’re putting the spotlight on the main trio, you can tell Heather is a good person, but she also pushes too hard. She wants to get the documentary done, feeling it’ll be the crowning achievement in her life, because she doesn’t have anything else to look forward to. The big problem is, she recklessly threw the group into a meat grinder, without any real backup plans, or an escape route.
Josh tries to be the glue that holds everything together until he finally reaches a breaking point with Heather. Mike? He’s a hotheaded asshole, but Mike actually has a few tranquil moments, when he realizes pouring more gasoline on already roaring fire will only make things worse.
Long stretches of boredom throughout The Blair Witch Project, but there’s no denying the finale delivers. The final ten minutes or so of the movie are tight, tense, and genuinely creepy. The old abandoned house was the perfect setting. It’s dark, dirty, quiet, and when you see all the strange markings and hand prints on the wall, you’ll instantly know the house is a bad and horrible place, where unspeakable things happened inside.
The final shot of an emotionless and dazed Mike standing in a corner of the basement, with Heather’s screams in the background before the camera falls to the ground to end the movie really works as a haunting visual. It’s a memorable moment, and it’s a shot that really sticks before the credits start rolling. Genuinely chilling stuff.
I’m old enough to remember, when The Blair Witch Project was first released. The buzz, the hype, people questioning whether it was real or not. I HAD to see it. Decades later, my opinion on it hasn’t really changed. Lots of shaky cam, the movie hits one too many dull stretches, and while I understand the justifiable reasons behind it, all the constant arguing and fighting drives me nuts. Also, you can point to more than one scene, where there’s really no reason to record anything at all. Please, focus on protecting yourselves, and finding a safe place to hide!
Still, The Blair Witch Project has some positives. The strong sense of realism is believable. The grainy picture quality, blooper style footage (e.g. Mike munching on a giant leaf), and interviews with the locals, with Mary Brown (Patricia DeCou) stealing the show as that one old kooky resident, who tells wild stories.
It’s a found-footage film that gives you the feeling you’re watching real, raw, and uncut footage about three people, who set out to make a seemingly harmless documentary. And you’re getting an unfiltered firsthand behind the scenes experience, documenting the chaos showing how everything devolved into a tragic mess. The Blair Witch Project taking place during Halloween season was a nice touch, and I’m always a sucker for horror films about a small town filled with dark secrets and a troubled past. Some good spooky nighttime scenes, and the finale truly delivers, complete with a strong and eerie cliffhanger.
Whether or not The Blair Witch Project is overrated or rated appropriately, is something that’ll be debated for a long time. But you can’t deny the overall impact on the horror genre and what The Blair Witch Project did for found-footage films. We’re inching towards a thirty year anniversary for this one, and it’s a movie that’s still remembered and talked about in 2026. You can hate it, love it, or possibly fall somewhere in the middle, but a small team working with a tight budget managed to create a memorable horror flick with a lasting legacy, a truly remarkable accomplishment that deserves recognition.
I’m always a sucker for horror movies about a small town with a dark past, a town that’s also hiding insidious secrets from the outside world. While I’m not completely blown away by the trailer for Shelby Oaks, I’m hoping there’s a chance it’ll be a decent or solid horror flick. Mixing in found-footage with clips from the news adds more realism to Shelby Oaks. My only concern is, they’ll use one too many jumpscares, and hopefully they won’t settle for the need to rely on the usual found-footage cliches.
Directors- Jay Drakulic, Mallory Drumm, Alex Lee Williams
Release Date- October 24, 2025
Giving away too many jump scares in a trailer always annoys me. I understand the need for selling the movie, but jump scares are supposed to be a surprise. After watching this trailer, I know what’s coming for more than one scene, and it’s kind of a bummer.
Dream Eater lays the groundwork for giving Alex’s girlfriend a logical reason for recording. She has to document his sleepwalking episodes to get a better understanding of his condition. The story takes a sinister turn, because it’s clear Alex is being targeted by some kind of demon, so Alex’s girlfriend needs to keep the cameras rolling for proof. One big positive in the trailer is, there’s always a reason or a need to record everything, and that’s important for a found-footage film.
