Review of Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) by Doug B — 19 Feb 2013

I've really enjoyed the Paranormal Activity series over the years and episode four is no exception. Sure, it's the same formula they used in the past three films, but there's enough small tweaks and new elements to make it worthwhile, and it ends in a way that makes you excited for the a fifth instalment.

Paranormal Activity 4, like its predecessors, is a horror movie that relies on suspense instead of gore. As before, the house is equipped with surveillance cameras in every room, though this time they use laptop cameras. The film then proceeds to give you these great long takes of the rooms, where you stare at the screen, eyes searching for something out of the ordinary. And the best part is, there's not something every time, which makes you look all the harder and really makes it pay off when there is finally something to see. It's like a Where's Waldo, except Waldo is an invisible evil entity subtly toying with the environment. It's a formula that works well in both night and day settings.

A few times through the movie there are edits in the long takes, moving forward in time so a person is immediately in a different spot in the room. The edits didn't bother me, but the fact that they were punctuated with a musical note, felt like an attempt to get a cheap scare out of the audience. They don't work, and aren't needed. There are also a lot of things foreshadowed as if they're going to produce a scare later on, but never do. Those are excellent, because you are waiting for the scare and think you're smarter than the film, and then they hit you from a different direction.

The main character focus in Paranormal Activity 4 is a pair of teens who figure out something is wrong in the house and set up the cameras. Luckily no one ever closes or turns off their laptops in this house, but that's a small complaint. The teens carry the story until they disappear for no reason in the middle of the movie only to reappear when needed for the story to finish at the end. It was a little clunky, but not too bothersome.

Because the cameras are fixed, things happen out of frame and sometimes partially in frame. You could make a case either way for it being artsy or simply bad composition. I think it works well enough, so I'll side with artsy because it helps builds the tension in some spots. The XBOX Kinect technology that is at play in the living room is a nice touch. It makes that room a very different environment visually from the other rooms. Waiting for it to finally pay off is fun, and it does pay off really well.

For fans of the series, Paranormal Activity 4 is a must. But if you're new to the series, do yourself a favor and watch the first one. There's an overarching story you'll need to be aware of before diving in here.