Paranormal Activity 3 Directed by: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman Starring: TBA Rating: R Release Date: October 21, 2011
TRAILER SCORE: 8/10
Thoughts by TSR: I don't want to shock anyone too much, but I can honestly say, I've not been much of a fan of the Paranormal Activity franchise. I respect what it does, but the fact of the matter is, most of the time, when you've got a cheap movie, you've got some cheap scares. That being said, there hasn't been a single trailer from the franchise that hasn't at least made me curious, even if it tends to end in disappointment.
The trailer for Paranormal Activity 3 3 is no exception. I've always admired the film's ability to keep it in the same family (first with Katie and Micah, then with Katie's sister and her family) so I was curious to see where this one was headed. I guess a prequel is only natural at this point. The jury is still out on what this movie will actually be like, but I gotta say, judging from the trailer, this one has actual potential. Intercutting the old home videos with footage from teh first two films was a stroke of genius on the part of those who put the trailer together. For fans of the franchise, it combines the scares they loved in the first two films, with a story they're already somewhat familiar with. Plain and simple, it's a smart move.
Personally, what I'm most excited for (or at least unnerved by) is the use of little kids. I love 'em to death, but kids in scary movies? I think some of the most terrifying moments in horror films have featured little kids, that's all I'm saying. Danny from The Shining. Young Michael Myers from Halloween. Katie and Kristi from Paranormal Activity 3 look like they're no exception. Although I've been burned by these films before, the curiosity (and the cutting of the trailer) are enough to make me forget about all the rough times I've had with the Paranormal Activity franchise. I, for one, am actually letting myself get pretty excited for this one.