I want to see Dream Eater, but at the same time, I don’t have high hopes for it. I’m guessing it could be a decent enough found-footage horror film. But the trailer gives off strong been there, done that vibes, and I’m already leaning towards Dream Eater ending with an ominous and unresolved cliffhanger.
The Story- Patrick (Kentucker Audley), a freelance photographer, receives a letter from his sister, Caroline (Amy Seimetz). Caroline, a recovering drug addict, invites Patrick to Eden Parish, a remote and isolated community in another country, for a visit and a tour.
Patrick leaves America with VICE News correspondent, Sam (A.J. Bowen), and his cameraman, Jake (Joe Swanberg). During the visit, Sam is promised an interview with Charles Anderson Reed, or “Father” (Gene Jones), the organizer and the leader of Eden Parish. The people of Eden Parish are seemingly happy and at peace with themselves under Father’s leadership, but things change, when a little girl named Savannah (Talia Dobbins) delivers an alarming note to Sam.
My Thoughts- The Sacrament is heavily inspired by the Jonestown Massacre, so it’s easy to see the similarities between Father and Jim Jones. There’s no denying Gene Jones has a strong screen presence here. The hero’s welcome Father receives before his interview with Sam, Father’s mind games during the interview, or that one scene, where the mask falls off, and Father shows a more menacing side to his personality, when he threatens Sam and Jake (“If you put your hand into the dog’s bowl, don’t be surprised if you get bit”).
Gene Jones grabs your attention, whenever he pops up. It’s truly an impressive performance from Jones, switching gears between this endearing and charismatic old man, with a southern accent, to a devious cult leader. Father is a pathological liar, a master of manipulation, a narcissist, and the ultimate snake oil salesman, promising unrealistic fantasies, while conveniently ignoring the realities of life.
Amy Seimetz’s performance embodies just about everything you can possibly think of for a completely brainwashed cult member. Does Caroline love Patrick? Of course she does, but early on in the movie, you can easily see she’s already too far gone. The cheeriness, praising Father nonstop, without criticizing anything, and Caroline blindly playing along with the ruse to give off the impression that life in Eden Parish is perfect. On the other side of Caroline’s loyalty to Father, you can see glimpses of a lost young woman, who truly wanted to believe in paradise, a carefree life and a loving family. It’s sad, because you just know she’s an easy target for Father, someone he molded to be his devout number one follower.
This is a found-footage film, right? Opening credits? Names of the actors and actresses? Music? Why? Suspension of disbelief immediately dies in a found-footage film, when there’s too much structure. I know it’s a movie, but found-footage films should feel and look kind of messy and chaotic to a certain extent. You’re going with the idea that The Sacrament was a real documentary, and we’re supposed to believe we’re watching mayhem unfolding in real time, when things go south towards the end. Some scenes and certain shots are just too convenient, one too many perfect timing moments. It’s ALMOST to the point, where The Sacrament would’ve been better off abandoning the found-footage POV for a more traditional style of filmmaking.
I recently finished reading A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story Of Jonestown, by Julia Scheeres. The Sacrament immediately popped into my head. You don’t have to know about Jim Jones and Jonestown to really get into The Sacrament. As soon as Patrick, Jake, and Sam arrive at Eden Parish, you can clearly see something is off.
The Sacrament, set in 2013 for a more modernized version, draws a lot of parallels to the massacre. Gene Jones’ entire persona is based on Jim Jones. The dump trucks, the announcements over the PA system, the drugs, the secluded community in another country, the delusional threats of US soldiers invading and destroying Jonestown, the potion is basically the same as the poisoned Flavor Aid drinks, and none of the residents are allowed to freely leave the community, if they choose to do so.
