Film Review: ‘Paranormal Activity 4’ Insults Your Horror Intelligence Amid Waning Franchise

CHICAGO – Following the first “Paranormal Activity” in 2007, which is most profitable film of all time based on return on investment, filmmakers Jason Blum, Oren Peli and Henry Joost have made a killing for Paramount Pictures.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

But with one movie a year since the second one in 2010, these low-budget films with no-name actors are showing fatigue and that they are overstaying their generous welcome with Friday’s release of “Paranormal Activity 4”.

The only novel plot device used in the fourth film is the Xbox Kinect from Microsoft. When turned on and used normally, the Kinect just makes your body the game controller by tracking your movements. But while viewing the room through a night-vision camera in green lighting, you apparently see the countless projection-tracking dots.

Read Adam Fendelman’s full review of “Paranormal Activity 4”. [17]

That’s then used in the film, of course, to pick up paranormal Boogeymen. It’s actually an innovative and clever ghost-hunting tool that provides one ounce of novel filmmaking this time around. Beyond that, though, nothing’s new.

Newcomer Kathryn Newton (from TV’s “Gary Unmarried”) as Alex is at the center this time in a film that mostly uses the exact same formula. She knows something’s wrong with newcomer creepy kid actor Brady Allen (who plays Robbie), but of course, her parents are too busy and grown up to listen. Robbie befriends Alex’s brother, Wyatt, who is played by the adorable Aiden Lovekamp.

Continue for Adam Fendelman’s full “Paranormal Activity 4” review. [17]

Brady Allen stars in “Paranormal Activity 4”.
Image credit: Paramount Pictures

Continue for Adam Fendelman’s full “Paranormal Activity 4” review. [17]