And you could say the visit from Patrick, Sam, and Jake is almost similar to what happened to the NBC crew and Leo Ryan in 1978. It’s all there. The deception, the lies, the constant BS, and the harsh punishments for anyone, who questions or defies Father. Father also has his own armed enforcers, with two guides (played by Conphidance and Derek Roberts) leading the pack. Similar to Jim Jones and Jonestown, Eden Parish is not a dreamland: It’s a living nightmare, led by a sadistic madman.
The injection of VICE News during the opening feels kind of weird here. I understand they were trying to play up the realism angle. VICE is covering a real-life SHOCKING story! But the opening message was a bit too self-indulgent for me, basically one short ad about how awesome and groundbreaking VICE News specials are, because it’s all about “immersionism.”
The Sacrament has its problems. Some familiar found-footage cliches (PLEASE drop the camera, if someone’s trying to kill you), and it’s a slow start during the early stages. Still, Gene Jones is fantastic as Father. Amy Seimetz nails Caroline, a solid performance for a character, who’s torn between her demons, her brother, and a man, who she believes saved her, when she hit rock bottom.
The Sacrament ends with a chaotic and violent finale, featuring a handful of gruesome moments, and two believable close calls. It’s a worthwhile found-footage horror film, that might raise your eyebrows more than once, if you know enough about Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple.
Oddly enough, The Sacrament also works as a loose biopic, or a quasi docudrama covering the final days of Jonestown. No truly happy endings here, no smiling faces, no relief. Ti West closely sticking to what actually happened at Jonestown in ‘78 was the right call. Overall, it’s the logical approach to bring some authenticity to The Sacrament for a dark and unsettling film, based on a true story about a horrible tragedy.
The Story- Patrick (Kentucker Audley), a freelance photographer, receives a letter from his sister, Caroline (Amy Seimetz). Caroline, a recovering drug addict, invites Patrick to Eden Parish, a remote and isolated community in another country, for a visit and a tour.
Patrick leaves America with VICE News correspondent, Sam (A.J. Bowen), and his cameraman, Jake (Joe Swanberg). During the visit, Sam is promised an interview with Charles Anderson Reed, or “Father” (Gene Jones), the organizer and the leader of Eden Parish. The people of Eden Parish are seemingly happy and at peace with themselves under Father’s leadership, but things change, when a little girl named Savannah (Talia Dobbins) delivers an alarming note to Sam.
My Thoughts- The Sacrament is heavily inspired by the Jonestown Massacre, so it’s easy to see the similarities between Father and Jim Jones. There’s no denying Gene Jones has a strong screen presence here. The hero’s welcome Father receives before his interview with Sam, Father’s mind games during the interview, or that one scene, where the mask falls off, and Father shows a more menacing side to his personality, when he threatens Sam and Jake (“If you put your hand into the dog’s bowl, don’t be surprised if you get bit”).
Gene Jones grabs your attention, whenever he pops up. It’s truly an impressive performance from Jones, switching gears between this endearing and charismatic old man, with a southern accent, to a devious cult leader. Father is a pathological liar, a master of manipulation, a narcissist, and the ultimate snake oil salesman, promising unrealistic fantasies, while conveniently ignoring the realities of life.
Amy Seimetz’s performance embodies just about everything you can possibly think of for a completely brainwashed cult member. Does Caroline love Patrick? Of course she does, but early on in the movie, you can easily see she’s already too far gone. The cheeriness, praising Father nonstop, without criticizing anything, and Caroline blindly playing along with the ruse to give off the impression that life in Eden Parish is perfect. On the other side of Caroline’s loyalty to Father, you can see glimpses of a lost young woman, who truly wanted to believe in paradise, a carefree life and a loving family. It’s sad, because you just know she’s an easy target for Father, someone he molded to be his devout number one follower.
This is a found-footage film, right? Opening credits? Names of the actors and actresses? Music? Why? Suspension of disbelief immediately dies in a found-footage film, when there’s too much structure. I know it’s a movie, but found-footage films should feel and look kind of messy and chaotic to a certain extent. You’re going with the idea that The Sacrament was a real documentary, and we’re supposed to believe we’re watching mayhem unfolding in real time, when things go south towards the end. Some scenes and certain shots are just too convenient, one too many perfect timing moments. It’s ALMOST to the point, where The Sacrament would’ve been better off abandoning the found-footage POV for a more traditional style of filmmaking.
Patrick’s death is one of the more gut-wrenching moments in The Sacrament, after Caroline jams the syringe filled with “the potion” into his neck. No cuts, or interruptions. Director Ti West sticks with the scene from start to finish, so you can see every agonizing moment leading up to Patrick’s death, including his final pleas to Caroline to let him go. Patrick still loved his sister, but it was too late.
When Jake leaves for the helicopter, and you see that serious and angry look on Caroline’s face, you know something bad is about to happen. Lots of hectic carnage during the finale. Caroline committing suicide by lighting herself on fire, the mass suicide/mass murder, with the poisoned drinks, and the sight of all the dead bodies laying on ground and everyone foaming at the mouth and convulsing before the end. The home stretch closely mirrors what actually happened at Jonestown, while Father recites bible verses, continuing the charade with more lies.
The Sacrament mostly delivers a tense finale. My one big problem involves Jake. WHY are you still recording, when armed men are shooting at and trying to kill you? Put the camera down! Sorry, but the whole I have to record everything, because the public needs to see this line of thinking falls apart, when your life is in danger.
I recently finished reading A Thousand Lives: The Untold Story Of Jonestown, by Julia Scheeres. The Sacrament immediately popped into my head. You don’t have to know about Jim Jones and Jonestown to really get into The Sacrament. As soon as Patrick, Jake, and Sam arrive at Eden Parish, you can clearly see something is off.
The Sacrament, set in 2013 for a more modernized version, draws a lot of parallels to the massacre. Gene Jones’ entire persona is based on Jim Jones. The dump trucks, the announcements over the PA system, the drugs, the secluded community in another country, the delusional threats of US soldiers invading and destroying Jonestown, the potion is basically the same as the poisoned Flavor Aid drinks, and none of the residents are allowed to freely leave the community, if they choose to do so.
And you could say the visit from Patrick, Sam, and Jake is almost similar to what happened to the NBC crew and Leo Ryan in 1978. It’s all there. The deception, the lies, the constant BS, and the harsh punishments for anyone, who questions or defies Father. Father also has his own armed enforcers, with two guides (played by Conphidance and Derek Roberts) leading the pack. Similar to Jim Jones and Jonestown, Eden Parish is not a dreamland: It’s a living nightmare, led by a sadistic madman.
The injection of VICE News during the opening feels kind of weird here. I understand they were trying to play up the realism angle. VICE is covering a real-life SHOCKING story! But the opening message was a bit too self-indulgent for me, basically one short ad about how awesome and groundbreaking VICE News specials are, because it’s all about “immersionism.”
The Sacrament has its problems. Some familiar found-footage cliches (PLEASE drop the camera, if someone’s trying to kill you), and it’s a slow start during the early stages. Still, Gene Jones is fantastic as Father. Amy Seimetz nails Caroline, a solid performance for a character, who’s torn between her demons, her brother, and a man, who she believes saved her, when she hit rock bottom.
The Sacrament ends with a chaotic and violent finale, featuring a handful of gruesome moments, and two believable close calls. It’s a worthwhile found-footage horror film, that might raise your eyebrows more than once, if you know enough about Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple.
Oddly enough, The Sacrament also works as a loose biopic, or a quasi docudrama covering the final days of Jonestown. No truly happy endings here, no smiling faces, no relief. Ti West closely sticking to what actually happened at Jonestown in ‘78 was the right call. Overall, it’s the logical approach to bring some authenticity to The Sacrament for a dark and unsettling film, based on a true story about a horrible tragedy.
The Story- In 2009, Samantha Green (Summer Bellessa) and Nathan Riley’s (Chris Hill) audition tapes for a reality show are interrupted in Arizona, when Nate notices a grey Honda Accord that fits the description for a recent Amber Alert involving a kidnapped young girl. Samantha’s little brother, Caleb (Caleb Thompson) records everything, while Samantha urges Nate to follow the car.
The driver, Michael Randolph Muller (Jasen Wade), tries to reassure the trio the Amber Alert is nothing more than one big misunderstanding. Brooke Layton (Brooke Thompson) is supposedly his daughter. Muller, dealing with custody problems and his ex-wife, apparently wanted more time with Brooke, but Samantha suspects something is fishy. Is Muller telling the truth? Or, is it possible he’s hiding dark secrets?
My Thoughts- I have a lot of mixed feelings for Caleb recording. On one hand, yeah, you could say they need to document everything for proof, BUT when a police officer finally gets involved, the footage is basically useless. What’s the point of recording, if law enforcement already has the necessary information (the description of the car, license plate number), and on top of that, Samantha is giving out details for Muller’s exact location?
It’s strange, because you could possibly make an argument for Nate and Samantha really needing the camera during the finale for definitive proof, and the light as a guide to see through the darkness. Still, more often than not, it’s hard to come up with legitimate reasons for Caleb recording. Why? So we can see Nate and Samantha constantly arguing, and Samantha giving Nate stern lectures about morality? Outside of the need to show the viewers what’s going on, you can point to more than one scene, where’s there no need for recording. That’s a problem, because the logic behind found-footage just falls apart during long stretches of the movie.
The police? I have to believe they were aiming for some kind of social commentary about how law enforcement responds and reacts to Amber Alerts. When Officer Murray (Tom Murray) makes an appearance, there’s a sense of relief. FINALLY! Someone, who’s in a position to help, to actually do something, is here. But guess what? Nothing happens. Officer Murray gives instructions to go to a police station. He drives off, and that’s it?
I sincerely hope a message about cops and how they handle Amber Alerts was the main goal here. Otherwise, Amber Alert is basically about two friends and a young kid becoming vigilantes and risking their lives, because the police are too slow and too inept to help and do their jobs.
The ending completely caught me off guard. I’m not talking about the reveal for Muller being a disgusting and sadistic creep, who lied to Nate and Samantha on the side of the road. It was obvious Muller was lying. Too many holes in the story about his “ex-wife.” And Nate wanted to do everything he possibly could to avoid a confrontation or a fight with Muller, so they just accepted his story.
The truly shocking parts for me happened, when the insides of Muller’s house were revealed. It’s dark, the guns on the counter, everything is covered up, the house looks like a dungeon, and Muller keeps personal items as trophies from his victims. Sexual abuse is a topic that comes up a lot throughout the movie, but when you actually see what Muller’s been up to, and what he plans to do to Brooke Layton (his latest victim), it’s enough to bring a grossed out reaction out of you. And to make matters worse, Muller keeps Brooke locked in a cage.
Caleb is wounded, Muller kills Samantha and Nate, and Nate dies in a shootout against Muller, but Brooke survives. A truly tense finale and a bleak ending. Some good horror elements, featuring Nate, Samantha, and Brooke quietly sneaking around in the dark, hoping to escape, while Muller waits in the shadows. And the screams for help from Brooke before the scene ends are truly horrifying, when you realize there’s a kid alone in a house with three dead bodies.
Amber Alert puts a lot of effort into a dedicated approach for realism. Blurred out license plates, bleeping out phone numbers and addresses, and at some point, everyone has experienced an Amber Alert, when you get that notification on your phone. It’s an unsettling feeling to have, if the alert is close enough.
The home stretch takes a dark and disturbing turn, leading to a finale that’s a real nail-biter. But the problems for Amber Alert are hard to ignore. Yes, you could say they needed the camera and they needed to record in the house, but everything else? There’s still no reason Caleb should’ve been recording.
Samantha and Nate’s constant bickering? Oh, boy. Way too much of the tiresome and continuous shouting matches between Samantha and Nate, and it gets worse, when you realize all the yelling eats up a good sixty to seventy percent of the movie. It’s also easy to notice a tedious and repetitive pattern for storytelling. Slow down! Don’t get too close to Muller! No, no speed up, you’re gonna lose him! Or, let’s keep a safe distance, so we can see what he’s going to do next.
Amber Alert is another one of those films, where they have great material to work with, especially if you’re doing a found-footage film, and you want to make things feel more realistic. A strong effort for a low budget film using limited resources, with a spirited cast. Good horror elements mixed in with the ending, but the overall execution just didn’t work for me.
The Story- In 2009, Samantha Green (Summer Bellessa) and Nathan Riley’s (Chris Hill) audition tapes for a reality show are interrupted in Arizona, when Nate notices a grey Honda Accord that fits the description for a recent Amber Alert involving a kidnapped young girl. Samantha’s little brother, Caleb (Caleb Thompson) records everything, while Samantha urges Nate to follow the car.
The driver, Michael Randolph Muller (Jasen Wade), tries to reassure the trio the Amber Alert is nothing more than one big misunderstanding. Brooke Layton (Brooke Thompson) is supposedly his daughter. Muller, dealing with custody problems and his ex-wife, apparently wanted more time with Brooke, but Samantha suspects something is fishy. Is Muller telling the truth? Or, is it possible he’s hiding dark secrets?
My Thoughts- I have a lot of mixed feelings for Caleb recording. On one hand, yeah, you could say they need to document everything for proof, BUT when a police officer finally gets involved, the footage is basically useless. What’s the point of recording, if law enforcement already has the necessary information (the description of the car, license plate number), and on top of that, Samantha is giving out details for Muller’s exact location?
It’s strange, because you could possibly make an argument for Nate and Samantha really needing the camera during the finale for definitive proof, and the light as a guide to see through the darkness. Still, more often than not, it’s hard to come up with legitimate reasons for Caleb recording. Why? So we can see Nate and Samantha constantly arguing, and Samantha giving Nate stern lectures about morality? Outside of the need to show the viewers what’s going on, you can point to more than one scene, where’s there no need for recording. That’s a problem, because the logic behind found-footage just falls apart during long stretches of the movie.
The police? I have to believe they were aiming for some kind of social commentary about how law enforcement responds and reacts to Amber Alerts. When Officer Murray (Tom Murray) makes an appearance, there’s a sense of relief. FINALLY! Someone, who’s in a position to help, to actually do something, is here. But guess what? Nothing happens. Officer Murray gives instructions to go to a police station. He drives off, and that’s it?
I sincerely hope a message about cops and how they handle Amber Alerts was the main goal here. Otherwise, Amber Alert is basically about two friends and a young kid becoming vigilantes and risking their lives, because the police are too slow and too inept to help and do their jobs.
Amber Alert puts a lot of effort into a dedicated approach for realism. Blurred out license plates, bleeping out phone numbers and addresses, and at some point, everyone has experienced an Amber Alert, when you get that notification on your phone. It’s an unsettling feeling to have, if the alert is close enough.
The home stretch takes a dark and disturbing turn, leading to a finale that’s a real nail-biter. But the problems for Amber Alert are hard to ignore. Yes, you could say they needed the camera and they needed to record in the house, but everything else? There’s still no reason Caleb should’ve been recording.
Samantha and Nate’s constant bickering? Oh, boy. Way too much of the tiresome and continuous shouting matches between Samantha and Nate, and it gets worse, when you realize all the yelling eats up a good sixty to seventy percent of the movie. It’s also easy to notice a tedious and repetitive pattern for storytelling. Slow down! Don’t get too close to Muller! No, no speed up, you’re gonna lose him! Or, let’s keep a safe distance, so we can see what he’s going to do next.
Amber Alert is another one of those films, where they have great material to work with, especially if you’re doing a found-footage film, and you want to make things feel more realistic. A strong effort for a low budget film using limited resources, with a spirited cast. Good horror elements mixed in with the ending, but the overall execution just didn’t work for me.
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.
